Tracking the Power Rankings

[scott]

Week of 2/23/2026. Spurs are 40-16.

Will update the table at end of week after everyone has updated. It does look like a few places took last week off. NBA.com has us back to #1.

NBA.com: 1 (up from 2) - https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-19
NBC Sports: 1 (up from 2, note they posted this after the DET game) - https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/...er-top-spot-in-rankings-after-beating-detroit
ESPN: 2 (up from 3) - https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...-regular-season-anthony-edwards-kawhi-leonard
CBS: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-power-rankings-spurs-west-best-feb-25/
USA Today: 3 (unchanged) - https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...er-rankings-pistons-knicks-spurs/88829225007/
Bleacher Report: 1 (up from 2) - https://bleacherreport.com/articles...spurs-and-cavs-surge-lakers-confront-disaster
NYT/The Athletic: 2 (unchanged) - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7065585/2026/02/23/nba-power-rankings-pistons-spurs-celtics-lakers/

 

[scott]

W19 completely updated. No hiding from the hype now.

It's interesting to look back at how a lot of outlets jumped on us early but then kind of assumed we were a flash in the pan and a middle of the pack team for much of November and early December. And CBS sports was ready to give up on us to start the year...

 

[scott]

Week of 3/2/2026. Spurs are 43-17.

Will update the table at end of week after everyone has updated. Losing one game after winning 11 is apparently enough for ESPN to put us below Denver

NBA.com: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-20
NBC Sports: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/...to-top-spot-but-watch-out-for-healthy-thunder
ESPN: 4 (down from 2) - https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...t-schedule-all-30-teams-thunder-pistons-spurs
CBS: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-power-rankings-knicks-top-five-nuggets-wolves-march-4/
USA Today: 3 (unchanged) - https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-20
Bleacher Report: 1 (unchanged) - https://bleacherreport.com/articles...-tout-lebron-james-lakers-rising-perfect-time
NYT/The Athletic: 2 (unchanged) - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/70...power-rankings-thunder-spurs-knicks-warriors/

 

[Rafa]

Week of 3/2/2026. Spurs are 43-17.

Will update the table at end of week after everyone has updated. Losing one game after winning 11 is apparently enough for ESPN to put us below Denver

NBA.com: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-20
NBC Sports: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/...to-top-spot-but-watch-out-for-healthy-thunder
ESPN: 4 (down from 2) - https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...t-schedule-all-30-teams-thunder-pistons-spurs
CBS:
USA Today: 3 (unchanged) - https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-20
Bleacher Report:
NYT/The Athletic: 2 (unchanged) - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/70...power-rankings-thunder-spurs-knicks-warriors/

I honestly lack the words for the ESPN one. We literally beat Detroit on that 11 game winning streak, and the nuggets look terrible right now lmao Clearly a "I think the young spurs team will collapse in the playoffs" take rather than what's actually happening right now take

 

[Dbreiden83080]

I honestly lack the words for the ESPN one. We literally beat Detroit on that 11 game winning streak, and the nuggets look terrible right now lmao Clearly a "I think the young spurs team will collapse in the playoffs" take rather than what's actually happening right now take

Spurs always do well historically being under the radar.. Pay it no attention..

 

[scott]

W20 completely updated. That's a lot of 1s. LOL @ ESPN.

 

[scott]

Week of 3/9/2026. Spurs are 47-17.

Will update the table at end of week after everyone has updated.

Let's see if we've done enough for ESPN to leap us in front of the team we have an 8 game lead over in the standings

NBA.com: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-21
NBC Sports: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/...main-on-top-but-celtics-trying-to-crash-party
ESPN:
CBS:
USA Today: 2 (up from 3) - https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...r-rankings-thunder-spurs-pistons/89085193007/
Bleacher Report:
NYT/The Athletic: 1 (up from 2) - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7100970/2026/03/09/nba-power-rankings-spurs-knicks-celtics/

 

[wEmBoY]

Spurs always do well historically being under the radar.. Pay it no attention..

Wemby’s Spurs defenitely are not under the radar unlike Duncan’sspurs.

 

[Fireball]

Wemby’s Spurs defenitely are not under the radar unlike Duncan spurs.

yeah and the number of national TV games they are having in this stretch is showing it

 

[wEmBoY]

yeah and the number of national TV games they are having in this stretch is showing it

And also ESPN always talk about Wemby. If there is one team that i think is similiar to Duncan’s Spurs its definitely the Nuggets.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Wemby’s Spurs defenitely are not under the radar unlike Duncan’sspurs.

