The NBA season is starting to take shape as the holiday window approaches.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are once again surging early, but their Western Conference counterparts the Los Angeles Lakers have arguably been the most impressive team in a competitive West. The Lakers are fueled by Luka Doncic‘s historic start, which has featured 39.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game.
In the East, the new look Philadelphia 76ers seem like they’ve been playing together for years, as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have hit the ground running with their new teammates. They’re tailed tightly by their offseason trade partners, the Boston Celtics, who seemingly haven’t missed a beat with new faces around Jayson Tatum.
In this week’s Power Rankings, our ESPN Insiders rank where each team stands, per usual, and also highlight each team’s best newcomer over the first few weeks of the season. Which players are vaulting their teams up the standings? Find out in this week’s Power Rankings.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 28 | Nov. 4
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
Top newcomer: C Tarris Reed Jr.
Drafted 26th in 2026, Tarris Reed Jr. knew earning minutes as a rookie in San Antonio would be difficult, even after he gave French phenom Victor Wembanyama buckets, according to sources, in the early days of open gym over the summer. Reed is averaging just 5.3 minutes per game, but the Spurs’ brass has been impressed with the rookie’s preparedness every time his number is called. San Antonio is thin at center, and veteran backup Luke Kornet has struggled. That could lead to more minutes for Reed as the season progresses. — Mike C. Wright
Top newcomer: C Walker Kessler
After recording one of the most memorable debuts imaginable — when he scored 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 from the field in a win — Kessler has continued to have a major impact. The 7-2 center has been durable, playing in all 12 of L.A.’s games, and averaging a career high in points (14.9) while shooting 69.1% from the field, with 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He has also played north of 30 minutes per game while only averaging 2.9 fouls, which is paramount for a Lakers roster without a go-to big man to back him up. — Dave McMenamin
Top newcomer: C Aday Mara
Rookie center Aday Mara, selected with the No. 12 pick courtesy of the LA Clippers, has made an instant impact in Oklahoma City. The 7-foot-3 big man entered the league as an elite rim protector, ranking fifth in the NBA with 1.9 blocks per game. Mara also has soft touch in the paint and has intriguing potential as a passer. He ranks fifth among rookies in rebounding (5.9 per game) and is also averaging 8.1 points on 62.5% shooting over 19 minutes per game. — Tim MacMahon
Top newcomer: G Jaylen Brown
Brown has said that this is Tyrese Maxey’s team, but as of late, it’s starting to look like his, as well. He had his best stretch as a Sixer on the team’s recent road trip, scoring 30-points in a win over Detroit and 29 points in a win over the Chicago Bulls.
“He’s something we really needed,” Maxey said. — Kris Rhim
Top newcomer: F Paul George
George set the tone for what this season would be on opening night, breaking the franchise record for the most points in a debut with 38. Since then, he has remained a seamless fit in Boston, becoming one of the team’s best wing defenders and a reliable second option on offense as the Celtics have jumped out to the second-best record in the East.
“On and off the court he’s been great,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. — Rhim
Top newcomer: G LaMelo Ball
The Timberwolves should be ecstatic with the early returns from their summer trade for Ball, who quickly forged a dynamic partnership with Anthony Edwards. Even after Edwards was sidelined by knee surgery, Ball has kept Minnesota’s offense in the top 10 and is on pace to be the franchise’s first player to average at least six assists since D’Angelo Russell in 2022-23. Meanwhile, the Hornets’ offensive efficiency has plummeted from fifth last season to 30th this season after trading Ball in June. No takebacks. — Ben Golliver
Top newcomer: G Marcus Smart
Veteran guard Marcus Smart is not only reliable for coach Ime Udoka but also familiar with him from their time together with the Celtics. Most of all, Smart gives the Rockets another steady ball handler and tenacious defender capable of starting whenever Fred VanVleet is forced to rest on the second night of back-to-backs, as he continues to recover from last year’s ACL surgery. A former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Smart plays with the intelligence and toughness that Udoka covets and provides veteran leadership alongside VanVleet and Kevin Durant. — Mike C. Wright
Top newcomer: F John Collins
It was a bit of a slow start for Collins, who signed as a free agent to replace veteran Tobias Harris. Collins fits more what the Pistons want to be, with his athleticism and shooting as complements to Jalen Duren‘s interior presence. However, with Duren out with a hamstring injury, it forced Collins to be paired with Paul Reed, which has been a bit clunky. When J.B. Bickerstaff removed Reed from the first five and went small against the Wizards, it opened things up for Collins — he scored a season-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds in a 122-111 win Monday night. — Vince Goodwill
Top newcomer: F Yaxel Lendeborg
During one of his unfiltered livestreams this summer, Lendeborg — the outspoken No. 11 pick — predicted he would average around 15 points, six rebounds and four assists as a rookie. It felt overly ambitious at the time. It appears he might’ve been shorting himself. Through his first 11 games, Lendeborg is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and four assists. The scoring punch has been particularly surprising and important for the surging 8-3 Warriors. Lendeborg is making better than 44% of his 5.5 attempted 3s per game and has gained enough trust from Steve Kerr that he is putting the basketball in the rookie’s hands to make decisions down the stretch of close games. — Anthony Slater
