2025-2026 Post All-Star Break NBA Rankings
Another year and another All-Star Break pass us by; the final third of the NBA season is upon us. With that, Mitch provided us with his second edition of the Post All-Star NBA Rankings. It breaks down who really has a chance to win the title, fighting for a playoff spot, or tanking for the draft.
(records as of 2/19/2026)
WE CAN WIN THIS THING!
True championship contenders that are built to go far and win it all!
Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14)
Favorites until beaten in the playoffs. This isn’t the juggernaut that we saw throughout last year's season, but they haven’t been healthy. J-Dub hasn’t looked the same since his return, and Hartenstein has missed a lot of games as well. That being said, the rise of Ajay Mitchell, Chet has taken a step in counting stats, and SGA has once again put in an MVP-type season so far.
Ceiling: Back-to-back Champion
Floor: Western Conference Semi-Finalist
Denver Nuggets (35-20)
With the injuries to Gordon and Braun, you would’ve thought this team would struggle. With Jokic missing a total of 26 games, you would think they’d be in the play-in. Even with all of that, the Nuggets still have the best offense rating in the NBA. Adelman’s belief in young talents like Spencer Jones and Jalen Pickett has been important. Murray’s ability to show he’s a capable number one option. But Jokic, like SGA above him, is the focal point on offense, and the fact that the Nuggets didn’t fall further in the standings is impressive and shows that this truly is the best depth Jokic has had in his career.
Ceiling: Champion
Floor: Western Conference Semi-Finalist
Detroit Pistons (40-13)
This is one of three options in the East to make the Finals, but the team with the best chance in the conference to actually win it. Cunningham might be the MVP based on the games missed by the stars in the NBA, and he will have deserved it for sure. Duren’s jump that he’s making in scoring, and his impact on defense, are special. Come the playoffs, I question who can relieve Cade when the top defenses in the East hound him. His ability to create for others and run a fun, heliocentric offense is among the best we’ve seen in a long time.
Ceiling: First championship in over 20 years
Floor: Eastern Conference Semi-Finalist
San Antonio Spurs (38-16)
The Spurs were questioned at the beginning of the year about whether their youth would hold them back from being great this year. Those questions are being answered by the impact that Wemby, Castle, and Harper have had as 3 of the top 5 players on this team so far this season. Wembanyama’s efficiency has increased despite the minutes restriction. Fox has proven to be a great running mate and closer for this team as the young stars continue to grow.
Ceiling: Champion
Floor: Western Conference Semi-Finalist
Boston Celtics (35-19)
This ranking is truly dependent on one man’s return for the last portion of the NBA season, Jayson Tatum. Jaylen Brown will get MVP votes for how well he’s led this offense so far this season. Joe Mazzulla won’t care about it, but he should get COTY votes, being just seven wins away from their O/U win total from the beginning of the year. While the addition of Vucevic isn’t a favorite amongst the podcast hosts, it could truly be the perfect weapon for this offense.
Ceiling: Champion
Floor: Eastern Conference Semi-Finalist
We are really good, but are we good enough?
Teams that in moments look like contenders, but the trust of their fans wavers.
New York Knicks (35-20)
Knicks fans may have a fit of rage for having Boston ahead of them. This ranking doesn’t mean they can’t make the finals; it’s just a belief that they won’t win it if they do. Brunson continues to show why he’s one of the best guards in our league. The wing depth of this team is truly staggering, and the rebounding giants in KAT and Robinson make it difficult to beat. However, the worries kick in once the playoffs come around. The addition of Alvarado does give some leeway at guard, but “playoff depth” is what concerns me about this team. Do they have 8-9 guys they trust in the playoffs?
Ceiling: Finals Appearance
Floor: Eastern Conference Semi-Finalist
Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22)
Anthony Edward’s efficiency isn’t discussed enough. The duo of Randle and Ant, averaging over 50 points together, is swept under the rug. McDaniels is not just a 3&D player, but a true scorer for this offense. This team at the beginning of the year was claimed by Mitchell Soell as the “third-best team in the league”. There are nights they show it, but how their offense stumbles in clutch moments of regular-season games isn’t to be scoffed at. Ayo’s ability to be a combo guard is a great addition, and I’m excited to see how Finch will use him in close games.
Ceiling: Finals Appearance
Floor: First Round Exit
Houston Rockets (33-20)
Kevin Durant’s burners may be working over time, but what he’s said on the court to Sengun speaks volumes already. These two are the best scorers on this Rockets team, but the level of effort on both ends of the floor is far different. This is one of the best defensive teams in the league, but its weak link is its center. Very reminiscent of late 2010’s Jokic. However, like the team above them, I worry about this team in clutch moments. KD is still one of the best closers, but will defenses make other guys decide the fate of games in the playoffs? Will they pick up a point guard in the buyout market to be a bench facilitator for the end of the season?
