2025-26 NBA Season Preview, Predictions, and More
As I sit here watching the Jets start 0-6 (now 0-7), after another embarrassing loss, I thought, what’s a better way to get my mind off this putrid loss than to begin to write about NBA Basketball. After watching the preseason this weekend, I’m incredibly excited for this season. Although it was not the “most craziest ever” offseason as Shams predicted, we have plenty of intriguing storylines to look forward to. With injuries plaguing the East, who will come out of the Eastern Conference? Will the Thunder run through the league again to win back-to-back championships, or will there be a new champion for the 8th straight season? In this post, I will break down my standings of each conference, my player awards and dark horses, one bold prediction for each team, and my 2026 NBA Champion.
Eastern Conference: Just when the East started to have real contenders again, they got absolutely decimated by injuries. With no Tatum or Haliburton, who will emerge as Eastern Conference Champions?
1. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have the most talented roster from top to bottom since maybe 1973, the last time they won an NBA Championship. With new head coach, Mike Brown, I expect the Knicks to win around 60 games this season. If you watched the Knicks last year or read any of my tweets, there was one thing that held this team back from its full potential. Tom Thibodeau. Mike Brown is the exact opposite from Thibs, which was shown by starting 2025 second round pick, Mohamed Diawara, in the Knicks preseason game. Watching the Knicks preseason, you can see the potential of this offense and how much better it looks when the ball is moving. I can see 4 Knicks averaging 18+ points and Mikal Bridges looking like his former self. With a bench that is 12 guys deep, the same core as last season, and endless lineup flexibility, I see the Knicks being the best team in the East.
Bold Prediction: The Knicks win 60+ games
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are returning their “big 4” this season and are expecting another jump from Evan Mobley to make a Conference Finals run. The Cavs have been super underwhelming the past two seasons in the playoffs and are hoping the addition of Lonzo Ball can get them over the hump. The Cavs are the betting favorites to win the East but with Garland and Strus missing the beginning of the year, I just do not think they have enough to be considered better than New York. Maybe Mobley takes that next jump into superstardom but I do not think this core can win anything meaningful.
Bold Prediction: One of Garland or Allen gets traded
3. Orlando Magic
I love what the Magic did this summer, making one of the biggest trades by acquiring Desmond Bane. Bane fills a lot of the needs that the Magic had last year, with the biggest emphasis being on three-point shooting. The Magic were 27th in offense last season, and bringing in Bane, a career 41% three-point shooter, and an underrated playmaker and should help elevate both Paolo and Franz games this year. I also like the signing of Tyus Jones to finally have a true point guard to run their team. Jace Richardson looks like the top-tier talent he was in college and looks to be a steal for the Magic at pick 25. Expect to hear the Orlando Magic win song on your TikTok feed a lot this season.
Bold Prediction: Paolo and Franz are both All-Stars
4. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks rehauled their roster and had one of my favorite summers in the NBA. Taking advantage of an open window in the East, the Hawks made a sign-and-trade for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, bought low on Kristaps Porzingis, and signed Luke Kennard. The Hawks are surrounding Trae Young with a lot of shooters and I expect Trae to lead the NBA in assists. With Jalen Johnson being healthy, this team is my dark horse team in the East to be the Pacers of this season.
Bold Prediction: Quinn Snyder wins Coach of the Year
5. Milwaukee Bucks
To be completely honest, I really dislike this Bucks roster. The Dame injury was a devastating end to an underwhelming partnership with Giannis. With Kevin Porter Jr starting at point guard and Kyle Kuzma starting at small forward, it is hard to be excited about Milwaukee. However, they still have Giannis (and both of his brothers), and any team with Giannis has a chance to win a basketball game. While Myles Turner is a slight upgrade at center, the most you will hear about the Bucks this year will be the Giannis trade rumors.
