NBA Power Rankings: All 30 teams' unsung heroes

There's less than a month left in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, and teams are already claiming spots in the postseason as well as bowing their way out of any chance of extending their season into June.

“There's less than a month left in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, and teams are already claiming spots in the postseason as well as bowing their way out of any chance of extending their season into June”

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The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are the only two teams to at least clinch a spot in the postseason, as both are having dominant runs through a competitive Western Conference.

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And while those Finals contenders largely secured their spots behind the play of superstars -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama are both vying for MVP this season -- winning in the NBA often comes down to players on the margins.

In addition to the updated 1-30 rankings, our NBA insiders are spotlighting one unheralded player on every team -- from young difference-makers on playoff contenders to veterans providing a late-season spark on teams headed for the lottery.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Bobby Marks, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram) think teams belong.

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Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12 | Nov. 19 | Nov. 26 | Dec. 3 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 24 | Dec. 31 | Jan. 7 | Jan. 14 | Jan. 21 | Jan. 28 | Feb. 4 | Feb. 11 | Feb. 25 | Mar. 4 | Mar. 11

Jump to a team: ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

Bigger names were traded at the deadline, but Sam Presti acquiring Jared McCain from Philadelphia for Houston's 2026 first-rounder (plus three second-rounders) might be as impactful as any move in the current title chase.

“There's less than a month left in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, and teams are already claiming spots in the postseason as well as bowing their way out of any chance of extending their season into June”

ESPN

While other contenders didn't do much, the Thunder injected a second-year guard with a growing track record as a microwave scorer into their bench.

It remains to be seen how McCain will fit into a full playoff rotation in OKC, but he's made 43.8% of his 3s and averaged 11.4 bench points in his 17 games since crossing conferences, aiding the injury-riddled Thunder in a recent nine-game winning streak.

-- Anthony Slater

Rookie guard Dylan Harper has been instrumental in the Spurs achieving their first 50-win season since 2016-17, which snapped a drought of eight consecutive seasons.

Before that, San Antonio earned at least 50 victories every season from 1999-2000 and 2016-17.

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The second pick of the 2025 NBA draft, Harper plays the role of sixth man in arguably the most formidable backcourt unit in the league.

Harper has been out the past two games with a bruised right calf.

But he contributed heavily to the Spurs winning 18 of their past 20 entering Tuesday night.

-- Michael C. Wright