Ceiling: Western Conference Finals
Floor: First Round Exit
Cleveland Cavaliers (34-21)
Everyone believed that if this team ran it back, they would be just as good. What we didn’t count on was another Garland foot injury and the wings getting hurt throughout the year. So with great haste, the Cavaliers bring in Schroeder, Keon Ellis, and the big name of James Harden. Jaylen Tyson is this team's starting wing moving forward, and yet their wing depth instills no confidence. They have the bigs in Mobley and Allen, a plethora of guards to handle the ball and run the show, but it is at wing that this team worries me with the lack of length to guard the Eastern Conference teams ahead of them.
Ceiling: Eastern Conference Finals
Floor: First Round Exit
It's a changing of the guard, but we can compete.
Teams that have a mixture of vets and young stars that could be feisty in the playoff setting
Philadelphia Sixers (30-24)
The leap from Maxey and Edgecomb’s break onto the season has been truly impressive. What no one counted on was the most enjoyable version of Embiid coming after all the injuries. No one is more efficient as a scorer, minutes-wise, in the NBA than Embiid. This team, though, is in a strange spot where I’m not sure everyone agrees it’s Maxey’s team, and their defense lacks stoppers outside of Edgecomb. Still, they are a fun watch and could give some playoff teams issues in the first round.
Ceiling: Eastern Conference Semi-Finalist
Floor: Play-In Exit
Los Angeles Lakers (33-21)
With Luka, anything is possible. With LeBron, anything is possible. With Austin Reeves, limited things are possible. However, these 3 and JJ Reddick’s coaching are truly all this team has on offense. On defense, neither of those three passes the Quinn Cook test and falls into the bottom 10 in defense rating. Those top three guys can put up points and create shots for others, but can they stop other teams from doing the same?
Ceiling: Western Conference Semi-Finalist
Floor: Play-In Exit
I’m confused and don’t know what to think.
Teams that I don’t personally know what to do with, but they just keep winning in the regular season.
Toronto Raptors (32-23)
This team screams a great regular-season team that falters in the playoffs—a team with solid depth but no true superstar talent that would worry other playoff teams. I don’t believe they would have the best player in any playoff matchup. Their starting lineup is full of playoff players, but those are the only players that I would trust in a playoff rotation. Ingram is a solid closer, and we have seen him be a killer in playoff games. Barnes and Poetl are great players who know their role, but Barrett and Quickley are major questions.
Ceiling: Eastern Conference Semi-Finalist
Floor: Play-In Exit
Phoenix Suns (32-23)
This is one of the most surprising teams this season. Booker is back to doing things that I haven’t seen him do since 2021. He’s playing a game that is pleasing to the eye of any NBA fan. This team is better and playing with better chemistry than last year's team, which had “more talent”. Players like Brooks, Gillespie, and Goodwin have proven that players just need a chance in a new role. Jordan Ott should also be given a lot of credit for changing the culture and using what players he has on the roster to create this level of success. They may have a limited ceiling with their current roster, but it still could be a fun team.
Ceiling: Western Conference Semi-Finalist
Floor: Play-In Exit
Los Angeles Clippers (26-28)
This team traded its second-best player, Harden, for a constantly injured Garland. That being said, this is the best version of Kawhi the world has seen since his one year in Toronto. If you watched the All-Star game, you saw the version of him from his last real year in San Antonio. The Zubac trade is a healthy risk with no picks this coming draft unless it falls outside the protection. Mathurin is also a fun short-term addition. I believe in Ty Lue more than most. I just fear what this team is truly capable of.
Ceiling: Western Conference Semi-Finalist
Floor: Play-In Exit
You weren’t supposed to be this good.
Teams that have surprised the masses by playing above their preseason rankings
Charlotte Hornets (26-29)
This is by far the hottest team in the league since the start of the year. Everyone and anyone is hopping on their bandwagon. The astronomical difference between the Hornets at the beginning of the year and where they are now is night and day. This is the most bought in LaMelo has ever been to a team. Kon and Miller are great running mates on the wing. Diabate might be ready for a fight, but few bigs in the league show his level of effort. All of this, and Charles Lee is running his version of Mazzula-Ball in Charlotte.
Ceiling: First Round Exit
Floor: Play-In Exit
Portland Trail Blazers (27-29)
The Billups situation would derail any team. The injuries to vets and the number of guards would derail any team. Deni’s rise to being an All-Star is incredible, but no mistake. Sharpe and Clingan’s continual rise and growth are special. Two-Way and undrafted Caleb Love is showing his talent in the moments he’s given. Splitter has done very well with what he’s been given. Scoot’s return is a great addition, but it is a test to see how this team can rally and rise in the standings in the last third of the season.
