Grading Every NBA Team After Wild First Week

The 2025-26 NBA season is off to a raucous, high-scoring start.

Now that we have an entire week of games done, it's time to break out the red pen and rubric for all 30 teams.

Based on team and individual performance through this first handful of games, and while keeping preseason expectations in mind, here's how each team grades out so far.

Two of the Atlanta Hawks' three losses look pretty reasonable right now. One was to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Another was on the road and against the tougher-than-expected Chicago Bulls.

Even still, the expectations with which the revamped Hawks entered 2025-26 suggested they should be better than 1-3. And that extends to several individual players.

Trae Young is shooting 36.4 percent from the field and 19.2 percent from three. Jalen Johnson has yet to hit a triple. And Dyson Daniels is at just 32.0 percent from the field.

All three will have to be significantly better for Atlanta to piece a few wins together.

Grade: D+

The Boston Celtics entered the season with far humbler expectations than the Hawks, but it still feels a little foreign to see this team next to a losing record.

When you look at the schedule, though, there aren't any bad losses. The Philadelphia 76ers are better than anyone anticipated, and visiting the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons is going to be tough for Eastern Conference teams all season.

On Monday, the floodgates finally opened, as they hit 18 threes in a blowout win over the New Orleans Pelicans. And with the volume that this team gets up every night, the Celtics are bound to stay in or around the play-in range, even without Jayson Tatum.

Grade: C+

If you're looking for a worse mark for the 0-4 Brooklyn Nets, bear in mind the expectations coming into this campaign.

Brooklyn took (and kept) five rookies from the first round of this coming draft. Their leading scorers, Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas, sometimes play like they're allergic to passing. There is almost no way they'd escape the lottery this summer.

Still, there are hints of optimism here. Thomas already has a 40-point game and is averaging 24.3 points. And MPJ is putting up 19.3 points, while shooting 40.0 percent from deep.

By February, both could have enough trade value for Brooklyn to get real returns (though Thomas would have to agree to a deal, as he has an implicit no-trade clause).

Grade: C

The Charlotte Hornets just got blown out by the Miami Heat on Tuesday and are in the bottom half of the league in points allowed per 100 possessions, but their offense is absolutely electric.

LaMelo Ball (26.3 points, 9.5 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 threes) has a lot to do with that, but Miles Bridges (18.8 points) and Collin Sexton (18.5) are both contributing, too. And Kon Knueppel looks every bit as experienced as anyone else on the roster.

Despite being a 20-year-old rookie, Knueppel plays with a good sense of where to be on both ends of the floor. He knows how to use head fakes, ball movement and change of pace to create advantages. And he's pitching in 16.0 points and 2.0 assists in just 29.5 minutes, while shooting 53.3 percent from deep.

Grade: B+

Your first-place Chicago Bulls have six players (Nikola Vučević, Josh Giddey, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, Matas Buzelis and Tre Jones) averaging at least 13.0 points and another (Patrick Williams) at 9.3.

Jones and Giddey are combining for over 14 assists per game, and Vučević is grabbing 13.0 rebounds a night.

The production is spread throughout the roster, and everyone's team-first approach has Chicago undefeated against three clubs that were in the playoffs last season.

Things are going to get rockier as we move deeper into the season, but the Bulls are playing the right way and looking like a real threat to get into the postseason.

Grade: A

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost their first game of the season, but it was on the road and against another team with a legitimate shot to win the East (the New York Knicks).

In the grand scheme of things, that loss is fine, especially since Cleveland followed that up with three straight victories and hasn't had a single minute from Darius Garland yet (still recovering from a toe injury).

And as long as Donovan Mitchell (31.3 points on 56.4 percent shooting) and Evan Mobley (18.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.8 steals) keep playing like they are, Cleveland is going to keep stacking wins.

Grade: A

This grade isn't lower because, frankly, the national media's expectations of the Dallas Mavericks were out of whack.

Even if Kyrie Irving was healthy, there just might not be enough offensive firepower here to truly contend for a title. Playing all of Anthony Davis, a still developing Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively makes for an awfully cramped floor. And without an experienced offensive engine to make it all work together, the results have been rough.

In a season in which scoring numbers are off the charts, Dallas has failed to get to 100 points twice. It's been below the league average for points per game three times.

Flagg has shown flashes of his superstar upside as both a scorer and playmaker, but it's harder to uncover those qualities in this situation.

