NBA power rankings New Year edition: How do the Mavericks fare after Luka Doncic's injury?

January is an important part of the NBA season. Teams have had over two months to figure out who they are, and decide how they can put their best foot forward. Other franchises have gotten off to a dreadful start, and can’t count the days to the All-Star break fast enough. We’ll power rank all 30 teams at the start of the new year, beginning with the deplorable, abominable…

It’s been a pretty depressing season in the bayou. The “if only we can stay healthy” narrative has been smashed to pieces, as it doesn’t feel like the Pelicans will ever have all of their important players available. The New York Times’ William Guillory wrote in December 2024, “Zion to Brooklyn? Brandon Ingram to… anywhere?” New Orleans has no choice but to blow it up at this point.

Things have unraveled north of the border. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic had an all-time meltdown in a late December game against the Memphis Grizzlies, where he lambasted the referees in a profanity-laced tirade. Toronto gave up 155 points in that game, and it’s fair to wonder how much longer Rajakovic might have his job.

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The Wizards record isn’t going to be pretty, but they have played better in recent weeks. NBATV’s Sam Mitchell spoke in late December about Washington’s coaching staff identifying four players that would be the key to their long term turnaround. It’s hard to come up with a core group right now, but Alexandre Sarr has shown intriguing flashes of potential.

Another team that can’t seem to get out of its own way from an injury standpoint is the Hornets. Promising second-year player Brandon Miller battled an ankle injury for much of December, and LaMelo Ball hasn’t exactly shown he can stay on the floor either. ESPN’s Tim McMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast in late December about Ball, “We evaluate him the same way we did over the summer. Empty stats guy.”

The Jazz do play hard for head coach Will Hardy, but they’re a team that feels stuck in the doldrums. Lauri Markkanen is an All-Star player, but Utah’s ceiling is limited with him as the team’s centerpiece. Even though they’re rebuilding and figure to have a top pick in a solid 2025 Draft, this team could benefit from adding some veteran leadership.

Although it doesn’t feel like it’ll result in a play-in tournament appearance, things have been slightly better for Portland than anticipated. The Trail Blazers’ center rotation is a little clunky, but their triumvirate of Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams and Donovan Clingan is talented. It’ll be interesting to see if one of them, namely Williams, is on the move before February’s trade deadline.

The Nets have come back down to Earth since a stronger than expected start, and have reset their roster by trading Dorian Finney-Smith away to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for D’Angelo Russell. The New York Post’s Bridget Reilly wrote that their trades of Finney-Smith and Dennis Schroder earlier in December have left Brooklyn without sufficient leadership moving forward.

The Kings controversially fired head coach Mike Brown just before the new year, after he went 108-89 with the franchise. Sacramento’s decision was met with disdain throughout the NBA. Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said, “I’m just absolutely shocked that this decision was made.” Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone addressed how Brown was reportedly fired, saying, “And they call him on the phone. No class. No balls. That’s what I’ll say about that.”

Things have improved dramatically for Detroit in one year. Center Jalen Duren told the Detroit Free Press, “we’re growing up as a team. Guys who have been here are getting older and more experience in the league. You put that all together, it’s a recipe for success. Just gotta keep going.” It would be a major win for the Pistons to snag one of the final play-in spots in the East.

The Bulls are where they’ve been for the better part of the last few years. They sit just below .500; too competitive to bottom out for an elite draft pick, but not good enough to be taken seriously as a contender. Chicago’s players will be brought up frequently as we head closer to the trade deadline.

The Suns are teetering a bit in an ultra competitive Western Conference. They haven’t been able to consistently have their star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal healthy for sustained stretches, which has caused their uneven play. There isn’t much they can do but hope that the team is healthy enough to make a second half push.

Don’t look now, but Philadelphia is surging up the Eastern Conference standings after a horrid start to the year. Although fans around the NBA loved to point out the 76ers struggles in October and November, they’re now within striking distance of the playoffs. It’s the playbook the team hoped to follow at the beginning of the season.

Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson deserves a ton of credit for keeping San Antonio afloat, and even improving their standing during the absence of Gregg Popovich. Johnson had no idea he’d be running the team this season, and has done a great job. Johnson admitted to ClutchPoints that he’s been getting help from 39-year-old Spurs veteran point guard Chris Paul, who is actually a year older than Johnson.

The Pacers haven’t played up to their ability this season, but head coach Rick Carlisle believes their team will round into form. He highlighted the contributions of an unsung player to Sports Illustrated, guard Andrew Nembhard. “Tyrese is elite, and really, Drew quietly is also elite. They both do it a little differently, but they compliment each other very well.”

