So far, the 2022-23 NBA season has lived up to the hype.
With nearly half of the season in the books, both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference standings are as tight as can be. The title race is as open as it has been in a long time. It feels like history is made almost every night. The MVP race is shaping up to be one of the wildest in recent memory.
As the calendar flips to 2023, now is as good of a time as ever to take stock of the league with some good old-fashioned Power Rankings.
As a reminder, these Power Rankings are a reflection of where teams stand up to this point in the season, not necessarily a projection of where they may land later in the season. In addition to ranking every team in the NBA, we're keeping things festive by handing out New Year's resolutions for each team.
Got it? Great. Let's get to it.
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NBA Power Rankings 2022-23
1. Boston Celtics
Record: 26-10
New Year's resolution: Keep your foot on the gas.
The Celtics have the best record in the NBA. Jayson Tatum is playing at an MVP level and Jaylen Brown is flirting with his first All-NBA appearance. Everything is falling into place to return to the NBA Finals but Boston can’t get comfortable like it did during a three-game losing streak to the Magic (twice!) and Pacers.
— Kyle Irving
2. Denver Nuggets
Record: 23-12
New Year's resolution: Get healthy.
Nikola Jokic’s MVP level of play has launched the Nuggets to the top of the West despite Michael Porter Jr. missing games and Jamal Murray working his way back from injury. Once it gets firing on all cylinders, Denver is going to be a scary team.
— Benyam Kidane
MORE: Jamal Murray is the biggest X-factor in the West
3. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 24-12
New Year's resolution: Keep flying under the radar.
The Nets have been winning and no one is paying attention. Let the NBA world talk about the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks and Celtics, and keep racking up the wins. When expectations are low, it seems that’s when Brooklyn is at its best.
— Carlan Gay
MORE: Don't forget about Kevin Durant in competitive MVP race
4. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 23-13
New Year's resolution: Avoid the injury bug.
The Pelicans are a top-10 team in offensive, defensive and net rating, and they’re fighting for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. New Orleans appears to be a legitimate contender, but it has been forced to play stretches without Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and others. A fully healthy Pels squad could do some serious damage in the playoffs. Let’s hope we see it.
— Jordan Greer
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 23-14
New Year's resolution: Find an upgrade on the wing.
Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are as good as advertised. The only thing missing? A more reliable small forward. Figure that out, and the Cavs will be cooking with gas.
— Scott Rafferty
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 22-13
New Year's resolution: Back up the words with actions.
Ja Morant boldly proclaimed that the Grizzlies are “fine” in the Western Conference, and to his credit, he hasn’t backed down from those comments. After being smacked by the banged-up Warriors and Suns, though, Memphis dropped to 9-10 against West opponents. The trash talk is fun, but how about a few more conference wins?
— Jordan Greer
7. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 23-12
New Year's resolution: Find a way to open up the court.
The Bucks have been woeful from beyond the arc this season, with their halfcourt offense looking stagnant for long stretches. Brook Lopez and Grayson Allen are the only rotation players shooting above 40 percent from deep. While Khris Middleton’s absence has been a significant factor, without reliable snipers from deep, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s life becomes all the more difficult.
— Benyam Kidane
MORE: You won't believe this defensive stop from Giannis
8. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 21-14
New Year's resolution: As Pat Riley would say, “Keep the main thing, the main thing.”
Rumors have already emerged about James Harden’s plans in free agency, and Doc Rivers won’t be able to escape questions about his job security even if Philadelphia has a terrific regular season. The Sixers just have to ignore any outside noise and remain focused on the challenge in front of them.
— Jordan Greer
MORE: James Harden shrugs off rumors about potential return to Rockets
9. LA Clippers
Record: 21-17
New Year's resolution: Stay the course.
The Clippers have one of the most dangerous rosters on paper, but injuries have limited availability to key players. They’ve managed to keep themselves in the top half of the West. Once they get their whole squad consistently out on the floor, they’ll be just fine.
