Eastern Conference

The Contenders

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: 59-23
   • The Cavaliers are returning 93% of the minutes from last season's 64-win team. They made two defensive offseason moves by adding Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. and saw two major conference rivals lose stars (Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton) to season-ending injuries.
2. New York Knicks: 54-28
   • The Knicks reached the conference finals last season and added depth upgrades with Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele on bargain deals.
3. Orlando Magic: 50-32
   • Fresh off the aggressive move to add Desmond Bane, the Magic are poised to gain on the top teams.
4. Atlanta Hawks: 47-35
   • The Hawks made an aggressive move to pluck Kristaps Porzingis off the Celtics and added Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
5. Detroit Pistons: 47-35
   • The Pistons are looking to build on their previous season's performance.

The Play-in Group

6. Milwaukee Bucks: 46-36
7. Boston Celtics: 43-39
8. Philadelphia 76ers: 40-42
9. Miami Heat: 39-43
10. Indiana Pacers: 39-43

The Bottom Five

11. Chicago Bulls: 36-46
12. Toronto Raptors: 33-49
13. Charlotte Hornets: 26-56
14. Brooklyn Nets: 23-59
15. Washington Wizards: 20-62

Western Conference

The Contenders

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-18
   • The Thunder are the clear-cut front-runner in the West, fresh off becoming the youngest NBA title team in almost five decades.
2. Houston Rockets: 54-28
   • The Rockets addressed the glaring hole on their roster by trading for future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant.
3. Denver Nuggets: 53-29
   • The Nuggets strengthened their bench by flipping Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick for Cameron Johnson.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves: 51-31
5. LA Clippers: 50-32
6. Los Angeles Lakers: 50-32

The Play-in Group

7. Golden State Warriors: 48-34
8. Dallas Mavericks: 44-38
9. San Antonio Spurs: 44-38
10. Memphis Grizzlies: 42-40

The Bottom Five

11. Portland Trail Blazers: 39-43
12. Sacramento Kings: 37-45
13. Phoenix Suns: 30-52
14. New Orleans Pelicans: 26-56
15. Utah Jazz: 19-63

Conclusion

The 2025-26 NBA season promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with both the Eastern and Western Conferences showcasing a mix of seasoned contenders and emerging teams. Injuries, trades, and strategic offseason moves will play pivotal roles in shaping the final standings. As the season unfolds, fans can expect thrilling matchups and intense competition as teams vie for playoff spots and championship glory.