Bold Prediction: AJ Green leads the NBA in Three-Point Percentage
6. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were a pleasant surprise last season, going from the worst team in the league to making the playoffs and almost upsetting the Knicks. Last season, I called the Pistons’ breakout but did not see them becoming that good that fast. Cade has established himself as a superstar in this league, and there aren’t many players I enjoy watching more than Cade. I am really excited to see Ausar Thompson continue to grow and solidify himself as one of the best defenders in the league. I do think the loss of Beasley and THJ will hurt this team, and I am not sure Ron Holland and Duncan Robinson can fill those shoes.
Bold Prediction: Ausar Thompson becomes All-Defense
7. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers were minutes away from winning what would have been one of the most shocking NBA championships of all time. Unfortunately, when Haliburton tore his Achilles in the first quarter, it basically knocked the Pacers out of contention for this season. I do like this roster, and they seem to be one of the few teams that spent all summer playing together, but with no Hali, I don’t see the Pacers finishing in the top 6 in the East unless Andrew Nehmbhard takes a jump to a fringe all-star. I like the addition of Jay Huff, but I can see this season for the Pacers going south fast.
Bold Prediction: Bennedict Mathurin averages 20+ PPG
8. Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are stuck in purgatory less than a season after they traded Jimmy Butler for Andrew Wiggins and a bag of chips. Led by Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, the Heat just do not have enough to compete in the East, even after trading for Norman Powell this summer. I loved the Ke’el Ware pick last year, and I am excited to continue to see him grow as a player, as he looks like a demon in preseason. However, the Heat organization seems content with being a Play-In team.
Bold Prediction: Kasparas Jakučionis makes second team all-rookie
9. Philadelphia 76ers
This is by far the hardest team to predict in the NBA. With Joel Embiid and Paul George as your stars, there is no way to guess this team’s outlook, as they are both still recovering from injuries from last season and may not be ready for opening night. With Jared McCain also sidelined for the start of the season, the 76ers do not have enough talent beyond these three guys to compete in the East. Having a bench of Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, and Kyle Lowry in 2025 is a crazy move from Morey, and they are lucky that Grimes signed a qualifying offer. Now, a fully healthy Sixers team is a scary bunch, but any hope of Embiid staying healthy has gone away from my mind. I am a big fan of Tyrese Maxey and love the VJ Edgecomb pick. Unfortunately, without Embiid, this team does not have enough.
10. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are one of the most intriguing teams in the Association this season. After making a questionable trade for Brandon Ingram last season, they have a solid core with Ingram looking like a seamless fit. BI has quickly become one of the most underrated scorers in the league, and if he stays healthy, he and Scottie can become a fearsome duo. I was extremely high on Collin Murray-Boyles, and although I don’t love the fit here, I think CMB is a stud and will help this roster right away. Signing Sandro Mamukelashvili gives the Raptors some more versatility. At the very least, this roster should be a lot of fun to watch, with a great mix of veterans and young players.
11. Boston Celtics
Just a few months removed from Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles, the Celtics had to pivot their roster to go from Finals favorites to a retooling year to build around Tatum and Brown in years to come. This means they had to dump Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in trades that netted them Anfernee Simons and Chris Boucher. Al Horford and Luke Kornet also walked in free agency, and the Celtics are left with just Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser. I think Brad Stevens did a good job acquiring cheap talent to have this team compete early in the year, but if the Celtics are playing losing basketball, I can see them “tanking” for next year with a healthy Tatum. I know Tatum wants to come back this year, but I think that is a bad idea, especially if this team is not near a playoff spot.
Bold Prediction: The Celtics miss the Playoffs
12. Charlotte Hornets
Has this been a culture-shifting summer for the Hornets? The Hornets, led by the #4 overall pick Kon Knueppel, won the NBA Summer League in dominating fashion. The Hornets had 3 other top 35 picks (McKneeley, James, Kalk) and bought low on a handful of veterans to build a legitimate NBA locker room, while maintaining cap space and trade assets at the deadline. I think the Hornets will surprise a lot of people this season, and I would not be shocked if they became a play-in team. Although they are missing some front-court depth, if Lamelo Ball is healthy, this team can compete for a play-in spot.