Grade: C-

The Denver Nuggets coughed up a double-digit second-half lead in their season opener, but anyone can find themselves on the wrong end of a Stephen Curry barrage.

Since then, Denver has had a pair of workmanlike victories against the rebuilding Phoenix Suns and the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves.

And while the Nuggets defense looks like it could use more time to come together, the offense is already clicking.

Jamal Murray is putting up 30.3 points and 6.0 assists, Aaron Gordon is at 25.3 points (he had 50 against Golden State) and Nikola Jokić is averaging 20.0 points, 15.3 rebounds and 11.7 assists.

Grade: B+

The Detroit Pistons capped their first week of games with a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that's a title contender. And their one potentially concerning loss (to the Chicago Bulls on opening night) is probably neutralized by a road win over the Houston Rockets.

All in all, a .500 start is hardly anything to panic about, especially when you consider Cade Cunningham's struggles.

Through these four games, he is shooting just 36.1 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from deep. Given the way he played last season, when he made third-team All-NBA, those issues aren't likely to continue.

Grade: B

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Golden State Warriors ran into a motivated Portland Trail Blazers squad on Friday to take their only loss of the season.

Other than on that night, everything appears to have clicked right into place for this team.

Stephen Curry is, to no one's surprise, still shooting the lights out in his age-37 campaign. Al Horford looks like a near-perfect fit, with his experience, passing and defense. Jimmy Butler continues to look like one of the best acquisitions of the last 12 months. And even Jonathan Kuminga, after his offseason-long stalemate with the front office, looks motivated and is making better decisions as a starter.

Even with one of the oldest rotations in the league, the Warriors look like a bona fide title contender right now.

Grade: A

A double-overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (in OKC) is hardly cause for concern. Losing to the Pistons, who were in the playoffs and have an All-NBA point guard, isn't a giant red flag, either.

But the Houston Rockets entered this campaign widely considered to be a championship contender, even after Fred VanVleet went down with a torn ACL. So, seeing them with a sub-.500 record makes it tough to have them any higher than a C.

Having said that, you can kind of see the vision, particularly in the loss to the Thunder and in a blowout win over the Nets.

Houston now has a go-to scorer in Kevin Durant, who's averaging 26.3 points. It should be able to cobble together enough playmaking between Alperen Şengün (25.7 points and 6.7 assists), Amen Thompson (13.3 points and 4.7 assists) and Reed Sheppard (11.0 points, 4.3 assists and a 44.4 three-point percentage). And Sheppard's shooting is starting to pop.

Grade: C

The Indiana Pacers may be 0-3, but without their best player (Tyrese Haliburton is likely to miss the entire campaign with his ruptured Achilles), it would have been fair to expect from three games against 2025 Western Conference playoff teams.

That's not the only thing that gets Indiana off the hook on this first report card, though. On top of the Haliburton injury, Johnny Furphy, Bennedict Mathurin, T.J. McConnell, Andrew Nembhard and Obi Toppin are all banged up now.

With this much bad fortune piling up, it's impossible to get a grasp on what exactly this team will look like.

If, once everyone is healthy, Mathurin (31.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in two games) and Pascal Siakam (26.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists) keep playing like they have through this early part of the schedule, Indiana should start winning and get into the mix for a play-in spot.

Grade: B

The Los Angeles Clippers are loaded with talent and experience, but in two blowout losses to the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors, the "experience" side of that compliment has just looked old.

And when you consider the two wins came against the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers, two teams that could be in the lottery in June, it's fair to be a little concerned about the makeup of this roster.

Yes, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden should give L.A. a puncher's chance in a seven-game series against just about anyone. But it also wouldn't be at all surprising to see the oldest team in the league gas out early.

Grade: C-

Los Angeles Lakers fans would certainly prefer another win (or two) to their .500 record, but given the injuries to LeBron James and Luka Dončić, this is a good start.

That's even easier to say when you focus on the individual play of Dončić (before the injury) and Austin Reaves.

In his two games, Dončić put up an otherworldly 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. Then, in the first game he missed, Reaves went for 51 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He followed that up with another 41 in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

The two playmakers have been good enough to make you wonder exactly what kind of role LeBron can or should have when he returns.

