The new NBA season is nearly hear. After a summer offseason and a few weeks of preseason games, all 30 teams are set to kick off the 2025-26 campaign. Just like every other season, some teams will play up to expectations, others will disappoint, while a few fresh-faced clubs will have breakthrough years.
With that in mind, we offer up NBA predictions for the win-loss record for every team, pick which squads will make the playoffs next spring, and foretell who will reign supreme as the league champion in June.
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Wondering how your team will do the 2025-26 NBA season? Below, you can get a quick preview of each team in the Eastern Conference and final predictions for their win-loss record.
The Atlanta Hawks showed very nice growth in 2024-25 in Quin Snyder's second full season. They won't compete for a title, but should have a winning record this season.
This time last year, the Boston Celtics were defending an NBA championship. In 2025-2,6 they will have to fight to avoid the play-in tournament with Kristaps Porzingis , Jrue Holiday , and Al Horford gone, and superstar Jayson Tatum expected to miss most of the season.
Despite having the most cap space this summer Brooklyn Nets didn't make major changes to their roster outside of adding Michael Porter Jr. They shouldn't be that much different from a year ago.
The Charlotte Hornets have young talent with a lot of potential. However, top star LaMelo Ball continues to battle injury issues. But even when he is on the floor, there are questions about whether he actually makes his teammates better.
The Chicago Bulls seemed like a lost cause last season, especially after they traded Zach LaVine . However, strong play by Josh Giddey and Coby White late in the season has created hope that they could contend for a top-six spot in the East this season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were great in their first season with Kenny Atkinson as head coach. With the East expected to be far weaker in 2025-26, look for the Cavs to add a few more wins this season.
The Detroit Pistons were one of the best stories in the NBA last season as they went from the bottom of the league to a top-five team in the East. As long as top star Cade Cunningham can stay healthy, they should get close to 50 wins this season.
It is set up to be a very long season for the Indiana Pacers in 2025-26. They will hope that some of their young talent can take another development step forward. But losing Tyrese Haliburton (injury) and Myles Turner (free agency) and not replacing them with equal value will be too much for them to overcome.
The Miami Heat will have to deal with a lot less drama this season. However, they did not get a star back in the Jimmy Butler trade last season. While they have a rock-solid starting five, there is no reason to believe they will be much better than they were a year ago.
The Milwaukee Bucks moved on from Damian Lillard and added Myles Turner. There are big questions about their backcourt, but Giannis Antetokounmpo seems dedicated on making the most of a weaker Eastern Conference this year as his championship window continues to get narrower.
Things have never been better set up for the New York Knicks to get back to the NBA Finals. They should win more than they did a year ago and be a top team in the East. The biggest goal outside of trying to get the No. 1 seed is being healthy come playoff time.
The Orlando Magic could have been far better last season if not for injuries to top players. They already have an elite defense and got the three-point threat and distributor they needed in Desmond Bane . They are a sleeper in the East.
There will be one big question for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025-26 NBA season: Staying healthy. They will forego a top seed in the East to make sure they are healthy for the playoffs. Then they could really be a problem in the conference.
The Toronto Raptors have a lot of potential with Brandon Ingram in the fold. However, there will likely be growing pains on offense, after he never suited up last season after being traded, and they still have big issues on defense.
The Washington Wizards were one of the worst teams in the NBA last season. Now, they are hoping a very young team and greybeards CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton leading the way will change their fortunes. That's very unlikely.
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Take a look at what the final win-loss records will be for all 15 Western Conference teams in the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Dallas Mavericks have a lot of potential, especially if Kyrie Irving returns later in the season fully recovered from an ACL. Until then, Dallas has a solid roster led by future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis and super-prospect Cooper Flagg .
The Denver Nuggets surprisingly played well after firing head coach Mike Malone in the final weeks of the season and replacing him with David Adelman. With a new approach and the best player in the league, Denver should be a top-five team out West again.
After trading for Jimmy Butler, the Golden State Warriors looked like a serious title contender. However, injuries killed their chances of a deep playoff run. If they can stay healthy, there is no reason not to expect them to be a force this year.
In Ime Udoka's first full season as head coach, the Houston Rockets had a breakthrough year. Now, with Kevin Durant giving them the go-to scoring they lacked last year, they have real potential to make the West Finals in the spring.
The Los Angeles Lakers were better than many expected in year one for JJ Redick . Now with a full training camp having Luka Doncic in the fold, there is no reason not to expect another playoff birth and being in contention for a top-three seed.
Many are wondering how the Los Angeles Clippers will respond to the scandal that rocked the franchise this summer. While they have some big-name talent on the roster, they are either in the final years of their career or injury-prone. Expect LA to take some steps back this year.
The Memphis Grizzlies surprisingly fired head coach Taylor Jenkins in the final weeks of last season. It just feels like the was the wrong move. Expect them to underachieve in 2025-26 and trade speculation to grow around top star Ja Morant.
It took some time, but the Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves late in the season and reached the West Finals for a second straight year. Barring injuries, this group should get off to a fast start in the new season and be an elite club all year.
Injuries destroyed the New Orleans Pelicans ' potential last season. However, last year's team was a far better group. Even if Zion Williamson is healthy for much of the year, this is not a playoff team in 2025-26.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have the potential to be the NBA's new dynasty team. They are young, talented, and only getting better. Plus, they have a well-rounded roster, and most importantly, they play elite defense. They are the favorites out West until further notice.
While Jrue Holiday will bring a proven veteran presence to the backcourt, the Portland Trail Blazers are still not built to be a playoff contender this season. The big question will be whether Chauncey Billups is able to hold on to his job all season.
The Phoenix Suns will look far different with both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal gone. The moves could be addition by subtraction, and the new-look Suns may surprise in Jordan Ott's debut season as head coach.
The Sacramento Kings have a ton of talent. Head coach Doug Christie has a difficult task. However, there were signs of his potential as a leader on the bench last season. The Kings could be a sleeper team in the conference.
With Victor Wembanyama back healthy, this feels like the year the San Antonio Spurs take a big leap forward, and the French phenom gets his first taste of playoff basketball. He is just too good, and there is better talent around him this season.
The Utah Jazz are still deep in rebuild mode. They have a boatload of trade to go after big-time talent. Until then, they will stay a lottery team this season.
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Who will make the playoffs in the
| Quater Finals |
Semifinals |
Conference Finals |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Cavaliers vs. 8) Hawks |
||
| 4) Bucks vs. 5) Pistons |
1) Cavaliers vs. 4) Bucks |
1) Cavaliers vs. Knicks |
| 3) Magic vs. 6) Celtics |
2) Knicks vs. 3) Magic |
|
| 2) Knicks vs. 7) 76ers |
| Quater Finals |
Semifinals |
Conference Finals |
| 1) Thunder over 8) Spurs |
||
| 4) Warriors over 5) Lakers |
1) Thunder vs. 4) Warriors |
1) Thunder vs. 3) Timberwolves |
| 3) Timberwolves 6) Nuggets |
3) Timberwolves vs. Rockets |
|
| 2) Rockets vs. 7) Mavericks |
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The Knicks will get back to the NBA Finals this season. However, they will face off with the leagues new dynasty team, the Thunder in the championship series. Unfortunately, New York's decades long title drought won't end in 2026 as the Thunder get a second-straight championship in the spring.
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