Top newcomer: C Andre Drummond
At times it has appeared like Drummond has been out of place, with Mike Brown pulling Drummond abruptly in the middle of games for not getting back on defense and trying his hand with James Wiseman instead. But one thing that cannot be denied is Drummond’s effect on the glass. The Knicks were supposed to suffer a drop-off as one of the best offensive rebounding teams after Mitchell Robinson departed to Boston. But per 36 minutes, Drummond has averaged over eight offensive rebounds to help the Knicks remain a top-three team in that category. And Brown has complemented Drummond’s screen-roll defense recently, noting his physicality. — Vince Goodwill
Top newcomer: G Damian Lillard
Portland’s best newcomer is actually an old friend in Lillard, who is doing his best to make Rip City forget that he was traded to the Bucks in 2023 and missed last season with an Achilles injury. Lillard, 36, is averaging 19.4 points and 4.4 assists, and he has made fast friends with All-Star wing Deni Avdija. The Blazers boast an excellent plus-9.4 net rating when Avdija and Lillard, their two leading scorers, share the court. — Ben Golliver
Top newcomer: F Trevon Brazile
The Nuggets remain in a perpetual search for lineup combinations that can survive in the minutes either Nikola Jokic or the scorching Jamal Murray are off the floor. Through nine games, they’re minus-15 in Jokic’s bench time and minus-29 in Murray’s. But within that, in their latest search for depth pieces after Peyton Watson‘s departure this past summer, they’ve received encouraging contributions from Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins — both second-rounders from the 2026 draft. Brazile is a 6-10 wing with a 7-4 wingspan, flashing early as a rebounder and a defensive disruptor in a few of Denver’s wins. He’s averaging 20.3 minutes, a number that might rise as the season progresses. — Slater
Top newcomer: F Cameron Boozer
Rookie Cameron Boozer, the third pick of the 2026 draft, is already surprising some opponents with his unexpected agility and scoring prowess. “I had no clue he could move the way he moves, also that he could shoot the way he shoots,” said Golden State center Draymond Green on “The Draymond Green Show” podcast. With Isaiah Stewart out due to a right knee bone bruise, Boozer is also having to showcase his versatility by sliding over from his natural power forward spot to center.
“We are featuring him in a lot of different sets,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said. — Wright
Top newcomer: G Kingston Flemings
With the Hawks’ offense struggling early in the season, coach Quin Snyder inserted the rookie Flemings into the starting lineup and moved veteran CJ McCollum to a reserve role. The Hawks went on to win three out of the four games with Flemings as starter while ranking fifth in offense. Something to pay attention to is whether Snyder trusts Flemings to close games. In the last four games, he ranks eighth in minutes per game in the fourth quarter. — Bobby Marks
Top newcomer: G Zaccharie Risacher
The Mavericks took a flyer on Risacher when they acquired him in the three-way trade that sent Luguentz Dort to Atlanta, hoping they could develop the former No. 1 pick into a quality role player. The 6-9 Risacher has impressed with his defensive activity as a reserve, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Coach Dusty May is comfortable giving Risacher the assignment of guarding elite scorers across multiple positions. His defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Durant helped the Mavs pull off wins over the Thunder and Rockets. — MacMahon
Top newcomer: G Meleek Thomas
Headline acquisition Peyton Watson is still struggling to find his footing in Cleveland, but Thomas, picked 34th in the 2026 draft, has been a pleasant surprise for the Cavaliers. The rookie guard shone at summer league and has carried over that performance to games that count, averaging 13 points and hitting 48% of his 3s so far. After starting the season with three DNPs in Cleveland’s first five games, Thomas has quickly worked his way into playing 20-plus minutes every night. — Zach Kram
Top newcomer: F Allen Graves
This should be going to Kawhi Leonard, who returned to Toronto in an offseason trade, but he has only played two games this season while sidelined with soreness in his left knee. The reality for the Raptors is that no newcomer has made a significant impact this season, but Graves, the team’s first-round pick, has been the best of the team’s additions, which includes veteran Kyle Anderson and rookie Jaden Bradley. He has reached double digits once this season, scoring 11 points in a loss to Minnesota, and has largely played a depth role. — Rhim
Top newcomer: F Giannis Antetokounmpo
Even with the Heat’s early season struggles, it would be almost malpractice if we left Antetokounmpo off the list. After playing a career-low 36 games last season with Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo has appeared in all 10 games this season. The former MVP has scored 25 points or more in seven games and is on pace to average the most rebounds in his career since 2019-20. He is currently averaging a career-high 3.7 offensive rebounds. — Marks
Top newcomer: C Anthony Davis
The 10-time All-Star counts as a newcomer, right? He technically joined the Wizards last February but didn’t play a game for them until this season. All he has done with his new team is average 25.7 points and 9.7 rebounds this season. Washington is 4-5 when Davis plays and 0-2 when he doesn’t, including a 39-point shellacking in Oklahoma City without the star big man on the court. — Kram