They are still getting heavily disrespected when it comes to playoff chances. I’m not hearing too many experts Pick them to win the NBA championship.

 

[wEmBoY]

They are still getting heavily disrespected when it comes to playoff chances. I’m not hearing too many experts Pick them to win the NBA championship.

Nope. Most of the Media have them only behind okc interms of winning the championship.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Nope. Most of the Media have them only behind okc interms of winning the championship.

I think basically everybody has OKC winning the championship

 

[SpursFan86]

They are still getting heavily disrespected when it comes to playoff chances. I’m not hearing too many experts Pick them to win the NBA championship.

Feel like we’ve been getting plenty of hype from the media recently, and the Spurs now have the 2nd or 3rd best betting odds to win the title at this point. Not really sure we’re being heavily disrespected.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Feel like we’ve been getting plenty of hype from the media recently, and the Spurs now have the 2nd or 3rd best betting odds to win the title at this point. Not really sure we’re being heavily disrespected.

Well, then, I will keep it in my head that we are. I like the underdog role. They seem to be handling things very well right now.

 

[Spursgenius]

will likely be unanimous 1 soon, if we beat Cs and Denver

 

[mudyez]

I think I saw something like #1 OKC 36%, #2 SAS 15%,...with Denver, Boston and others close behind.

Feels about right (but I believe Denver may recover somewhat).

 

[ambchang]

It’s exceedingly rare for a team to win it all after making the playoffs for the first time, the only one I can think of are the 2008 Boston Celtics, and they added 2 HoFers in their prime to another HoFer, when all 3 HoFers have played in the playoffs before with a different core/team.

The other one is the 2020 Lakers, which added Unibrow and played in the most unique situation the NBA has ever been in.

Even last year, when OKC was blitzing the league during the regular season, many people still did not pick them as the favourites as they were so young and only had one playoff run. The Spurs in 98 had to wait a year for Duncan and Robinson to work things out, and even in 99 it was a unique situation (duplicated in 2012). The superteam in Miami had to wait a year in 2011 (again, the unique strike season), Shaq-Kobe had to wait in 98 and 99. The media picking the Spurs as a WC Finalist, and some even having us as a darkhorse, is quite flattering and a sign that the Spurs are the new "it" team.

I think experience and team rapport do matter, even as a long time Spurs fan I wouldn't pick the Spurs as the favourites. OKC is obviously the favourites for many reasons, but even the Celtics, or maybe even the Nuggets if they catch fire (long shot) and Knicks can be reasonable choices (I will personally put them below the Spurs).

At this point, I would say:
1) OKC
2) Celtics
3) Spurs
__________________
Following I wouldn't call them actual contenders and a lot of things have to break right for them.

4) Knicks
5) Cavs
6) Wolves
7) nuggets
8) Pistons
9) Rockets

The only reason I put Knicks and cavs above the Wolves is because the East is easier to get out of, and if they get a favourable matchup or just catch fire for a series they can pull an upset over whoever came out West.

Edit: somehow left out the nuggets.

 

[JBAllDay]

It’s exceedingly rare for a team to win it all after making the playoffs for the first time, the only one I can think of are the 2008 Boston Celtics, and they added 2 HoFers in their prime to another HoFer, when all 3 HoFers have played in the playoffs before with a different core/team.

The other one is the 2020 Lakers, which added Unibrow and played in the most unique situation the NBA has ever been in.

Even last year, when OKC was blitzing the league during the regular season, many people still did not pick them as the favourites as they were so young and only had one playoff run. The Spurs in 98 had to wait a year for Duncan and Robinson to work things out, and even in 99 it was a unique situation (duplicated in 2012). The superteam in Miami had to wait a year in 2011 (again, the unique strike season), Shaq-Kobe had to wait in 98 and 99. The media picking the Spurs as a WC Finalist, and some even having us as a darkhorse, is quite flattering and a sign that the Spurs are the new "it" team.

I think experience and team rapport do matter, even as a long time Spurs fan I wouldn't pick the Spurs as the favourites. OKC is obviously the favourites for many reasons, but even the Celtics, or maybe even the Nuggets if they catch fire (long shot) and Knicks can be reasonable choices (I will personally put them below the Spurs).

At this point, I would say:
1) OKC
2) Celtics
3) Spurs
__________________
Following I wouldn't call them actual contenders and a lot of things have to break right for them.

4) Knicks
5) Cavs
6) Wolves
7 Pistons
8) Rockets

The only reason I put Knicks and cavs above the Wolves is because the East is easier to get out of, and if they get a favourable matchup or just catch fire for a series they can pull an upset over whoever came out West.

