NBA Starting Lineup Power Rankings: The best and worst starting 5s — and what it means for your team in '2526 Ben Rohrbach October 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM 0 Anyone can list the best players in the NBA, but basketball is as much about chemistry as it is talent.
- - NBA Starting Lineup Power Rankings: The best and worst starting 5s — and what it means for your team in '25-26
Ben Rohrbach October 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
0
Anyone can list the best players in the NBA, but basketball is as much about chemistry as it is talent. Within each of the league's 30 teams is a hierarchy, and how well each of the five players on the court understands and performs his role within that hierarchy is every bit as important as his individual skill.
While depth was vital to the success of the Thunder and Pacers last season, and we understand coaches often say, "It's about who closes the game; not who starts it," the pursuit of a roster's most cohesive five-man unit is still paramount. Three of last year's top four starting lineups on our list — the Thunder, Knicks and Timberwolves — reached the conference finals.
In this series, we rank each team's starters for a broader look across the league. Ideally, a lineup has its superstar, a deferential co-star, a third star who owns his role, a fourth option and a fifth starter to tie it all together — clear Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. How close does your team come to an ideal lineup?
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Welcome to the series finale, and what a show it will be.
By ranking all starters 1-30 in each role — as first, second, third, fourth and fifth options — we can now calculate each team's average across the board and finally reveal our Starting Lineup Power Rankings ...
(Tie goes to the team with the higher-ranked first option.)
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1. Oklahoma City Thunder -
No. 1 option: Shai Gilgeous Alexander (2)
No. 2 option: Jalen Williams (1)
No. 3 option: Chet Holmgren (1)
No. 4 option: Lu Dort (7)
No. 5 option: Isaiah Hartenstein (1)
Average score: 2.4
What it means: They should be considerable favorites to repeat. And they are.
2. Denver Nuggets -
No. 1 option: Nikola Jokić (1)
No. 2 option: Jamal Murray (9)
No. 3 option: Aaron Gordon (3)
No. 4 option: Cam Johnson (3)
No. 5 option: Christian Braun (2)
Average score: 3.6
What it means: If Jamal Murray is peak Jamal Murray, the Nuggets are right there with OKC.
3. New York Knicks -
No. 1 option: Jalen Brunson (8)
No. 2 option: Karl-Anthony Towns (5)
No. 3 option: Mikal Bridges (8)
No. 4 option: OG Anunoby (1)
No. 5 option: Mitchell Robinson (4)
Average score: 5.2
What it means: Solid across the board. And an improved bench should only help.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers -
No. 1 option: Donovan Mitchell (9)
No. 2 option: Evan Mobley (3)
No. 3 option: Darius Garland (2)
No. 4 option: Jarrett Allen (2)
No. 5 option: De'Andre Hunter (10)
Average score: 5.2
What it means: Is De'Andre Hunter the answer they needed as a fifth starter?
5. Orlando Magic -
No. 1 option: Paolo Banchero (11)
No. 2 option: Franz Wagner (7)
No. 3 option: Desmond Bane (5)
No. 4 option: Jalen Suggs (5)
No. 5 option: Wendell Carter Jr. (11)
Average score: 7.8
What it means: The Magic are only limited by how far Paolo Banchero can carry them.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves -
No. 1 option: Anthony Edwards (5)
No. 2 option: Julius Randle (13)
No. 3 option: Rudy Gobert (10)
No. 4 option: Jaden McDaniels (8)
No. 5 option: Mike Conley (12)
Average score: 9.6
What it means: Can Julius Randle stay consistent? And can Mike Conley stay young?
7. Golden State Warriors -
No. 1 option: Stephen Curry (6)
No. 2 option: Jimmy Butler (4)
No. 3 option: Draymond Green (7)
No. 4 option: Brandin Podziemski (25)
No. 5 option: Al Horford (6)
Average score: 9.6
What it means: One more wing, and they are in this thing. Jonathan Kuminga, anyone?
8. Los Angeles Lakers -
No. 1 option: Luka Dončić (4)
No. 2 option: LeBron James (2)
No. 3 option: Austin Reaves (11)
No. 4 option: Deandre Ayton (18)
No. 5 option: Rui Hachimura (14)
Average score: 9.8
What it means: Two-way role play would do wonders for their bottom line.
