1986–87 NBA ELO rankings
NBA team ratings for the 1986–87 season, reconstructed through the latest rated game available and including every franchise active in the selected period.
A transparent signal
See the rules and assumptions behind every movement.
Seasons
Ranking table
Showing 1-23 of 23 filtered teams.
| Rank | Global rank | Team | ELO | Games | Peak ELO | Last games oldest → newest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | #1 | 1780 | 3459 | |||
| #2 | #2 | 1693 | 3176 | |||
| #3 | #3 | 1691 | 3556 | |||
| #4 | #4 | 1668 | 3176 | |||
| #5 | #5 | 1644 | 1706 | |||
| #6 | #6 | 1610 | 602 | |||
| #7 | #8 | 1577 | 3282 | |||
| #8 | #9 | 1569 | 908 | |||
| #9 | #10 | 1561 | 1734 | |||
| #10 | #11 | 1558 | 1738 | |||
| #11 | #13 | 1555 | 3334 | |||
| #12 | #14 | 1549 | 1646 | |||
| #13 | #15 | 1547 | 1457 | |||
| #14 | #16 | 1539 | 1795 | |||
| #15 | #18 | 1526 | 968 | |||
| #16 | #19 | 1512 | 2279 | |||
| #17 | #20 | 1508 | 1096 | |||
| #18 | #22 | 1479 | 3154 | |||
| #19 | #24 | 1473 | 1416 | |||
| #20 | #27 | 1433 | 925 | |||
| #21 | #28 | 1432 | 962 | |||
| #22 | #31 | 1400 | 3338 | |||
| #23 | #38 | 1254 | 1416 |
ELO ratings guide
How the NBA ELO rankings are calculated
NBA teams gain or lose ELO points after each rated game according to the result, opponent strength, home-court advantage, and score margin. The live ranking reflects current franchise strength; switch to historical franchises or the graph to explore the longer record.
Ratings start at 1,500 and update after every rated result using a versioned, published model. Read the basketball ELO formula and assumptions.
Rankings by season
2025–262024–252023–242022–232021–222020–212019–202018–192017–182016–172015–162014–152013–142012–132011–122010–112009–102008–092007–082006–072005–062004–052003–042002–032001–022000–011999–001998–991997–981996–971995–961994–951993–941992–931991–921990–911989–901988–891987–881986–871985–861984–851983–841982–831981–821980–811979–801978–791977–781976–771975–761974–751973–741972–731971–721970–711969–701968–691967–681966–671965–661964–651963–641962–631961–621960–611959–601958–591957–581956–571955–561954–551953–541952–531951–521950–511949–501948–491947–481946–47