Ceiling: First Round Exit
Floor: Play-In Exit
What happened to you?
Teams that have underperformed or had injuries have struggled this year.
Orlando Magic (28-25)
There are a few teams that have been more disappointing than the Magic. Paolo’s year has been streaky for what is supposed to be a franchise cornerstone. Franz and Suggs can’t stay healthy. Anthony Black has been a bright spot for this team, where there are few and far between.
Ceiling: First Round Exit
Floor: Play-In Exit
Golden State Warriors (29-26)
Steph Curry is still one of the top 10 players in the NBA. He is still one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league. With Butler out, Kuminga trade for Porzingis, and Al Horford’s attempt to turn back the clock again, I don’t believe this team is a serious contender without a true second option behind Curry.
Ceiling: First Round Exit
Floor: Play-In Exit
Miami Heat (29-27)
I will keep it short and sweet with this team. Spolestra is still one of the best coaches in the league. Learning and growing as a coach are signs of a great coach. While their experimental offense worked well with their roster at the start of the season, they have clearly moved away from it.
Ceiling: First Round Exit
Floor: Play-In Exit
Atlanta Hawks (26-30)
The Hawks finally did the unthinkable: They moved Trae Young. Jalen Johnson, like Avdija, is having an All-Star season. Truly could be an All-NBA season. This team had high aspirations and hopes. Zach Lowe almost created an island solely for Hawks newcomers and fans based on preseason hype. Dyson Daniels' defense is still incredible. Alexander-Walker and Okongwu have made jumps that are shocking and are now untouchable for other teams. That being said, the rest of the offense is lacking with a bottom-ten offensive rating.
Ceiling: First Round Exit
Floor: Play-In Exit
Milwaukee Bucks (24-30)
Giannis is still a Milwaukee Buck. Ryan Rollins, KPJ, and now Cam Thomas are a fun trio of guards. Dieng is so far a fun experiment. Issue? There is no creation for other teammates. There is a lack of defensive effort or attention. On paper, this team should be better, but Kuzma, Trent, and Turner seem to be far past their prime and are maybe past their role-playing days.
Ceiling: Play-In Exit
Floor: Lottery Pick
Dallas Mavericks (19-35)
Bright Spot? Cooper Flagg. That is the sole piece of good news. Kyrie isn’t coming back from his injury. Anthony Davis was traded away for spare parts. Klay Thompson is no longer a Splash Brother, and it shows. They are only fun to watch because of the potential Rookie of the Year.
Ceiling: High Lottery Pick
Floor: Top 4 Pick
Already prepping for the off-season.
Teams that have clearly given up on the year and are ready for the draft
Chicago Bulls (24-31)
Guards Galore in Chicago. They are built like a college team with guards and undersized bigs. Billy Donovan will still get them to over 32 wins.
Ceiling: Play-In Exit
Floor: Lottery Pick
Memphis Grizzlies (20-33)
They dealt away Jackson Jr for some decent pieces and for future picks. They kept Morant because he truly assimilates into the city. I fear they are falling close to Trae Young-Hawks territory.
Ceiling & Floor: Lottery Pick
New Orleans Pelicans (15-41)
Should they be better? Should they be competing? Or is the Willie Green firing really that much of a toll on them? Or do they just have a bunch of role guys without a number one option?
Ceiling & Floor: Lottery Pick
Utah Jazz (18-38)
“Hey, Will Hardy. Yeah, we are going to ask you to play the third stringers of these fourth quarters. If you win, great. If you lose, even better.”
Ceiling: High lottery Pick
Floor: Dybansta stays in Utah
Brooklyn Nets (15-38)
Jordi Fernandez, Michael Porter Jr., and Nic Claxton are the happy spots. The question now becomes, what will happen to the four first-round picks from the 2025 draft?
Ceiling & Floor: Lottery Pick
Indiana Pacers (15-40)
Haliburton’s injury was the biggest blessing in disguise. Young players have been given a chance. Siakam is playing stellar, like a great number one option for scoring. A gap year where they can gain a top 10 in Zubac and still potentially have a top four pick is a great year.
Ceiling: Late lottery Pick
Floor: Top 4 Pick
Washington Wizards (14-39)
I love this young core. Sarr, George, and Johnson, as a base, with the additions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, could be… a play-in team next season.
Ceiling & Floor: Lottery Pick
Sacramento Kings (12-44)
Let’s play the game “Say something nice about the Sacramento Kings?” Their uniforms are cool, and the fact that Sabonis and LaVine are out the rest of the year might actually land them a top 4 pick.
Ceiling & Floor: Lottery Pick
