October 2026 | Ethical Sports Takes | EST Elite
The first month of the NBA season is officially in the books, and it’s time to unveil our October edition of EST Elite.
Houston claims the crown, Detroit and Philadelphia lead the Eastern Conference, and undefeated Memphis has made quite an impression.
These aren’t simply the standings. EST Elite evaluates performances, quality of opposition, consistency, and how dangerous each team looks on the court.
Here are our top 10 teams based on October’s results.
1. Houston Rockets (6–1)
The first team to claim the EST Elite crown this season.
Houston has put together an outstanding opening month, with victories over Dallas, San Antonio, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Oklahoma City.
The Rockets demolished Milwaukee 132–100 and finished October by defeating the injury-hit Thunder 119–98. Their only setback came in a narrow rematch against Dallas.
Houston has been one of the most convincing teams in basketball, and for now, the crown belongs to the Rockets.
2. Detroit Pistons (5–1)
Detroit has wasted little time establishing itself as one of the Eastern Conference’s strongest teams.
The Pistons have recorded victories over Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Brooklyn. Their 106–93 win over Philadelphia was particularly impressive, while beating Boston on opening day provided an early statement.
Detroit’s lone defeat came against New York, but one loss doesn’t erase an excellent October.
The Pistons deserve their place at No. 2.
3. Philadelphia 76ers (6–1)
Philadelphia has enjoyed an excellent opening month, with Tyrese Maxey leading the charge offensively.
The 76ers have defeated New York twice, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indiana, and Charlotte. Their only loss came against Detroit.
Maxey’s 38-point performance against Charlotte helped Philadelphia close October with another victory, while their ability to win tighter contests has been encouraging.
The 76ers have earned their place among our top three.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (4–2)
Oklahoma City might be the most difficult team to rank right now.
The Thunder have been hit so hard by injuries that evaluating their current level is genuinely challenging. With Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams unavailable, this is far from the team we would normally expect to see.
They’ve still managed victories over San Antonio, Denver, the Clippers, and Phoenix, demonstrating that they can win games despite their depleted roster.
However, losses to Dallas and Houston have shown the limitations of their current situation.
Oklahoma City can still win basketball games, but with this many injuries, they’re simply not playing at an elite level right now.
Fourth place reflects both the quality they’ve shown and the difficult circumstances they’re facing.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (6–0)
Six games. Six victories.
Memphis finishes October undefeated, with wins over Utah twice, Golden State, Sacramento twice, and Portland.
Their 124–103 victory over Portland was impressive, and they followed it by dismantling Sacramento 136–105 on Halloween.
The Grizzlies deserve enormous credit for taking care of business, although we’d like to see them tested against more of the league’s strongest teams.
For now, Memphis completes our top five. If this continues, they’ll have a strong argument to climb higher.
6. Boston Celtics (4–1)
Boston responded to its opening-night defeat against Detroit with four consecutive victories.
The Celtics have beaten New York, Chicago twice, and Brooklyn, including an emphatic 134–99 performance against the Bulls.
Boston has demonstrated its offensive capabilities, although its narrow 125–124 escape against winless Brooklyn showed there’s still room for improvement.
Sixth place feels appropriate, but the Celtics have every opportunity to move up.
7. San Antonio Spurs (4–2)
Victor Wembanyama has been extraordinary, and his 43-point performance against Minnesota on Halloween was another reminder of what makes San Antonio so dangerous.
The Spurs have defeated Dallas, Sacramento, Utah, and Minnesota, with losses coming against Oklahoma City and Houston.
San Antonio has shown considerable promise, particularly during its recent winning stretch.
When Wembanyama is dominating, the Spurs can trouble almost anyone. The next challenge is establishing that level of performance consistently.
8. Portland Trail Blazers (4–1)
Portland has been one of October’s pleasant surprises.
The Trail Blazers have defeated Phoenix, Sacramento, the Lakers, and Utah. Their 136–129 victory in Los Angeles was particularly noteworthy.
Their lone defeat came against undefeated Memphis, which isn’t exactly a reason to panic.
Portland has earned its position in EST Elite, although stronger competition will provide a clearer picture of how high this team can climb.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers (4–2)
Cleveland has produced some encouraging performances, but we’re still waiting for the Cavaliers to find their rhythm consistently.
Their October victories included Brooklyn, Minnesota, Washington, and Milwaukee. Beating Minnesota 127–125 was a hard-fought result, while their 136–111 victory over Milwaukee demonstrated their offensive potential.
However, defeats against Philadelphia and Atlanta have prevented Cleveland from climbing higher.
The Cavaliers have the talent to improve their position, but they need to prove it on the court.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (4–2)
The Lakers complete our October top 10 after a month that featured both impressive victories and disappointing defeats.
Los Angeles defeated Golden State, the Clippers twice, and Utah. Their 127–105 opening victory over the Warriors was encouraging, as was their 103–87 win over the Clippers.
However, defeats against Portland and Golden State exposed some concerns, particularly their inability to produce consistent performances from one game to the next.
The Lakers have enough talent to climb these rankings, but they’ll need to deliver more consistently in November.
EST Elite Final Thoughts
The Western Conference claims six positions in our October top 10, while the Eastern Conference takes four.
Houston sits at No. 1, but Detroit and Philadelphia have made strong cases of their own.
Memphis deserves special recognition for finishing undefeated, while Oklahoma City’s injury situation makes the Thunder particularly difficult to evaluate. They’re still capable of winning, but their current roster isn’t performing at the elite level we’ve come to expect.
Boston, San Antonio, Portland, Cleveland, and the Lakers round out a competitive top 10.
October has set the stage. November will tell us which teams can maintain their momentum and which ones were simply enjoying a strong start.
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