(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The 2022-23 NBA season is right around the corner, and there is ample reason for excitement around the league. New contenders are emerging, while established contenders are making tweaks and undergoing roster shifts.
For the Sixers, it is the season of no more excuses. The roster has depth, versatility, and star power. There’s every reason to believe that this team, if it performs up to expectations, can win the NBA championship.
That being said, how does Philadelphia stack up against the rest of the NBA? It’s too early for definitive statements, but here’s a look at the power rankings for the new league year.
30
San Antonio Spurs
NBA power rankings — 30. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs traded Dejounte Murray to Atlanta to finally begin their rebuild in earnest. The Gregg Popovich era has included almost exclusively competitive teams, so this next phase of Spurs basketball could challenge the fanbase in both exciting and torturous ways. At the end of the day, it’s hard to discount San Antonio’s track record of player development, and there are talented young players on the roster. That said, don’t expect many wins next season.
29
Houston Rockets
NBA power rankings — 29. Houston Rockets
Jalen Green’s late-season scoring flourishes could precede a dominant sophomore campaign. The former no. 2 pick looked like the next All-Star guard in the West by season’s end, and while he still has a ways to go defensively and as a playmaker, Green’s pure athleticism and shot-making talent should shine through even more with a full season of development under his belt. The Rockets traded Christian Wood and brought in Jabari Smith Jr. with the no. 3 pick (after many projected him as the No. 1 pick). They’re not going to win much next season, but the foundation is strong.
28
Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA power rankings — 28. Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC is starting to feel like a real team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a borderline All-Star, Josh Giddey is primed for a special second season, and Chet Holmgren is (in this writer’s humble opinion) the best prospect to come out of the draft. It probably won’t all come together in 2023, and OKC made some questionable choices with free agent extensions, but there’s a lot to like about OKC’s future and the front office’s ability to swing a big trade when/if the opportunity presents itself.