The San Antonio Spurs sit atop the latest NBA Power Rankings as the season takes shape ahead of the holiday window. The Oklahoma City Thunder are also surging early, but the Los Angeles Lakers have arguably been the most impressive team in a competitive Western Conference. Luka Doncic has fueled L.A. with a historic start, averaging 39.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game.
In the East, the new-look Philadelphia 76ers seem like they have played together for years. LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have hit the ground running with their new teammates. The Boston Celtics, their offseason trade partners, trail closely, and they have not missed a beat with new faces around Jayson Tatum.
This week’s rankings identify each team’s best newcomer over the first few weeks of the season. Which players are vaulting their teams up the standings? Here is the full list.
1. San Antonio Spurs
Drafted 26th in 2026, rookie Tarris Reed Jr. knew earning minutes would be difficult in San Antonio. He still impressed during early open gym sessions over the summer, when he gave French phenom Victor Wembanyama buckets, according to sources. Reed is averaging just 5.3 minutes per game, but the Spurs’ front office has been impressed with his preparedness every time his number is called. With the team thin at center and veteran backup Luke Kornet struggling, Reed could see more minutes as the season progresses.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
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 played in all 12 of L.A.’s games and is averaging a career-high 14.9 points while shooting 69.1% from the field. He also averages 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Kessler has played more than 30 minutes per game while averaging only 2.9 fouls, which is paramount for a Lakers roster without a go-to big man to back him up.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
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. He also has a soft touch in the paint and intriguing potential as a passer. Mara ranks fifth among rookies in rebounding at 5.9 per game and is averaging 8.1 points on 62.5% shooting over 19 minutes per game.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey has his best stretch as a Sixer on the team’s recent road trip. Brown has said this is Maxey’s team, and it increasingly looks like his, too. Maxey scored 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.
5. Boston Celtics
George set the tone for the season 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. He has become 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.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves should be thrilled with early returns from their summer trade for Ball, who quickly formed a dynamic partnership with Anthony Edwards. Even after Edwards was sidelined by knee surgery, Ball has kept Minnesota’s offense in the top 10. He is on pace to become 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.
7. Houston Rockets
Veteran guard Marcus Smart is reliable for coach Ime Udoka, whom he knows from their time together with the Celtics. Smart gives Houston another steady ball handler and tenacious defender, capable of starting whenever Fred VanVleet rests on the second night of back-to-backs while he recovers from last year’s ACL surgery. A former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Smart brings the intelligence and toughness Udoka covets and provides veteran leadership alongside VanVleet and Kevin Durant.
8. Detroit Pistons
It was a slow start for Collins, who signed as a free agent to replace veteran Tobias Harris. His athleticism and shooting complement Jalen Duren‘s interior presence, which is what Detroit wants to be. With Duren out with a hamstring injury, Collins has been paired with Paul Reed, which has been 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.
9. Golden State Warriors
During one of his unfiltered livestreams this summer, outspoken No. 11 pick Lendeborg predicted he would average around 15 points, six rebounds and four assists as a rookie. That seemed overly ambitious at the time. Through his first 11 games, he is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and four assists. He is making better than 44% of his 5.5 attempted 3s per game and has earned enough trust from Steve Kerr to handle the ball in the final minutes of close games.
10. New York Knicks
Drummond has at times looked out of place. Mike Brown has pulled him abruptly in the middle of games for not getting back on defense and has tried James Wiseman instead. But Drummond’s effect on the glass cannot be denied. The Knicks were expected to suffer a drop-off as one of the best offensive rebounding teams after Mitchell Robinson departed for Boston. Per 36 minutes, Drummond has averaged over eight offensive rebounds, helping New York remain a top-three team in that category. Brown has also praised Drummond’s screen-roll defense and his physicality.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Portland’s best newcomer is an old friend, Lillard, who is working to make Rip City forget that he was traded to the Bucks in 2023 and missed last season with an Achilles injury. The 36-year-old is averaging 19.4 points and 4.4 assists, and he has quickly bonded with All-Star wing Deni Avdija. Portland boasts an excellent plus-9.4 net rating when Avdija and Lillard, its two leading scorers, share the court.
12. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are still searching for lineup combinations that can hold up when Nikola Jokic or the scorching Jamal Murray is off the floor. Through nine games, Denver is minus-15 in Jokic’s bench time and minus-29 in Murray’s. Searching for depth after Peyton Watson‘s departure this summer, the Nuggets have received encouraging contributions from Brazile and Bryce Hopkins, both second-rounders from the 2026 draft. Brazile is a 6-10 wing with a 7-4 wingspan who has flashed as a rebounder and defensive disruptor in several wins. He is averaging 20.3 minutes, a number that could rise.
13. Memphis Grizzlies
Rookie Cameron Boozer, the third pick of the 2026 draft, is already surprising opponents with his agility and scoring. “I had no clue he could move the way he moves, also that he could shoot the way he shoots,” Golden State center Draymond Green said on “The Draymond Green Show” podcast. With Isaiah Stewart out due to a right knee bone bruise, Boozer is also showing his versatility by sliding from his natural power forward spot to center. “We are featuring him in a lot of different sets,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said.
14. Atlanta Hawks
With the Hawks’ offense struggling early, coach Quin Snyder inserted rookie Flemings into the starting lineup and moved veteran CJ McCollum to a reserve role. Atlanta won three of the four games with Flemings starting while ranking fifth in offense. Something to watch is whether Snyder trusts Flemings to close games. In the past four games, he ranks eighth in fourth-quarter minutes per game.