9. Houston Rockets -
No. 1 option: Kevin Durant (12)
No. 2 option: Alperen Şengün (8)
No. 3 option: Amen Thompson (9)
No. 4 option: Jabari Smith Jr. (9)
No. 5 option: Reed Sheppard (20)
Average score: 11.6
What it means: Man, the Fred VanVleet injury is a bummer. Can Reed Sheppard fill the void?
10. San Antonio Spurs -
No. 1 option: Victor Wembanyama (7)
No. 2 option: De'Aaron Fox (6)
No. 3 option: Stephon Castle (17)
No. 4 option: Harrison Barnes (17)
No. 5 option: Jeremy Sochan (13)
Average score: 12
What it means: Victor Wembanyama can be a rising tide that lifts all boats in San Antonio.
11. Los Angeles Clippers -
No. 1 option: Kawhi Leonard (13)
No. 2 option: James Harden (12)
No. 3 option: Ivica Zubac (6)
No. 4 option: Bradley Beal (14)
No. 5 option: Derrick Jones Jr. (17)
Average score: 12.4
What it means: Might John Collins make for a more impactful fifth starter?
12. Detroit Pistons -
No. 1 option: Cade Cunningham (10)
No. 2 option: Jaden Ivey (24)
No. 3 option: Tobias Harris (18)
No. 4 option: Ausar Thompson (12)
No. 5 option: Jalen Duren (3)
Average score: 13.4
What it means: A leap from Jaden Ivey could push the Pistons into more serious contention.
13. Atlanta Hawks -
No. 1 option: Trae Young (19)
No. 2 option: Jalen Johnson (16)
No. 3 option: Kristaps Porziņģis (14)
No. 4 option: Dyson Daniels (6)
No. 5 option: Zaccharie Risacher (16)
Average score: 14.2
What it means: The wings will only improve, but can a contender count Trae Young as its No. 1?
14. Sacramento Kings -
No. 1 option: Zach LaVine (25)
No. 2 option: DeMar DeRozan (18)
No. 3 option: Domantas Sabonis (4)
No. 4 option: Keegan Murray (23)
No. 5 option: Dennis Schröder (7)
Average score: 15.4
What it means: Is the whole less than the sum of its parts?
15. Dallas Mavericks -
No. 1 option: Anthony Davis (14)
No. 2 option: Klay Thompson (27)
No. 3 option: D'Angelo Russell (26)
No. 4 option: Cooper Flagg (4)
No. 5 option: Dereck Lively (8)
Average score: 15.8
What it means: How soon does Cooper Flagg become a primary option?
16. Miami Heat -
No. 1 option: Tyler Herro (26)
No. 2 option: Bam Adebayo (11)
No. 3 option: Norman Powell (13)
No. 4 option: Andrew Wiggins (15)
No. 5 option: Nikola Jović (19)
Average score: 16.8
What it means: Searching for a bona fide No. 1 in the post-Jimmy Butler era.
17. Toronto Raptors -
No. 1 option: Scottie Barnes (24)
No. 2 option: Brandon Ingram (17)
No. 3 option: RJ Barrett (20)
No. 4 option: Immanuel Quickley (19)
No. 5 option: Jakob Poeltl (5)
Average score: 17
What it means: Not a bad player in the bunch. Not a great one, either.
18. Memphis Grizzlies -
No. 1 option: Ja Morant (15)
No. 2 option: Jaren Jackson Jr. (10)
No. 3 option: Zach Edey (28)
No. 4 option: Jaylen Wells (20)
No. 5 option: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (15)
Average score: 17.6
What it means: The whole at their center position is kind of a killer.
19. Philadelphia 76ers -
No. 1 option: Joel Embiid (20)
No. 2 option: Tyrese Maxey (15)
No. 3 option: Paul George (12)
No. 4 option: VJ Edgecombe (22)
No. 5 option: Kelly Oubre Jr. (25)
Average score: 18.8
What it means: They are, for better or worse, a team built on the knees of Joel Embiid.
20. Boston Celtics -
No. 1 option: Jaylen Brown (17)
No. 2 option: Derrick White (14)
No. 3 option: Payton Pritchard (19)
No. 4 option: Sam Hauser (24)
No. 5 option: Neemias Queta (22)
Average score: 19.2
What it means: Jayson Tatum's injury and the ensuing offseason upheaval shook their core.
21. Indiana Pacers -
No. 1 option: Pascal Siakam (18)
No. 2 option: Bennedict Mathurin (26)
No. 3 option: Andrew Nembhard (16)
No. 4 option: Aaron Nesmith (11)
No. 5 option: Isaiah Jackson (27)
Average score: 19.6
What it means: The absences of Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner are easily apparent.
