NBA Power Rankings post-All-Star Break: A new No. 1 entering the second half

Album of the Week: “Reasonable Doubt,” Jay-Z (1996)

Today is one of my favorite days of the NBA regular season: Presidents’ Day. Finally, a day on the calendar with nothing going on. I hope I didn’t just jinx it.

It’s not just NBA All-Star Weekend that’s over; the entire February wave has passed. The Super Bowl is done. The NBA trade deadline is closed. And for everyone, the All-Star break has arrived.

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There’s still a regular season to finish, but before we get to that, one last look at the weekend at Intuit Dome — where just about every team found its way into the NBA’s bonus stage.

Fine print: these Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We’ll retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers each week:

Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league

– Locked at five, these are the class of the league In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams

– Could be one team, could be seven teams The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack

– Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do

– Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear

What to expect from Power Rankings:

These are my subjective rankings. I will consider a variety of objective measures, but it’s my final call.

These rankings are not just a review of the past week — we are projecting forward as well, so it is a balance of the two.

These are subjective, but not biased. There are no agendas in the Power Rankings, and we strive for an inclusive meritocracy

The one quality that these rankings possess: “Ruthless aggression.”

Enjoy the games, and enjoy the rankings, please!

For Week 18 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will remember All-Star Weekend moments for each team. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.

Tier 1: Top Contenders

1. Detroit Pistons (40-13)

Last ranking: Second

In the last week: W at CHA, W at TOR

Offensive rating: 116.6 (10th place)

Defensive rating: 108.3 (Second place)

All-Star Weekend moment: We have a new No. 1 in the Power Rankings — not just for the first time this season, but for the first time since late March 2025. The Pistons claimed it in a week that included multiple suspensions and multiple All-Stars.

Fittingly, in an All-Star game that featured real defense for the first time in years, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff led the winning Stars squad, with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren on the roster.

Detroit also joined the “40 before 20” club — and there may not be many teams joining them and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2. San Antonio Spurs (38-16)

Last ranking: Third

In the last week: W at LAL, W at GS

Offensive rating: 117.0 (Seventh place)

Defensive rating: 110.9 (Third place)

All-Star Weekend moment: We can finally say it: the Spurs are ranked above a team they beat four times this season.

Mitch Johnson, coaching the veteran USA Stripes, delivered some of the week’s best pre-All-Star sound — openly wondering why San Antonio had only one All-Star despite strong results against star-laden opponents, and arguing that if De’Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle weren’t All-Stars, Vict