— Benyam Kidane
MORE: Why Kawhi Leonard's stats don't tell the full story of his return
10. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 21-16
New Year's resolution: Get Luka Doncic some help.
The “get Superstar X help” take may be overplayed, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Dallas has needed Herculean efforts from Doncic to stay around .500. At some point in this calendar year, the Mavs’ brass will need to do something in order to keep frustrations at bay.
— Gilbert McGregor
11. Phoenix Suns
Record: 20-17
New Year's resolution: Find a trade for Jae Crowder.
This has gone on for too long. The Suns need something or someone to show up in that locker room and get them back on track. A Crowder trade could get them the boost they need.
— Carlan Gay
12. Sacramento Kings
Record: 19-15
New Year's resolution: Keep it fun.
The Kings have been winning, lighting the beam and restoring the excitement in Sac Town. As the season goes on, pressure will mount as they look to end a lengthy playoff drought, but they can’t let the noise get too distracting. Keep things light and the wins — and playoffs — will come.
— Gilbert McGregor
13. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 18-17
New Year's resolution: Patch up the leaky defense.
After starting the season strong on the defensive end, the Blazers have given up some huge point totals in recent weeks, wasting the production of their top-10 offense. The absences of Gary Payton II and Nassir Little haven’t helped, but Portland will struggle to compete in the cutthroat West if it doesn't improve defensively.
— Benyam Kidane
14. Utah Jazz
Record: 19-20
New Year's resolution: Pick a lane.
The Jazz were widely expected to be in rebuilding mode after trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert during the 2022 offseason. Now, with the team right in the middle of what should be an exciting Western Conference playoff race, the front office has to answer a tough question: Does Utah continue to accumulate future assets or let this surprisingly fun group chase a postseason berth?
— Jordan Greer
15. Indiana Pacers
Record: 20-17
New Year's resolution: Let Tyrese Haliburton and Benedict Mathurin cook.
The Pacers have found their future backcourt core in these two young guys, which has propelled them into the playoff picture. But with Myles Turner and Buddy Hield drawing attention from rival teams, Indiana has to decide whether to move the veteran duo and fully embrace the rebuild or get stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity.
— Benyam Kidane
16. Miami Heat
Record: 19-18
New Year's resolution: Test the trade market.
The Heat entered the season looking to be among the East’s best teams but find themselves floundering around .500. Given they have several potential trade assets in Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro, whose extension is yet to kick in, it might be time for Pat Riley to swing for the fences and look to add another star to the mix.
— Benyam Kidane
17. Golden State Warriors
Record: 19-18
New Year's resolution: Win on the road.
If the Warriors were even a .500 team away from Chase Center, they’d be battling with the Grizzlies, Suns, Nuggets and Pelicans for the No. 1 spot in the West. Instead, they’re hanging around with teams who’d be happy to make the Play-In.
— Carlan Gay
18. New York Knicks
Record: 19-18
New Year's resolution: Stick to your identity.
Through 23 games, when the Knicks were 10-13, they ranked 26th in defensive efficiency. Since then, only the Grizzlies, Celtics and 76ers have been stingier on that end of the court. Keep defending at a high level, and the Knicks might just sneak into the playoffs in the loaded Eastern Conference.
— Scott Rafferty
19. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 17-19
New Year's resolution: Figure out the Trae Young-Dejounte Murray dynamic.
The addition of Murray was supposed to make Young’s life easier, and yet his usage rate almost hasn’t changed. If this Hawks team is going to make any noise, it’s going to be because their two-best players learn how to get the most out of each other.
— Scott Rafferty
MORE: Will the Hawks eventually trade Trae Young? Well, it's complicated
20. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 16-21
New Year's resolution: Get your stars on the same page.
After a feel-good season in 2021-22, the vibes have been way off in Minnesota, and it starts with the lack of chemistry between Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Gobert in particular has looked out of sorts in his new environment, and his offensive and defensive numbers are down across the board. The Timberwolves need to figure out how to put the key pieces of this puzzle together.