Bold Prediction: The Hornets win 30+ games
13. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls last season bought into the much needed rebuild, trading Zach LaVine before the deadline. Now with a core of under 25, the Bulls are building from the ground up behind Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Matas Buzelis. Building around this young core should be an encouraging sign for this fanbase, and not overpaying Giddey is a great start. The Bulls will be competitive this year, but have a ceiling of their yearly scheduled Play-In loss.
Bold Prediction: Matas Buzelis emerges as a top 3 player of the 2024 draft class
14. Washington Wizards
If you have been following my Twitter, you know how much I love the young Wizards team. However, it seems like the Wizards’ Front Office is playing darts and is hoping that one of these young players turns into an NBA star. The Wizards, similar to the Hornets, acquired some veteran presence (CJ McCollum, Kris Middleton) to help the young Wizards roster, but this provides a challenge for the Head Coach and GM of the Wizards to balance playing time of the young guys and the vets, while not hurting the development of the roster. In Preseason, it seems that they figured out the best spots for Alex Sarr to score, and Tre Johnson seems like he’ll be ready to go Day 1. I am intrigued to see the minute breakdown on a fully healthy Wizards team.
Bold Prediction: None. I just love the core of Bub, Bilal, Kyshawn, Tre, Sarr
15. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets had 5 first-round picks in the 2025 draft, and I am honestly not excited about any of them besides Drake Powell (TAR). The Nets still have plenty of draft assets left, but this draft class is super discouraging. Led by Egor Demin, I don’t think one of the 5 Nets will make an All-Rookie team. On top of that, the Nets refused to pay Cam Thomas this summer and traded Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. The refuse to pass the rock bros will have a few games where they go off, but the outlook on this season for Nets’ fans is dark.
Bold Prediction: Worst record in the NBA
Western Conference: The Western Conference, to me, feels like a 2-man race between the Thunder and Nuggets, while seeds 3-14 will be insanely close.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2025 NBA Champions OKC Thunder, bring every single rotational guy back from their Championship run in June. On top of a ring, the Thunder were able to extend SGA, Chet, and J-Dub to long-term deals, meaning this team is going nowhere. After having the highest point differential in NBA history during last year’s regular season, I can’t see any team in the West dethroning OKC in the regular season. Not much else needs to be said about this team.
Bold Prediction: The Thunder win 65+ Games
2. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets had the best offseason from a contender. They were able to trade MPJ for Cam Johnson, who is the most seamless fit for Nikola Jokic. Denver also signed Tim Hardaway Jr, Jonas Valančiūnas, and old friend Bruce Brown. Being a game away from knocking off the Thunder in last year’s playoffs, the Nuggets got Jokic significant help and made their roster better. With no Russ or MPJ, I expect the Nuggets to have the most efficient offense in the league and Jokic to average close to a 30-point triple-double.
Bold Prediction: Nikola Jokic wins MVP
3. Houston Rockets
The Rockets made the biggest trade in the NBA this summer, acquiring Kevin Durant for Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. With a healthy Fred VanVleet, I think the Rockets could have taken down the Nuggets or the Thunder in the playoffs. Without FVV, the backcourt depth is scarce, and the Rockets are relying on Reed Sheppard to step up and Amen Thompson to take the next jump. However, the front court of the Houston Rockets is as strong as any roster in the NBA, and their ultra-big lineup of Thompson, Smith, Durant, Sengun, and Adams will pose a significant challenge to the rest of the league. Houston will be a really fun watch this season.
Bold Prediction: Reed Sheppard finishes top 3 in either Sixth Man or Most Improved
4. Los Angeles Clippers
I was really low on the Clippers last season due to health concerns with Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers won 50 games last season, and Kawhi looked good when he was healthy. This roster only got better from last season, bringing in Bradly Beal, John Collins, Brook Lopez, and Chris Paul. I really like all these vets in their role on the Clippers, and with Harden and Zu, there’s no reason the Clippers can’t win 50+ games again this season.
