According to the '40-20 rule,' which requires a 40th win before a 20th loss, only the Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14) and Detroit Pistons (40-13) currently qualify as true contenders.
The San Antonio Spurs (38-16) are expected to join them soon, while the Boston Celtics (35-19) have an outside shot. Conversely, the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks all fall short of the standard. Meanwhile, struggling squads like the Sacramento Kings (12-44), Washington Wizards (14-39), and Brooklyn Nets (15-38) continue to tank, with the Wizards reportedly planning to shut down Anthony Davis for the season.