22. Phoenix Suns -
No. 1 option: Devin Booker (16)
No. 2 option: Jalen Green (20)
No. 3 option: Mark Williams (27)
No. 4 option: Dillon Brooks (13)
No. 5 option: Ryan Dunn (23)
Average score: 19.8
What it means: Could have done worse in the Kevin Durant trade.
23. Milwaukee Bucks -
No. 1 option: Giannis Antetokounmpo (3)
No. 2 option: Myles Turner (21)
No. 3 option: Gary Trent Jr. (25)
No. 4 option: Kevin Porter Jr. (30)
No. 5 option: AJ Green (21)
Average score: 20
What it means: Everything lies on those broad shoulders of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
24. New Orleans Pelicans -
No. 1 option: Zion Williamson (21)
No. 2 option: Trey Murphy III (19)
No. 3 option: Jordan Poole (23)
No. 4 option: Herb Jones (16)
No. 5 option: Yves Missi (24)
Average score: 20.6
What it means: So much potential. So many ifs. (Namely: Zion Williamson.)
25. Portland Trail Blazers -
No. 1 option: Deni Avdija (28)
No. 2 option: Shaedon Sharpe (25)
No. 3 option: Jrue Holiday (15)
No. 4 option: Toumani Camara (21)
No. 5 option: Donovan Clingan (18)
Average score: 21.4
What it means: If only Scoot Henderson could claim his draft status as a No. 1 option.
26. Chicago Bulls -
No. 1 option: Coby White (27)
No. 2 option: Matas Buzelis (29)
No. 3 option: Nikola Vučević (21)
No. 4 option: Josh Giddey (10)
No. 5 option: Isaac Okoro (30)
Average score: 23.4
What it means: Poor Isaac Okoro, last of the fifth starters.
27. Utah Jazz -
No. 1 option: Lauri Markkanen (22)
No. 2 option: Ace Bailey (30)
No. 3 option: Keyonte George (30)
No. 4 option: Taylor Hendricks (29)
No. 5 option: Walker Kessler (9)
Average score: 24
What it means: A lot of interchangeable parts in Utah, none of which is ideal.
28. Charlotte Hornets -
No. 1 option: LaMelo Ball (23)
No. 2 option: Brandon Miller (23)
No. 3 option: Miles Bridges (22)
No. 4 option: Kon Knueppel (26)
No. 5 option: Ryan Kalkbrenner (29)
Average score: 24.6
What it means: At least they have youth on their side.
29. Brooklyn Nets -
No. 1 option: Cam Thomas (30)
No. 2 option: Michael Porter Jr. (22)
No. 3 option: Nicolas Claxton (24)
No. 4 option: Terrance Mann (27)
No. 5 option: Egor Dёmin (28)
Average score: 26.2
What it means: Woof.
30. Washington Wizards -
No. 1 option: CJ McCollum (29)
No. 2 option: Khris Middleton (28)
No. 3 option: Bub Carrington (29)
No. 4 option: Alex Sarr (28)
No. 5 option: Kyshawn George (26)
Average score: 28
What it means: Somebody better pop.
Pretty good! If we juxtapose these rankings against BetMGM's over/under totals, all but four teams are within four spots of those rankings. For example, the top four teams (Thunder, Nuggets, Knicks and Cavaliers) and bottom four teams (Jazz, Hornets, Nets and Wizards) are the same, according to both the Starting Lineup Power Rankings and BetMGM's over/under totals, just in different orders. We'll take it!
The outliers? Well, the Starting Lineup Power Rankings did not like the Bucks as much as the oddsmakers, and there may be good reason for that. Look at that drop-off after Antetokounmpo. It is as stark as any team in the league, which is why we should all be wondering how long Antetokounmpo is for Milwaukee.
On the other hand, the Starting Lineup Power Rankings gave a little more love to the Spurs, Kings and Heat than BetMGM did. There are good reasons for that, too. I am higher on San Antonio's youth — including Wembanyama's ceiling this season — than the oddsmakers. The Kings are more talented individually than they are as a team. And Miami might just end up being better than we think, as usual.
We'll see how it plays out. Maybe we hammer the under for the Bucks and the over for the Spurs, our two biggest outliers. This is what games are for. Thanks for taking the ride again. Let the season begin.
Source: "AOL Sports"
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