The 2025-26 NBA season promises to be a great year of basketball with so many compelling storylines.
Some of last season’s top teams will be competing again, including the title-winning Oklahoma City Thunder.
Meanwhile, other established teams are either in a rebuilding phase or may fall short of their lofty expectations.
From LeBron James and Stephen Curry to Victor Wembaneyama and Anthony Edwards, there are plenty of new and old superstars worth keeping an eye on.
Our experts: NBA analysis has predicted all important aspects of the 2025-26 season, including champions, MVP winners, trade targets, and more.
- read more: Top 5 players expected to be traded during the 2025-26 NBA season
Paolo Banchero averaged nearly 30 points per game in last season’s playoffs, but is still not considered a superstar. That will change this season if he leads the Magic to a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Johnson could soon be the Atlanta Hawks’ best player. His all-around skills, improved playmaking, and athleticism allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Johnson is an elite athlete who does well at the rim and does a great job of putting pressure on defenses with his downhill ability. If healthy, Johnson could easily have an All-Star season. If the Hawks make a jump this season, Johnson will be a big reason why.
Cade Cunningham was named an All-Star last season. But by leading the undermanned Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference, he could emerge as a superstar and potentially even a candidate for the NBA’s top scoring title.
Franz Wagner just needs to fix his three-point shot, and that’s very doable. And with his two-way ability, Wagner has a great chance to become a new NBA superstar.
Mitchell Robinson and Ivica Zubac are playing at an All-Star level, and keep an eye out for ace Bailey.
Lauri Markkanen reminded everyone he’s a star while playing for Finland at EuroBasket this summer. It’s a shame he’s stuck with the Utah Jazz, and a contending team should trade him before the deadline.
As crazy as it may seem, it’s possible that the Los Angeles Lakers will struggle early and LeBron James will get fed up with the situation. Given his age, LeBron wants to win another championship, but if he decides this Lakers team isn’t up to the task or questions his fit alongside a ball-dominant playmaker like Luka Doncic, there could be a scenario in which James approaches the trade deadline and forces a move to a contending team.
Paul George is expected to be on a different roster at the end of the season. He’s so expensive right now that he’s not going to put up the numbers the 76ers want him to put up, which is actively hurting the 76ers’ present and future. The 76ers may soon try to take advantage of his declining value to recoup their investment, at least in part.
It’s time for Lauri Markkanen to go. However, he is too good to play on a Utah Jazz roster that has nothing to pursue other than a lottery pick.
Luka Doncic has a great chance to finally win the Most Valuable Player award this season. With LeBron James expected to take a step back, Doncic could put up some crazy stats for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nikola Jokic could have easily won MVP last season. He had the best statistical season in NBA history, breaking records and becoming the first center to average a triple-double. Jokic seems to be getting better each season, so it’ll be exciting to see what’s in store for him. He’s the best player in the world and has a great supporting cast, making it difficult to compete against Jokic, who won his fourth MVP award this season.
Nikola Jokic finally has the quality roster he’s wanted for years. With the additions the Nuggets acquired for him, Jokic could have his best season yet, considering he had an MVP season with some not-so-great supporting players.
Jokic is simply the best player in the league. he deserves it.
The Houston Rockets suffered a major setback this offseason with the injury to Fred VanVleet. This will put even more emphasis on helping Kevin Durant succeed, something he hasn’t had since leaving the Golden State Warriors.
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost a key piece in Nickell Alexander Walker and did nothing of note in the offseason. Anthony Edwards is a rising superstar, but there are question marks surrounding him. Mike Conley is aging, Rudy Gobert is inconsistent, and will Julius Randle be reliable enough? The Timberwolves could take a big step back this season, given how well the rest of the Western Conference teams have done.
The LA Clippers have put together a roster filled with some of the biggest names in NBA history. Unfortunately, most of these big names are far past their prime. As the Lakers proved a few years ago, it’s very difficult to win in the NBA with a roster full of veterans.