Bold Prediction: John Collins is a 6MOY Finalist
5. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors could be in a last-dance type situation with Steve Kerr’s contract ending at the end of this year. This was a frustrating summer as a Warriors supporter since there was no good ending to Kuminga’s situation. He ended up getting signed but will look to be flipped during the season, which is never an ideal thing to deal with. Outside of JK, the Warriors look to build on a disappointing end of the season that resulted in a loss to the TWolves, with Curry not playing and Jimmy banged up. Signing Al Horford to have four starters over the age of 35 is an interesting pivot in a league that is getting significantly younger. However, if the Warriors can get to the playoffs healthy, no one is going to want to see Curry, Jimmy, and Draymond. The Warriors are deep, but outside of Jimmy and Steph, they do not have many, if any, shot creators. I will cherish every Steph Curry game I can watch in year 17, and watching him, Jimmy, and Dray play together is basketball heaven.
Bold Prediction: Kuminga gets dished for an underwhelming package in January
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are pretty much running back the roster that lost in the Western Conference Finals last year, losing NAW to the Hawks. This summer, the Wolves extended both Julius Randle and Naz Reid. There will be a point where the Wolves can’t keep both those 2 and Gobert and expect to win a Championship. However, Anthony Edwards has emerged as a top 6-7 player in the NBA and must watch TV. The TWolves will have to rely on Terrence Shannon Jr and/or Rob Dillingham to step up and play meaningful minutes for this team. If TSJ and Rob can’t take advantage of this opportunity, this bench, outside of Naz, scares me, especially if Donte DiVincenzo starts over Mike Conley.
7. Los Angeles Lakers
What a different vibe coming into the season from last season. Making the biggest trade in NBA History, Luka Doncic looks to lead the Lakers to their 18th Championship this season. Unfortunately, LeBron James is set to miss his first season opener ever, in year 23. The vibes coming out of LeBron’s camp this summer were off. Rumors about leaving, fake decision videos for Hennessee, and not playing at all in the preseason. Yes, we will be patient with Bron, but it doesn’t seem like he’s all in on LA this year. If LeBron does miss a lot of time, I am not buying the offseason hype about DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart. Luka is so good, but this roster isn’t better than the teams in the same tier as them without Bron.
Bold Prediction: LeBron doesn’t make an All-NBA team
8. Dallas Mavericks
As mentioned above, the Mavericks were the other side of the biggest trade in NBA history, acquiring Anthony Davis. Putting on the tinfoil hat, the NBA could’ve conspired to ensure that the Mavericks would get the number one overall pick after trading Luka. With that first pick, they selected Cooper Flagg, who will fit right in on a team with three future NBA Hall-of-Famers. A healthy AD with Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington/Gafford/Lively can be the best defensive front court in the league. I also love the D’Angelo Russell signing for the Mavs to carry the ball-handling until Kyrie gets back from injury. I am very excited that Ryan Nembhard has excelled in the summer and preseason and will be on this team. Between this team and the 76ers, they are impossible to predict with the injury-prone veterans on their teams. It would not shock me if the Mavs finish top 6 in the West.
Bold Prediction: Cooper Flagg wins Rookie of the Year and gets votes for All-Defense
9. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs salvaged last year’s season by getting the number 2 pick in the NBA Draft to select Dylan Harper. With Harper, the Spurs have insanely talented guards like De’Aaron Fox, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell. They also drafted Carter Bryant at the 14th pick, who seems to be a future three-and-D stud in this league. The Spurs made perhaps the most underrated free agent signing in Luke Kornet to surround Victor Wembanyama with a very talented roster. Wemby had an all-time summer becoming a Monk and training with Hakeem Olajuwon. If you watched any Spurs preseason, you can see that the clock is ticking for the rest of the NBA before it officially becomes Victor Wembanyama’s league. I still think this team is a year or two away from really competing in the West, especially with Fox coming into the year injured.
Bold Prediction- Wemby gets a quadruple-double
10. New Orleans Pelicans
Somehow, the Pelicans have the second-lowest win total in the Western Conference this season. Now I know they might be a cursed franchise (cc Dyson Daniels quote), but I am buying the Skinny Zion hype. Zion looks amazing in preseason and in the 30 games he played last season, he averaged 25, 7, and 5 on 57% shooting. Throw Jordan Poole into the mix of Trey Murphy and Herb Jones and you have a fun, talented team. The front-court depth for sure scares me, especially with Looney starting the year hurt, but I am a fan of this squad. With no first-round picks next season, thanks to Derik Queen, there is no reason for the Pelicans not to go all in and win some games.
