A little more than a week into the 2026-27 NBA season, the league has already produced surprise starts, star returns and some disappointing debuts. ESPN's panel of NBA writers weighed in with its first Power Rankings of the campaign, pairing each team's placement with the most surprising stat or trend from opening week.
LeBron James began his 24th season with the revamped Philadelphia 76ers by beating the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, right after the Knicks' ring ceremony. The Knicks have struggled since. They are 1-3 and were last in the league in both offensive efficiency and raw scoring entering Tuesday's game. After a loss to Orlando in which the Magic scored 40 fourth-quarter points, Jalen Brunson said, "We get a little comfortable."
In the West, four teams remain unbeaten: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers. Oklahoma City, the 2024-25 champion, is 4-0 and sits first among the teams listed, even with Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace hurt. Ajay Mitchell stepped up with a career-high 30 points and five assists in Monday's win over the Suns, his first start of the season.
Houston is off to its first 4-0 start since 2014-15. Fred VanVleet is back after missing last season with a torn ACL, and Kevin Durant has opened with four straight 20-point games. Alperen Sengun has become just the third Rocket with multiple 25-5-5 games in the first four games of a season. Memphis, also 4-0, has won three clutch-time games, tying Philadelphia for the most such wins. Ty Jerome ranks third in the league in scoring at 29.8 points per game after a 45-point opener.
The San Antonio Spurs, who reached the Finals in June, have had a rougher start. They are adjusting to a new starting five while facing Oklahoma City and Houston early. Coach Mitch Johnson said, "Our floor right now is way too low."
Minnesota's strong start now comes with a major caveat. The Timberwolves were 3-1, and the lineup of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball posted a 120.8 offensive rating together. But sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday that Edwards will miss up to two months after an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee. Toronto is also dealing with an absence, as Kawhi Leonard will be out for a period of weeks with left knee soreness. In the one game without him, Scottie Barnes went 0-for-12 in a 117-94 loss.
Elsewhere, the Lakers' Austin Reaves was averaging a career-best 26.7 points entering Tuesday, while Luka Doncic was at 34.3. The Pistons were shooting 42% from 3-point range through three games, led by Duncan Robinson at 54%. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 assists in his first four games back for Indiana after missing 16 months. Charlotte's Grayson Allen and Naz Reid have combined for 36.3 points per game since arriving in trades.
Denver had a turbulent opening homestand. The Nuggets came back from 23 points down to beat the Pelicans in overtime after being booed, and Nikola Jokic criticized the fans afterward. Denver then lost at home to the previously winless Warriors and stands at 1-2 with the league's fifth-worst defensive rating. In Washington, Alex Sarr is averaging 8.8 points per game, down from 16.3 last season, as the Wizards balance playing time between young players and veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