They may have secured the top seed, but the Thunder’s game last season already exposed some flaws, and many teams in the West could punish them.
Philadelphia 76ers again.
The Dallas Mavericks have multiple serious injury concerns, including Kyrie Irving, who likely won’t return until after Christmas. But Irving, Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg could be a great big three if they can stay healthy.
The Atlanta Hawks had one of the best offseasons in the NBA. Trae Young has the best supporting cast after the Hawks added Kristaps Porzingis, Nickel-Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. They have young stallions in Zachary Lizacher, Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson who look primed for big years. There is a realistic path for the Hawks to reach the Eastern Conference Finals this season.
The Detroit Pistons were a successful team last season, securing the No. 6 seed in the East. With playoff experience and more practice time with JB Bickerstaff, they will take it a step further and secure a top-four finish in the East.
If Zion Williamson stays healthy enough to play at least 70 games, the Pelicans will have an interesting roster to shock the West.
They will earn a top-six seed despite Tyrese Haliburton being sidelined.
The New York Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but new head coach Mike Brown could be the difference in taking them all the way.
The Denver Nuggets already have the best player in the world (Nikola Jokic) and now have a strong bench unit after an impressive offseason.
The Knicks were also able to add a nice depth piece. The Knicks, who relied heavily on starters from last postseason, added Jordan Clarkson and Gershon Yabusele. The East is wide open this season, and the Knicks are finally going to get it done.
The Denver Nuggets made an effort this offseason to assemble the best supporting cast in Nikola Jokic’s history. Trading Cam Johnson would give Denver a legitimate two-way threat. Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas were all solid pickup players as well.
Looking from the east, it’s hard to overlook the New York Knicks. They have the strongest roster and have shown they can make a deep run in the playoffs, unlike the Cleveland Cavaliers. Barring any unforeseen crisis, the Knicks can expect to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 28 years.
Unfortunately for them, on the other side will be Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the scariest duo in the NBA. Let’s hope the superstars can lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals, even though they aren’t the best team in the West. In my day and age, I learned not to bet on Luka or LeBron. Even I can’t bet on both of them as a team.
All the Warriors need to do to go far in the playoffs is to stay healthy, and with good rotation players as new additions, it’s very possible to keep Curry, Draymond, and Butler healthy throughout the season. And the Knicks are the best team in the East.
The Denver Nuggets currently have an excellent supporting cast led by Nikola Jokic, which the Knicks will probably be unable to handle. The center won his second Finals MVP award, making him a top-10 player in history.
The Denver Nuggets have a deep team from top to bottom. Nikola Jokic has always been the best player on the floor and will be the best player in this series. However, the key player will be Jamal Murray. He needs to face this situation as he always has. The Nuggets feel like they are the biggest threat to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder. They will go on to win the 2025 NBA title.
If the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals, Luka Doncic will be the key to leading them to a title. If the second option is LeBron James, he has the license to be completely off during a game, even at 41 years old.
Stephen Curry’s Last Dance. An absolute movie.
Cooper Flagg averaged over 20 points per game in his debut season with the Dallas Mavericks and will be playing in the All-Star Game.
The San Antonio Spurs have a lot of young talent, and this could be the season for them to all come together and make an OKC-like breakthrough in the Western Conference. Victor Wembaneyama looks ready for a big year, Dylan Harper already looks good, De’Aaron Fox is still an elite player and has the experience this team needs to take a big step forward. The Western Conference is tough, but the Spurs will surprise many.
Trae Young will be a top-three MVP candidate and will lead the NBA in assists. With the Hawks adding a solid spacing player and perimeter scorer to the roster, Young will have just as much fun throwing dimes as he does hitting long-range shots.
Maybe we just overhyped Cooper Flagg.
This will be Steve Kerr or Erik Spoelstra’s last season with the Warriors/Heat.