— Jordan Greer
21. Toronto Raptors
Record: 16-20
New Year's resolution: Don’t do something you'll regret.
Yes, it’s been a rough start, but the Raptors had an almost identical record at this point of last season. Maybe they turn it around again, but even if they can’t, it’s not worth making a short-sighted move in an effort to save this season.
— Scott Rafferty
22. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 15-21
New Year's resolution: Let Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play out this season.
The Thunder haven't been shy about shutting players down in recent years as they look toward the future. Gilgeous-Alexander is putting together an All-NBA caliber season and as long as he doesn’t have a legitimate injury that puts his future in jeopardy, OKC should let him go after a coveted spot for a claim as a top-15 player in the league.
— Kyle Irving
23. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 15-21
New Year's resolution: Do whatever it takes to make the playoffs.
It sounds self-explanatory, but the Lakers cannot continue to waste away the back end of LeBron James’ career. In Year 20, he’s averaging almost 30 points per game but his team can’t even crack the Play-In Tournament! Trade the coveted 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. Do whatever it takes to give LeBron another shot at a title.
— Kyle Irving
MORE: Examining LeBron James' All-Star case and place in history
24. Chicago Bulls
Record: 16-20
New Year's resolution: Focus on the future.
It’s become clear that as constructed, things aren’t going to work for the Bulls. Find trade partners to take on DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, develop the young guys and hopefully keep your first-round pick from conveying to Orlando.
— Gilbert McGregor
MORE: Best potential landing spots for DeMar DeRozan
25. Washington Wizards
Record: 16-21
New Year's resolution: Get future assets for Kyle Kuzma.
Kuzma is enjoying a career year and would certainly be an asset to a contender. Plus, he's already said he intends to decline his player option to test unrestricted free agency this offseason. It’s time for Washington to start compiling pieces for the future, and it starts with trading Kuzma before it loses him for nothing.
— Kyle Irving
26. Orlando Magic
Record: 13-24
New Year's resolution: Establish a pecking order between your young talent.
The Magic have a surplus of exciting young players, with overlap between guards like Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz and R.J. Hampton, and forwards/bigs like Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke, Bol Bol and Mo Bamba. It’s clear they want to build around Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr., but after this season, it might be time to cash in on some promising prospects for an established star.
— Kyle Irving
MORE: What Magic are saying about Bol Bol, a basketball 'unicorn'
27. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 10-27
New Year's resolution: Let the next generation rock.
The franchise is building around a 21-year-old — there’s no reason that Kai Jones, Nick Richards and Mark Williams shouldn’t be playing next to LaMelo Ball more than they are. In a season like this one, Charlotte can afford to let its young big men play through their mistakes.
— Gilbert McGregor
28. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 12-24
New Year's resolution: Keep doing what you’re doing.
The Spurs are clearly all in for the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, owning the fourth-worst record in the NBA. The more you lose, the more ping-pong balls you’ll get to land the franchise-altering, once-in-a-lifetime prospect.
— Kyle Irving
MORE: Jeremy Sochan's one-handed free throw, explained
29. Houston Rockets
Record: 10-26
New Year's resolution: Find a new home for Eric Gordon.
Gordon is no stranger to the rumor mill, but the Rockets shunned offers in each of the last two seasons. He still has enough juice to help a contender, Houston could get another asset in return for him and it would open up even more opportunities for the youngsters.
— Scott Rafferty
30. Detroit Pistons
Record: 9-29
New Year's resolution: Actually listen to calls for Bojan Bogdanovic.
It’s no surprise that the Pistons value Bogdanovic’s leadership and production, but he’s not on the same timeline as other players on the team, and Cade Cunningham’s injury spoiled any hope of them sneaking into the Play-In Tournament this season. There should be plenty of interest in Bogdanovic, so it’s in their best interest to explore the market.
— Scott Rafferty
