To recap what happened this past summer, ESPN's panel of NBA writers conducted a post-free agency power rankings. The Thunder enter at No. 1 as they spent more time celebrating their title than they did shuffling their roster.

ESPN's newly released 2025–26 NBA Power Rankings have sparked plenty of debate across the league, with the Oklahoma City Thunder expectedly taking the top spot after their dominant championship run. However, the real shocker isn’t at the top, it’s how far the Los Angeles Lakers have fallen.

With the 2025-26 NBA season a few months away, some teams are settling in with their newly acquired superstars. Specifically, the Houston Rockets acquired 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in June. The Rockets hope the veteran forward will give them the boost they need to leap to dominant contender status next season.