Bold Prediction- Zion Williamson is an All-Star
11. Memphis Grizzlies
Last season, I was really high on the Grizzlies and hit on their over win total, but the Grizzlies absolutely collapsed down the stretch of the season. This resulted in Taylor Jenkins getting fired just nine games before the playoffs. Memphis decided to shake up its core and trade Desmond Bane for KCP. I love the Cedric Coward pick at 11 and him and Wells are not going to be fun for opposing guards to go against. Ty Jerome was a GREAT pickup for Memphis (although he got announced with a calf injury after I wrote this). However, Ja Morant is still listed as week-to-week, Zach Edey is out for a month, and Jaren Jackson Jr just returned from a toe injury. Without Ja and Trip, the Grizzlies will struggle to pick up wins in the West.
Bold Prediction: This will be Thomas Iisalo’s only season
12. Phoenix Suns
This post-KD Suns roster is a scrappy bunch. Phoenix got Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green for KD. They also, for some reason, got the 2024 Charlotte Hornets front court AND drafted Khaman Maluach. I like the Maluach and Rasheer Fleming pick, but it seems like Ishbia is completely lost and is somehow taking more responsibility in building this roster. Outside of Devin Booker, the Suns are relying on Jalen Green to bring Phoenix to the playoffs. This retooling roster is a good thing for the Suns if they fully commit to rebuilding the future around Booker and Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks is not the answer.
Bold Prediction: Dillon Brooks gets traded at the deadline
13. Portland Trail Blazers
Portland sneakily finished the second half of the season as a top 3 defensive team in the NBA. With the addition of Jrue Holiday, the Blazers will be a great defensive team. With Deni Advija and Shadeon Sharpe, I really don’t know where this team will go. They can certainly surprise everyone and push for a play-in spot, but as of now, they are still too young.
Give the keys to Yang Hansen and get out of his way!!!!
14. Sacramento Kings
The Kings rebuilt the Chicago Bulls from a few seasons ago, and that is not an exciting outlook going into this season. It didn’t work in Chicago, and it will not work in Sacramento either. I don’t love that they maxed out Keegan Murray, too as he seems to be a corner-sitter. Sabonis tweaked his hamstring and might miss the start of the season, and they have absolutely zero frontcourt depth. Drew Eubanks or Dario Saric might have to start at Center for the Kings. On top of that, Doug Christie has to balance a backcourt of Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and Malik Monk. They traded Fox last year for a super underwhelming return, and I think it is time to blow the whole thing up for the Kings and start over again.
Two words: NIQUE CLIFFORD
15. Utah Jazz
If you are a College Basketball fan, you will absolutely love the Utah Jazz roster. Drafting Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr in the first round of the NBA Draft, they have a collegiate All-Star team and Lauri Markkanen. There’s not much to say about the Jazz’s outlook this season, as their win total is only 18.5 games. I think this season, the Jazz need to figure out who they want in their future and build around these players.
Bold Prediction: Walker Kessler finally gets traded
NBA Awards:
MVP:
Favorite: Nikola Jokic (+300). Last year, I hit on Shai MVP, and I think it goes back to Jokic this season. With the most talented roster Jokic has had since they won the Finals in 2023, I don’t see a world where Jokic’s stats suffer. Last year, Jokic averaged 30, 13, and 10 and lost on a historic offensive season from SGA and the Thunder.
Darkhorse: Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1200). I really do think it is a two-man race between SGA and Jokic, but if there is going to be one player in the East to have ridiculous, eye-popping numbers, it’s going to be Giannis. A walking 30 and 10, Giannis seems to have the fire to push a little harder this year. If Giannis can win the scoring title and lead the Bucks to home court advantage, I can see him being firm in the MVP convo at the end of the year.