Grade: B+

The Memphis Grizzlies have a pair of blowout losses to the Warriors and Miami Heat, and Ja Morant is averaging 22.3 points while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 11.1 percent from deep.

Overall, it would be easy to simply classify the first four games as "meh," but there's at least one player generating some excitement.

Rookie Cedric Coward is coming off the bench (for now), and averaging 16.5 points (third on the team), while shooting 69.7 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from three.

With his wide frame and steady approach, Coward already looks the part of a high-end three-and-D wing. And before long, he could well be starting on the wing.

Grade: C+

After an 0-6 preseason and with Tyler Herro out, it felt like the post-Jimmy Butler Miami Heat might be in for a lackluster 2025-26, but they've blasted out of the gates on both ends.

Miami is in the top seven in both points per 100 possessions and points allowed per 100 possessions. And its balance looks meaningfully different than in previous years when the offense often felt like a grind.

The Heat are flying up and down the floor (they're first in pace). And keeping opponents on their heels is helping several players produce.

Norman Powell (who missed Tuesday's blowout win) is averaging a team-high 24.0 points. Bam Adebayo is struggling from the field (he's at 42.9 percent), but he's putting up 21.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is adding 18.8 points and shooting 78.4 percent(!) on twos. And four more Miami players are averaging double figures.

Grade: A

Wins over the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors may not have been worth writing home about, but the Milwaukee Bucks manhandled a presumed title contender in the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

And the "Giannis Antetokounmpo and shooters" formula is clearly working.

Through four games, Giannis is putting up an otherworldly 36.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists. And the amount of attention he commands inside has helped Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green combine to shoot 42.1 percent from deep.

Grade: A-

The Minnesota Timberwolves' two wins were both by single digits and against teams that could finish the season below .500 (the Portland Trail Blazers and Pacers). Their two losses were by double digits (to the Lakers and Nuggets).

In other words, the start has been a little underwhelming. And now, they have an Anthony Edwards injury to deal with (he missed Monday's loss to Denver with a hamstring strain).

There is plenty of time to iron things out, but at the outset, it looks like the T-Wolves could use a little more consistent guard play. Starting forward Julius Randle is averaging a team-high 5.3 assists, and Donte DiVincenzo, who's starting at the point, is at just 3.3.

Grade: B-

The New Orleans Pelicans just got blown out by the Boston Celtics, but Zion Williamson missed that one with a bone contusion in his foot.

The first two games were competitive losses to a healthy Memphis Grizzlies team and Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs.

And it looks like, as long as Zion's healthy, New Orleans is at least going to be a tough out.

Of course, that's a massive "if" when it comes to Williamson, but he's putting up 27.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists. He looked spry in the Spurs game (and dunked all over Wemby), and the approach to the current injury sounds more cautionary than anything else.

Grade: C

After opening the season 2-0 (including a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers), the New York Knicks dropped back-to-back road games to the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks.

And while both of those teams look like they'll be good this season, the losses had as much to do with the Knicks as their opponents.

Despite some solid individual contributions (Jalen Brunson is averaging 31.8 points, Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 17.0 and Mikal Bridges is shooting 47.4 percent from deep), the team offense just looks too plodding and mechanical at times.

New York is in the bottom third of the league in both pace and points per 100 possessions, and it looks like several players are still trying to figure out their roles under new coach Mike Brown.

There's more than enough talent here to play through a rough patch, but they're in one at the moment.

Grade: C+

The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't really blowing teams out during their title defense like they did in 2024-25. And while their defense looks as stingy as ever, the Thunder are currently 19th in points per 100 possessions.

Still, there's no reason for panic here. OKC is still undefeated, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 34.8 points. With Jalen Williams out, Chet Holmgren (23.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks) may be having a little breakout too.

Once J-Dub returns, its shouldn't take long for the Thunder to start looking like a juggernaut again.

Grade: A

The Orlando Magic entered the season with lofty expectations for both themselves and from the media.

Desmond Bane seemed like a perfect fit. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both should have still been on the way up their developmental trajectories. And there's a decent amount of supporting talent around those three.

After finishing second in defense last season, though, Orlando doesn't look as engaged on that end in 2025-26. It's given up at least 110 points in all four games, 125-plus twice. And in its most recent outing against the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers, the Magic lost, 136-124.

Combine that with Banchero shooting 39.4 percent from the field through four games, and it's fair to have some concern about a top-four finish.

