NBA power rankings: Defending champions Nuggets start at No. 1, Bucks slightly edge Celtics

The 2023-24 NBA season gets going with a TNT doubleheader featuring the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. Three of those four teams are in the top five for the first DK Network power rankings of the year.

The Nuggets enter in the top spot as the defending champions who bring back most of the roster. Bruce Brown left in free agency, but Denver has some capable replacement options with Christian Braun, Julian Strawther and Hunter Tyson. The Suns have formed a “Big 3” featuring Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal and come in at the No. 4 spot. The Lakers brought back most of their roster from the Western Conference Finals run a year ago and also added important rotation players, putting them at the No. 5 spot.

The other two spots in the top five go to the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics as the heavyweights of the Eastern Conference. The Bucks made the biggest move of the summer by trading for Damian Lillard, but the Celtics were able to get Jrue Holiday in a secondary deal with the Trail Blazers to bring the former Bucks point guard back into the Eastern Conference. The Celtics also made a move for Kristaps Porzingis earlier in the summer after the big man had a career year with the Wizards.

Here’s a look at the full power rankings as the season gets underway.