1996–97 NBA ELO rankings
NBA team ratings for the 1996–97 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 1-29 of 29 filtered teams.
| Rank | Global rank | Team | ELO | Games | Peak ELO | Last games oldest → newest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | #1 | 1834 | 2773 | |||
| #2 | #2 | 1787 | 2024 | |||
| #3 | #3 | 1690 | 766 | |||
| #4 | #4 | 1687 | 4265 | |||
| #5 | #5 | 1686 | 2650 | |||
| #6 | #6 | 1671 | 4378 | |||
| #7 | #7 | 1665 | 2646 | |||
| #8 | #8 | 1653 | 4055 | |||
| #9 | #9 | 1619 | 754 | |||
| #10 | #10 | 1612 | 2362 | |||
| #11 | #11 | 1609 | 3107 | |||
| #12 | #12 | 1599 | 2559 | |||
| #13 | #13 | 1597 | 4084 | |||
| #14 | #14 | 1585 | 697 | |||
| #15 | #17 | 1543 | 1781 | |||
| #16 | #19 | 1533 | 2287 | |||
| #17 | #21 | 1494 | 659 | |||
| #18 | #23 | 1474 | 2249 | |||
| #19 | #24 | 1473 | 164 | |||
| #20 | #25 | 1466 | 3978 | |||
| #21 | #27 | 1443 | 1758 | |||
| #22 | #28 | 1441 | 2547 | |||
| #23 | #30 | 1428 | 4178 | |||
| #24 | #36 | 1363 | 4123 | |||
| #25 | #37 | 1359 | 1841 | |||
| #26 | #38 | 1342 | 1442 | |||
| #27 | #40 | 1327 | 1820 | |||
| #28 | #42 | 1300 | 4430 | |||
| #29 | #44 | 1277 | 164 |
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