Denver is an easy 4 over NY for me. A lot of experience on that roster

 

[NASpurs]

Week of 3/9/2026. Spurs are 47-17.

Will update the table at end of week after everyone has updated.

Let's see if we've done enough for ESPN to leap us in front of the team we have an 8 game lead over in the standings

NBA.com: 1 (unchanged) - https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-21
NBC Sports:
ESPN:
CBS:
USA Today:
Bleacher Report:
NYT/The Athletic: 1 (up from 2) - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7100970/2026/03/09/nba-power-rankings-spurs-knicks-celtics/

"With that, the Spurs are now a top-five team on both ends of the floor. They ranked in the top five on both ends three times under Gregg Popovich: 2006-07 (won the NBA Finals), 2013-14 (won the NBA Finals) and 2015-16 (lost in the Western Conference semifinals)"

Hoping to see an ending more like '07 and '14 instead of '16.

 

[O_V]

Biggest thing in the Spurs favor over other young teams is that Victor looks like a killer. He's the closest thing to Jordan that I've seen since Jordan. In fact, the Spurs have a lot of guys with the clutch gene, a lot more guys with the clutch gene than they've ever had before.

 

[MannyIG]

It’s exceedingly rare for a team to win it all after making the playoffs for the first time, the only one I can think of are the 2008 Boston Celtics, and they added 2 HoFers in their prime to another HoFer, when all 3 HoFers have played in the playoffs before with a different core/team.

The other one is the 2020 Lakers, which added Unibrow and played in the most unique situation the NBA has ever been in.

Even last year, when OKC was blitzing the league during the regular season, many people still did not pick them as the favourites as they were so young and only had one playoff run. The Spurs in 98 had to wait a year for Duncan and Robinson to work things out, and even in 99 it was a unique situation (duplicated in 2012). The superteam in Miami had to wait a year in 2011 (again, the unique strike season), Shaq-Kobe had to wait in 98 and 99. The media picking the Spurs as a WC Finalist, and some even having us as a darkhorse, is quite flattering and a sign that the Spurs are the new "it" team.

I think experience and team rapport do matter, even as a long time Spurs fan I wouldn't pick the Spurs as the favourites. OKC is obviously the favourites for many reasons, but even the Celtics, or maybe even the Nuggets if they catch fire (long shot) and Knicks can be reasonable choices (I will personally put them below the Spurs).

At this point, I would say:
1) OKC
2) Celtics
3) Spurs
__________________
Following I wouldn't call them actual contenders and a lot of things have to break right for them.

4) Knicks
5) Cavs
6) Wolves
7 Pistons
8) Rockets

The only reason I put Knicks and cavs above the Wolves is because the East is easier to get out of, and if they get a favourable matchup or just catch fire for a series they can pull an upset over whoever came out West.

Agree 100% on this. And I think most commentary I've listened to recently does give us a shot at winning it all which is exceedingly rare with no experience at all on this team's core in the playoffs. I think people are fairly grappling with that and they know it is possible but it is hard to say we should be the favorites over OKC. 4 out 5 in the regular season is good and all but we all know the playoffs are a whole new level and we have to see if the Spurs are up to that task yet.

 

[scott]

BaselineBums isn't ready to handle Finals MVP De'Aaron Fox

I'm jk, mostly just posting to say I updated this week's post (a few up from here) with USA Today and NBC Sports.

 

[Arguendo]

Biggest thing in the Spurs favor over other young teams is that Victor looks like a killer. He's the closest thing to Jordan that I've seen since Jordan. In fact, the Spurs have a lot of guys with the clutch gene, a lot more guys with the clutch gene than they've ever had before.

Totally agree.
Just wanted to point out Jordan exited the playoffs in the 1st-rd his first 3 trips, took 5x to get to the conference finals, and 7x to get his first finals/championship.

This team is soooo far ahead of schedule but even with that, an early exit shouldn't surprise anyone. Our seven most important players have combined for 7 playoffs games via Fox.
Or this could be a case of "too young to know you don't belong" and just reck everyone like they have all yr.
Vic is such a unicorn, such a force on D. The team vibes are nothing but phenomenal with Sochan gone. DV has played his role perfectly since returning and Champ has solidified our only glaring hole.
I won't be surprised or disappointed however it plays out.

 

[ambchang]

Sorry, one more thing of note is that the current nba favours younger teams with fresh legs, speed and quick reactions more than the old days.

In the 80s to the 00s, older players who are slower but got that old man strength has an advantage as the game was a grind it down type of game.

So in some ways the spurs may have an advantage over a few contenders with the exception of the thunder.