NBA top 10 teams so far

Basketball is so back, and I don’t just mean “Hey, the NBA is back,” I mean basketball is BACK.

Maybe it’s just me, but this season has a different feeling. On second thought, maybe it’s just that the Sixers are fun again. But I digress.

Whatever it is, it’s getting me excited. I know it’s early, but this season looks like it could be extremely competitive across the board. As a matter of fact, these power rankings were pretty hard to make.

Let’s take a look at the current top ten teams in the association after four games of action.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC is fresh off a title win, and it’s hard to say they aren’t the favorite once again. The team is clicking on all cylinders, opening the season 4-0 for the second straight year.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making a case for a second MVP award early on, scoring a career high 55 points against the Pacers.

Plus, Chet Holmgren has elevated his game to another level this season, upping his averages to 24 points and 10 rebounds compared to 15 and 8 last year.

Oh, and the reigning champs are still awaiting the return of Jalen Williams.

2. San Antonio Spurs

Give me one good reason why this team isn’t top two in basketball right now.

Victor Wembanyama is playing out of his mind, and could be well on his way to becoming the youngest MVP ever. Through four games, the 21-year-old is averaging 33 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks per game.

Plus, the Spurs’ backcourt of Vassell and Castle is playing extremely well in the absence of De’Aaron Fox, and rookie Dylan Harper is off to a hot start.

3. Golden State Warriors

Year two of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler is off to a great start so far, with Golden State securing huge wins over the Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers early on in the season.

Jonathan Kuminga earned himself a permanent starting spot and is leading the team in rebounds with seven per game. For a team with “older” starters, it’s encouraging to see young guns like Kuminga able to handle the load early on.

This Warriors squad is a title-contending team, built well from top to bottom. I know it’s early, but it’d be hard to say this team wouldn’t be able to make some noise in April.

4. Denver Nuggets

A lot of power rankings seem to have Denver over Golden State, but in my opinion, the Warriors earned the three spot after an OT win over the Nuggets.

Early on, Jokic has steadily been averaging his typical triple-double statistics with a monstrous 20 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists per game. This isn’t necessarily unusual.

However, the Nuggets do have a different leader in points per game this season, with Jamal Murray dropping 30 a night. That’s a little different.

This Nuggets team looks deeper than ever, and can steadily rely on guys like Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon (who has already scored 50 this season). A three-headed monster is awakening in Denver.

5. Philadelphia 76ers

I never thought I’d say this but… THIS SIXERS TEAM HAS FIGHT. Three of their four wins this season have been come-from-behind victories in the fourth quarter.

In an unexpected complete 180, the Sixers have started 4-0… last season, this team didn’t get their fourth win until after Thanksgiving.

Rookie V.J. Edgecombe has been a huge factor in the team’s sudden resurgence. His 34-point debut passed Allen Iverson for the highest scoring rookie debut in 76ers history, and was the most in a debut since the great Wilt Chamberlain.

His partner in crime, Tyrese Maxey, is playing at an MVP level, averaging a league-high 37 points per game. Even with how good the Sixers have been, they may only improve once Embiid gets weaned off his minutes restriction and Paul George and Jared McCain return from injury.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers

I know, I know… I have this team ranked lower than many typical power rankings. Let me explain.

The Cavs are picking up right where they left off last season, starting 3-1. However, two of those wins were against Brooklyn and Detroit- two teams they should be beating.

Their best win has been against the Bucks, and their sole loss came against the Knicks. If you’re trying to read between the lines with these games so far, it feels like the Cavs haven’t told us a lot yet.

However, the team reached the Eastern Conference semis last season and has been clicking defensively early on. This team is promising, but it might be missing something offensively so far.

7. Milwaukee Bucks

If your MVP at this point isn’t Wemby or Maxey, it has to be Giannis Antetokounmpo. I’m not sure who soiled his Cheerios this season, but he has been a man on a mission.

Giannis is second in the league in points per game and third in rebounds, averaging 36 and 14, respectively.

In fact, there has only been one instance where he hasn’t led the Bucks in points, rebounds and assists this season (when Cole Anthony had 9 assists against the Knicks).

There is concern moving forward for this team to find an identity outside of Giannis, but for now, it’s loads of fun to watch him take over every single game.

8. New York Knicks

The Knicks have a talent-laden roster, but it feels like it has yet to match in production so far outside of the starting five. But it’s still very early in the season.

Sitting at 2-2, the team hasn’t felt like it’s fully clicked yet. Fortunately, there are still 78 games to go, and the Knicks have plenty of time to figure that out.

If I had to guess, that will happen sooner rather than later. KAT has been playing through injury so far this season. The floor should open up as his health progresses.

9. Los Angeles Lakers

Fate of the universe on the line… I want AUSTIN REAVES.

It’s been a next man up mentality for the Lakers early on in the season. No LeBron? Luka scores 43 and 49. No Luka? Austin Reaves scores 51 and 41.

Lots of power rankings have Los Angeles ranked lower, but I, for one, am encouraged that they are finding ways to win without LeBron- and then again without Luka.

Once both return from injury, this team could really start to find a rhythm. I feel that a larger concern would be acquiring a more reliable answer at center, despite Ayton's solid start to the season.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

It looked as if Minnesota was going to be off to a hot start, with Anthony Edwards scoring 31 and 41 through the first two games.

Unfortunately, though, the Timberwolves dropped their second game of the season to the Lakers and now it appears Ant will miss some time with a hamstring injury.

If the T-Wolves can manage to win games without him, they’ll be at a great point to keep the train running upon Edwards’ return.

So far, the Wolves have gone 1-1 without Edwards, beating the Pacers and losing to the Nuggets. We know that they’re going to be a good team, but until we can get a better idea of their identity, they’ll grab the ten spot in the rankings for now.

Darian Capobianco is a first-year graduate student studying strategic communications. To contact him, email dpc5734@psu.edu.