The Warriors have fallen off dramatically since a superb start to the season, which has left head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy searching for answers. Golden State has popped up in trade discussions, but might not be willing to part with Jonathan Kuminga. The Sporting News’ Colin Keane wrote in late December that he’s looked like a legitimate star recently.

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The Heat can’t be counted out of anything, despite the rampant rumors that they are on the verge of shaking up their roster. Miami continues to get the most out of their players, including veteran big man Kevin Love. He told TalkBasket, “I don’t think I’m an 82-game guy anymore. But certainly, just help wherever the team needs me, whether that’s on the court or away from the court.”

The Lakers changed the look and feel of their team in a major way before the new year, trading D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Neither player offers the same offensive upside as Russell, but Bryan Kalbrosky of USA Today calls Finney-Smith the “perfect defender to make the Lakers a contender.”

The Timberwolves have gone through an adjustment period after their blockbuster trade for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in September 2024. Simon Opatz of The Lead looked at whether Minnesota had come as far as they need to in order to regain contender status. Opatz believes the Timberwolves are ready to take the league by storm in 2025.

The Hawks have been one of the most pleasantly surprising teams in the NBA. Their roster feels a lot more balanced after having traded away Dejounte Murray in the offseason. Trae Young can operate as the unquestioned lead guard, and Atlanta does not have to worry any longer about an undersized backcourt.

The Clippers are another team who are exceeding expectations this season. Kawhi Leonard hasn’t played at all in the 2024 portion of the schedule, but the team is hoping to get him back in the new year. If he can stay on the floor, Los Angeles has a chance to be a sneaky team throughout the remainder of the season.

Grigorios Tatsis captured Milwaukee’s stumbles after winning the NBA Cup in mid-December. He pointed out that stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have missed games in the aftermath of the in-season tournament, which has thrown off their rhythm a little bit. Khris Middleton is still rounding into form after a late start to the season.

The Nuggets still figure to add some outside shooting before the trade deadline, but head coach Michael Malone is happy with the skill set and attitude Russell Westbrook has brought to the team. He told Bleacher Report, “He’s built the right way, and I’ll go to war with Russell Westbrook any day.”

The Magic have been tormented by injuries, as Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero have missed extended time with torn obliques. Orlando will also be without the services of center Moritz Wagner for the remainder of the season, as Franz’s brother tore his ACL in December. Despite the challenges, Orlando has remained right in the mix for a top four seed in the East.

Losing Luka Doncic for at least one month was a crushing blow for Dallas, and Mavericks fans are hoping that is indeed the extent of the absence. With that said, the team is unlikely to rush him back regardless of the team’s spot in the standings, due to his importance. Dallas has had to play even more shorthanded recently, as P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall missed time due to suspension.

The Grizzlies have bounced back nicely after a tumultuous campaign a year ago, but they have to be somewhat concerned about the durability of star point guard Ja Morant. He hasn’t suffered a major injury, but he continues to be knocked out of the lineup with various ailments. Morant was recently diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder.

As Trenton Whiting of Sports Illustrated put it, the Rockets are “on the eve of true contention.” They’re one of the most fascinating teams in the NBA, as their young core has ascended remarkably this season. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Rockets deal one or more of their young players for a proven veteran, or let their natural development timeline unfold.

The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy wrote in December 2024 that the “Knicks’ blockbuster to land OG Anunoby is still a home-run deal one year later.” Anunoby’s rugged defensive ability and versatility gives New York the flexibility to match up with almost any type of lineup thrown against them.

The Celtics figure to be right there at the end of the season, but Boston can’t afford to let complacency kick in. Jaylen Brown told Sports Illustrated, “We’ve had some great moments this season and maybe some comfort has slipped in.” They have plenty of time to find their motivation again, and will be one of the toughest outs this spring.

The Cavaliers won 28 of their first 32 games this season, but still feel like a team that is flying under the radar. At this point, Cleveland has to be taken seriously, but Sam Quinn of CBS Sports believes too many people are sleeping on them. He pointed out that the betting markets don’t respect Cleveland as a team who can advance deep into the postseason.

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For as scary as the Thunder are as presently constituted, they have the ability to get even better. Derek Parker of Sports Illustrated notes that Oklahoma City is one of the few teams that have the assets to make an attractive push for Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson. If that were to happen, Johnson’s addition would add to a glut of riches the team already has.