Top newcomer: F Trendon Watford
Coach Jamahl Mosley has largely relied on familiar faces while juggling his rotation due to injuries. Believe it or not, New Orleans’ top eight scorers are all returning members of last year’s 26-win team. Watford, a journeyman forward who joined the Pelicans on a minimum contract this summer, has worked his way into Mosley’s rotation by averaging 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench over the past six games. Meanwhile, Bennedict Mathurin, a 2022 lottery pick who inked a two-year, $15.4 million deal with New Orleans in free agency, is averaging a career-low 15.0 minutes per game. — Golliver
Top newcomer: C Miles Bridges
This year’s Suns team, which ranks last in the league in rebounds per game, would be in even worse shape on the boards if not for Bridges securing a career-best 7.8 caroms per game — two more than he averaged for the Charlotte Hornets last season. The 6-7 forward is also putting up 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and a career-high 1.2 steals per game. After starting the season 1-5, Phoenix won two out of its last three games, with Bridges averaging 9.3 rebounds during that stretch. — McMenamin
Top newcomer: C Ivica Zubac
Injuries have interrupted Zubac’s total impact in his new home, but he played one of his best games of the season against the Mavericks this week, despite a modest box score — 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, but the team was a plus-6 while he was in the game. In spurts, he has shown there is room for more, especially as the Pacers get accustomed to his game while they await Tyrese Haliburton‘s return to the lineup. — Collier
Top newcomer: G Grayson Allen
Allen is averaging 15.3 points for the Hornets while making 47% of his 3-point tries. Charlotte ranks 28th in 3-point percentage as a team, but that’s not Allen’s fault. He ranks second in individual 3-point percentage (sandwiched between Jamal Murray and Stephen Curry) out of 77 players with at least 50 attempts.
Top newcomer: G Tristan Da Silva
Da Silva is not considered a newcomer since he was drafted in the 2024 first round. But with the injury to Paolo Banchero, Da Silva is averaging career highs in minutes (30.5) and points (15.1). He is also shooting 40% from 3. Da Silva was a new face to the Magic’s starting five on Saturday night as he made his first start of the season in a loss to Golden State. — Marks
Top newcomer: G Keaton Wagler
The 6-5 guard, selected with the No. 5 pick out of Illinois, ranks fifth in 3-point percentage (39.0%) among rookies with at least 30 attempts. He has also found a way to generate points at the line, ranking second in total free throw attempts and second in free throw percentage (86.5%) among rookies with at least 30 trips to the line. As the Clippers begin their rebuild after the lackluster Kawhi Leonard–Paul George era, Wagler’s development should be priority No. 1 for the franchise this season. — McMenamin
Top newcomer: F Julius Randle
It has been hit or miss for Randle so far this season — he has had bouts of being the most consistent Net on a team full of developing guards. He has had to create his own offense, which he might prefer, as Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin are also battling injuries. He and Michael Porter Jr. can only play together so much because their styles clash, and on some nights like Sunday against Dallas, he’ll be a minus-33 in a 130-93 loss. He’s a proud veteran in a tough situation — not an ideal one — and the Nets have to find ways to maximize him on this ill-fitting team. — Goodwill
Top newcomer: G Darryn Peterson
After a slow start, Darryn Peterson has started to get cooking, displaying the scoring ability that enticed the Jazz to draft him with the No. 2 pick. He has had his first three 20-point performances in the Jazz’s last three games. Peterson has averaged 24 points on 51.9% shooting from the floor (11-of-24 on 3s) over those three games. — MacMahon
Top newcomer: F Caleb Wilson
There haven’t been many bright spots for the Bulls so far, but Wilson looks like he belongs. The early returns are strong at 19 points and six rebounds per game, yet his potential is tantalizing. He attacks the basket with intent to dunk everything, and his highlights on defense are eye-popping. Wilson isn’t used to losing frequently, so with the Bulls in position to keep racking up L’s, Chicago is already trying to manage his body language and effort. Tiago Splitter benched him last week against the Knicks because he noticed him getting down after missing some shots. Still, despite the growing pains, Wilson is easily the team’s best newcomer. — Collier
Top newcomer: G Brayden Burries
Burries has already replaced Ryan Rollins in the Bucks starting lineup, and he has easily been the biggest bright spot during a miserable start to the year in Milwaukee. He had the best game of his young career against the Raptors last week with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He has come out the gates as a great rebounder, and since moving to the starting lineup, he’s averaging 13.0 points, eight rebounds and 3.5 assists in 29 minutes. As the Bucks’ season continues to slip away, Burries should get even more opportunities. — Collier
Top newcomer: G Darius Acuff Jr.
The No. 7 pick has opened his career with 20 or more shot attempts in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak for a rookie since Wilt Chamberlain (19 games) back in 1959. It hasn’t all been cloaked in inefficiency, either. Acuff has made 45% or more of those shots in five of the last six games, showing greater comfort and passing willingness. He has games of 10, 12 and 14 assists during that stretch. Acuff recently: “Early on, I wasn’t making as many reads. I was forcing a lot of shots. I think the game has slowed down for me.” — Slater