Grade: D

The Philadelphia 76ers didn't just ace their first week of the 2025-26 campaign. They seem to have opened up a brand-new era of Sixers basketball.

While Joel Embiid has been limited to just 63 minutes, the young, electrifying backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe has led Philly to an undefeated start.

Maxey has cleared 40 points in two of his four appearances (and got to 39 in another). And the rookie is averaging 22.3 through these four games.

At this point, with Embiid on a minutes restriction anyway, the 76ers are playing a faster, more fun and less predictable brand of basketball than they have in years.

And if, in a few months, Embiid is healthier and more mobile, he obviously makes Philadelphia even better.

Grade: A+

It didn't make much sense to expect more than this from the Phoenix Suns, especially since three of their first four games were on the road.

There just isn't a ton of talent on this roster beyond Devin Booker (at least until Jalen Green gets back from injury), and every other Sun is stretched a bit further than he probably should be.

That's especially true of Dillon Brooks, who seems to think this is his opportunity to be a big-time scorer. Through four games, he is averaging 19.3 points on 19.7 shots.

Grade: C

The Portland Trail Blazers have several players living up to clearly defined roles up and down the roster. And it's starting to feel like this team will be, at the very least, competitive for the rest of this campaign.

In each of the last three games, Deni Avdija has led the way in scoring, Donovan Clingan has done the same with rebounds and Jrue Holiday has led in the assists column.

There's some value in that kind of consistency. And as those three continue to produce, other young players will be able to grow into bigger contributions.

Grade: B+

We probably shouldn't have anticipated a much different record for the Sacramento Kings, but they don't get the same benefit of the doubt as some of the other teams above.

And that's because the front office should have known this roster wouldn't be terribly competitive in today's West.

The DeMar DeRozan-and-Zach LaVine combo was already tried in the weaker conference, and it failed. Domantas Sabonis is a double-double machine, but building a contending defense around him is challenging (though that's the least of their worries this season). And after having two All-Star-caliber point guards on the roster in recent years (Tyrese Haliburton and De'Aaron Fox), Sacramento found a way to unload both and replace them with Dennis Schröder.

The architects of this roster may not realize this, but it's well past time for a full-scale teardown and rebuild.

Grade: D

We obviously have to start with Victor Wembanyama, who could well be on the way to an MVP in his age-22 campaign.

Beyond doing something that seems completely new and unfamiliar every game (really, multiple times per game), Wemby is averaging 31.0 points, 13.8 rebounds, 4.8 blocks, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 turnovers per game.

Outside of playmaking, which he's ceded to his young backcourt of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, the 21-year-old is dominating every aspect of the game right now. And whenever he's on the floor, the Spurs are crushing opponents.

As Harper and Castle continue to develop, and after De'Aaron Fox eventually comes back, San Antonio could threaten the title contenders' tier.

Grade: A+

The Toronto Raptors blew out the Hawks to start the season, but they followed that up with three straight losses.

Of course, two of them came against solid opponents (the Bucks and Spurs), and there are some reasons to be optimistic about this team.

RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes are all averaging over 20 points. And Gradey Dick and Sandro Mamukelashvili are both providing solid contributions off the bench.

With a little more three-point volume and some time to coalesce on defense, the Raptors should be able to get and stay in the mix for a play-in spot.

Grade: C

For the third time in the last four years, the Utah Jazz have started a season looking better than they were supposed to be.

They blew out the Los Angeles Clippers in the season opener, lost by one in Sacramento and then won in overtime against the Phoenix Suns.

Of course, the Jazz aren't likely to stay above .500 for much longer, but as long as they have Lauri Markkanen (who had 51 on Monday), they're going to be competitive.

If they start to see some flashes of star upside from the likes of Ace Bailey, Taylor Hendricks or any of the other young members of the core, even better.

Grade: A

The Washington Wizards are 1-3, but they've generally been competitive (outside a blowout loss to the Charlotte Hornets). And they're getting plenty of encouraging signs from the young core.

Kyshawn George is putting up 20.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists, while shooting 53.8 percent from deep. Alexandre Sarr is adding 19.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 blocks. And rookie Tre Johnson is at 14.8 points, while shooting 39.3 percent from deep.

The losses are going to keep rolling in for this team, but individual gains from the prospects will be far more important than the record.

Grade: C