15. Dallas Mavericks
Dallas took a flier on Risacher in the three-way trade that sent Luguentz Dort to Atlanta, hoping to 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 trusts him to guard elite scorers across multiple positions. His defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Durant helped the Mavs beat the Thunder and Rockets.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers
Headline acquisition Peyton Watson is still searching for his footing in Cleveland. Rookie guard Thomas, picked 34th in the 2026 draft, has been a pleasant surprise. He shone at summer league and has carried that performance into games that count, averaging 13 points while hitting 48% of his 3s. After three DNPs in Cleveland’s first five games, Thomas has worked his way into playing 20-plus minutes every night.
17. Toronto Raptors
The top newcomer label should go to Kawhi Leonard, who returned to Toronto in an offseason trade, but he has played only two games while sidelined with soreness in his left knee. No newcomer has made a significant impact yet. Graves, the team’s first-round pick, has been the best of the additions, which also include veteran Kyle Anderson and rookie Jaden Bradley. Graves has reached double digits once, scoring 11 points in a loss to Minnesota, and has largely played a depth role.
18. Miami Heat
Even with Miami’s early-season struggles, leaving Antetokounmpo off the list would be almost malpractice. After playing a career-low 36 games last season with Milwaukee, he has appeared in all 10 games this season. The former MVP has scored 25 or more points in seven games and is on pace for his most rebounds per game since 2019-20. He is averaging a career-high 3.7 offensive rebounds.
19. Washington Wizards
The 10-time All-Star Davis counts as a newcomer, even though he joined Washington last February and did not play a game for the team until this season. He is averaging 25.7 points and 9.7 rebounds. Washington is 4-5 when Davis plays and 0-2 when he doesn’t, including a 39-point loss in Oklahoma City without the star big man on the floor.
20. New Orleans Pelicans
Coach Jamahl Mosley has relied largely on familiar faces while juggling his rotation due to injuries. New Orleans’ top eight scorers are all returning members of last year’s 26-win team. Watford, a journeyman forward who signed a minimum contract this summer, has worked his way into the 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 signed a two-year, $15.4 million deal with New Orleans in free agency, is averaging a career-low 15.0 minutes per game.
21. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix ranks last in the league in rebounds per game, and it would be in even worse shape on the boards without Bridges. He is securing a career-best 7.8 rebounds 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 1-5, the Suns have won two of their past three games, with Bridges averaging 9.3 rebounds during that stretch.
22. Indiana Pacers
Injuries have interrupted Zubac‘s impact in his new home, but he played one of his best games of the season against Dallas this week. He scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and Indiana was a plus-6 while he was on the floor. 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.
23. Charlotte Hornets
Allen is averaging 15.3 points while making 47% of his 3-point attempts. Charlotte ranks 28th in team 3-point percentage, but that is not Allen’s fault. He ranks second in individual 3-point percentage among 77 players with at least 50 attempts, sandwiched between Jamal Murray and Stephen Curry.
24. Orlando Magic
Da Silva is not technically a newcomer, since Orlando drafted him in the 2024 first round. With Paolo Banchero injured, however, he is averaging career highs in minutes (30.5) and points (15.1), and he is shooting 40% from 3. He made his first start of the season in a loss to Golden State.
25. LA Clippers
The 6-5 guard, selected with the No. 5 pick out of Illinois, ranks fifth in 3-point percentage among rookies with at least 30 attempts, at 39.0%. He also ranks 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 Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era, Wagler‘s development should be the franchise’s top priority this season.
26. Brooklyn Nets
It has been hit or miss for Randle this season. At times he has been the most consistent Net on a roster full of developing guards. He has had to create his own offense, which he may prefer, as Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin battle injuries. He and Michael Porter Jr. can share the floor only so much because their styles clash. On some nights, such as Sunday against Dallas, he finishes minus-33 in a 130-93 loss. Brooklyn has to find ways to maximize him on this ill-fitting team.
27. Utah Jazz
After a slow start, Darryn Peterson is heating up, showing the scoring ability that led Utah to draft him No. 2 overall. He has posted his first three 20-point performances in the Jazz’s past three games. Over those three games, he has averaged 24 points on 51.9% shooting, including 11-of-24 from 3.
28. Chicago Bulls
Chicago has had few bright spots, but Wilson looks like he belongs. He is averaging 19 points and six rebounds per game, and his potential is tantalizing. He attacks the basket with intent to dunk everything, and his defensive highlights are eye-popping. Wilson is not used to losing, so the Bulls are working to manage his body language and effort. Coach Tiago Splitter benched him last week against the Knicks after noticing him getting down following missed shots. Despite the growing pains, Wilson is easily the team’s best newcomer.
29. Milwaukee Bucks
Burries has already replaced Ryan Rollins in the starting lineup and has been the biggest bright spot during a miserable start in Milwaukee. He had the best game of his young career against Toronto last week, with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Since moving into the starting lineup, he is averaging 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 29 minutes. As the Bucks’ season slips away, Burries should get even more opportunities.
30. Sacramento Kings
The No. 7 pick, Acuff, has taken 20 or more shots in each of his first 10 consecutive games, the longest streak for a rookie since Wilt Chamberlain (19 games) in 1959. His efficiency has also improved. He has made 45% or more of those shots in five of the past six games, showing greater comfort and more willingness to pass. He has recorded games of 10, 12 and 14 assists during that stretch. “Early on, I wasn’t making as many reads. I was forcing a lot of shots,” Acuff said. “I think the game has slowed down for me.”