Rookie of the Year:
Favorite: Cooper Flagg (-225). The only way Cooper Flagg doesn’t win this award is if he doesn’t play 65 games. There is not much Cooper Flagg can’t do on either end of the floor. Having that polished game on a playoff team locks this race up before it even starts.
Dark Horse: Tre Johnson (+1000). As I mentioned in the portion about the Wizards, I really like their draft classes of the past three years. The one thing that the Wizards do not have is a true number one option. If Tre takes that role and leads the rookie class in scoring, there could be an argument for him to win rookie of the year. Regardless, I am excited to watch Tre get buckets this season.
(I drafted both of these guys on my fantasy team as well)
Defensive Player of the Year:
Favorite: Victor Wembanyama (-185). Similar to Flagg and ROY, the only way Wemby does not secure his first DPOY this season is if he does not play 65 games. In his first two seasons, Wemby is averaging 3.7 blocks a game. I talked about Wemby’s offseason in my Spurs writeup and Wemby getting stronger can only improve his defense even more. I expect Wemby to average 4+ blocks and have a game where he blocks 10 shots.
Dark Horse: Evan Mobley (+1500). Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year has the third shortest odds to repeat this award, but I think there is legitimate value. Both Wemby and Chet dealt with injuries last season and if that were to happen again (please no), Mobley will be anchoring the best defense in the Eastern Conference. Although I do not believe in a Mobley offensive leap, he has become one of the most impressive defenders in the NBA.
Most Improved:
This award regained some respect last season when Dyson Daniels won over Cade Cunningham. No one could’ve predicted that Dyson Daniels was going to win this award last season so this season is a bit tough to predict. My two favorites for most improved are Reed Sheppard (+3000) and Bennedict Mathurin (+1300). Both of these guys are going to see a great opportunity this season. Reed was shooing 40% from three on 7+ attempts in the preseason and looks like he is the number three pick the Rockets drafted last season. While some may expect Nembhard to take the next step because of Haliburton’s injury, I expect Bennedict Mathurin to be their prime scorer outside of Siakam.
Sixth Man of the Year:
Unfortunately, due to the way successful teams are built in the apron era, we lost the true art of a sixth man like Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford. That true microwave scorer and while I’m hoping Clarkson is that guy for the Knicks, I don’t think he will get the opportunity. The favorite for this award currently is De’Andre Hunter, who is going to start for the Cavs with Strus and Garland being sidelined. Naz Reid, the current winner, is the second favorite, but I don’t see the Big Jelly repeating. I really like John Collins (+1300) in his role on the Clippers. Although he has been stashed away in Utah the past few seasons, Collins game really came together last season and he averaged 19 and 8. If Collins can continue this production, and take advantage of the games Kawai misses, I can see him winning this award.
Coach of the Year:
In my write-ups I had a prediction for Quinn Snyder (+650) to win Coach of the Year as I see the Hawks overachieving this season and becoming a premier team in the Eastern conference. I also think David Adelman (+2200) can win COY in his first full season coaching if the Nuggets finish with the best record in the NBA.
NBA Championship:
If you made it this far in the article, thank you for reading. It is truly appreciated. I think the NBA Finals will be played between the NEW YORK KNICKS and the Denver Nuggets. Call me bias but the fact of the matter is, this is the most talented Knicks roster I have seen in my lifetime. With a depleted East, I am trusting Jalen Brunson over any other player in the East to win me a playoff series. With Bridges looking like his old self and a coach that can maximize KAT on offense, plus an upgraded bench, I believe the Knicks will make it out the East. In the West, this is Jokic’s most talented roster since they won a Championship in 2021. Denver took OKC to 7 games last season with a hurt MPJ (30% shooting and 22% from three) and Russell Westbrook playing significant minutes. I think Denver had a real chance of beating OKC too if Aaron Gordon didn’t get hurt in game 6. There is no way I can predict the Knicks losing in the Finals, and the Knicks have a 5-1 record against the Nuggets in the last three years. My 2025-26 NBA Champions are the New York Knicks.
JakesTakes 
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