Anyone can list the best players in the NBA, but basketball is as much about chemistry as it is about talent. Within each of the league’s 30 teams there is a hierarchy, and how well each of the five players on the court understands and fulfills his role within that hierarchy is every bit as important as his individual ability.
Ideally, a lineup has its superstar, a respectable co-star, a third star who owns his role, a fourth option and a fifth starter to tie it all together – clearing Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. In this series, we line up the five best players from each level for a broader look across the league. How close is your team to ideal alignment?
No. 1 options • No. 2 options • No. 3 options • No. 4 options • No. 5 options
“But you finished this project,” you say to yourself, “and I can’t imagine it getting any better.”
In addition to, you see, profiling the five best players from each level and ranking each team’s five prospects 1-30, we not only provided you with insight on 150 individuals but evaluated each team’s starting lineup.
That’s right: We’ve created The Starting Lineup Power Rankings right under your nose. What an easter egg.
Astute readers have noticed that the reigning champion Boston Celtics have placed every member of their starting five in the top five of their tier. It was the strength of their team. They outscored opponents by 11 points per 100 possessions during the regular season, and then outscored them by more in the playoffs. They may not have the best #1 option, but they do boast the top #4 and 5 options, and that was enough to beat Luka Dončić’s Dallas Mavericks in a sport most often dominated by its superstars.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks are the only other teams to place multiple starters in the top five of each division. This group in total includes three of the last four NBA champions and six of the eight-best teams of the last season in both conferences (according to record).
So maybe The Starter Range Power Rankings are pretty reliable power rankings in general…
TEAM | NO. 1 | NO. 2 | NO. 3 | NO. 4 | NO. 5 | AVG. |
BOS | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2.4 |
MIN | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5.6 |
OKC | 5 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 6.4 |
DAL | 2 | 7 | 19 | 11 | 5 | 8.8 |
THE | 1 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 24 | 10.0 |
THOUSAND | 3 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 23 | 10.2 |
CLE | 14 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10.4 |
NOP | 16 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 10.6 |
PHX | 10 | 2 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11.2 |
GSW | 6 | 22 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11.6 |
MYSELF | 13 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 11.6 |
NOW | 11 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 11.6 |
PHI | 9 | 11 | 1 | 23 | 21 | 13.0 |
SAC | 20 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 16 | 13.0 |
ORL | 19 | 17 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 15.0 |
IND | 18 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 25 | 15.2 |
MY | 15 | 4 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 15.6 |
LAL | 12 | 1 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 16.0 |
SAS | 7 | 23 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 16.0 |
NEW | 28 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 16.2 |
LAC | 17 | 16 | 23 | 29 | 13 | 19.6 |
CHA | 25 | 20 | 17 | 30 | 10 | 20.4 |
BY | 27 | 21 | 30 | 22 | 12 | 22.4 |
YOU | 26 | 26 | 15 | 19 | 27 | 22.6 |
ATL | 21 | 25 | 16 | 26 | 26 | 22.8 |
BKN | 30 | 29 | 25 | 20 | 14 | 23.6 |
TOR | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 29 | 24.8 |
THE | 24 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 18 | 25.2 |
UTA | 22 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 26.6 |
WAS | 29 | 30 | 26 | 18 | 30 | 26.6 |
Can you dispute the placement of any teams here? Sure, but can’t you argue about any power ranking? At least this one came with five explainers. The more you look at this chart, the clearer the landscape of the NBA becomes. You can draw quick conclusions about each team at a quick glance, so we did.
Boston Celtics: They should be heavy favorites to repeat. And they are.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Watch for the further rise of Anthony Edwards.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Jalen Williams’ development as a co-star is everything.
Dallas Mavericks: If Klay Thompson turns back the clock…
Denver Nuggets: The loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was bigger than I thought.
Milwaukee Bucks: How Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton fell.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland’s development could unlock handicap starting five.
New Orleans Pelicans: Solid across the board. Incredible if Zion Williamson is incredible.
Phoenix Suns: Tyus Jones makes a world of difference.
Golden State Warriors: If they can ever revive the 2022 NBA Finals Andrew Wiggins.
Memphis Grizzlies: Simple solution: Jaren Jackson Jr. at 5 and lots of it.
New York Knicks: The central position holds them back.
Philadelphia 76ers: If Joel Embiid is healthy. If Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre Jr. are consistent. If.
Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox is All-Star. They need him to be a superstar.
Orlando Magic: Anyone in their lineup could rank higher by season’s end. Orlando is on the rise.
Indiana Pacers: They’re one trade — and another Tyrese Haliburton jump — away.
Miami Heat: Small roster losses added up to a big one.
Los Angeles Lakers: That decline after LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
San Antonio Spurs: Small nominal gains added up to a big one.
Houston Rockets: Waiting for Jalen Green to come.
Los Angeles Clippers: Trading one big piece for a few smaller ones lowered their ceiling.
Charlotte Hornets: Some love for Mark Williams.
Portland Trail Blazers: At least they are young.
Chicago Bulls: Coby White went from their one shaky slot to their only bright spot very quickly.
Atlanta Hawks: How good can you be when Trae Young is your #1 pick?
Brooklyn Nets: Cam Thomas and Dennis Schröder ride a bus. God help us.
Toronto Raptors: Everyone has to be better. Everyone.
Detroit Pistons: Why pay Tobias Harris $52 million to be #2 on a terrible team?
Utah Jazz: What did they accomplish by not trading Lauri Markkanen?
Washington Wizards: Woof. (Would they give Jonas Valančiūnas to the Knicks?)
Here it is. We solved the NBA. They don’t even need to play the games now. Oh wait, that’s the best part. Training camp is here. Preseason is around the corner. The regular season can’t come soon enough.
Now prove me wrong.
