The 2025-2026 NBA season has arrived. Parity hasn’t ever been stronger, as the league could potentially crown a new champion for the eighth straight year, an active league record — although the Oklahoma City Thunder may have something to say about that.
Let’s dive into analysis from a few of The Lead’s writers on what to look for this season:
Who Will Improve the Most and Who Will Have the Biggest Decline?
Shayan Malik:
Most Improved: Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks should be expected to have the largest win increase this season. Both Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher are projected to make significant improvements, and with Kristaps Porziņģis joining Trae Young, Atlanta now features one of the league’s best offensive units.
The strong defensive capabilities of Daniels, Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Jalen Johnson should allow the Hawks to compete with teams on that end of the floor.
Biggest decline: Indiana
With the season-ending loss of Tyrese Haliburton and the departure of Myles Turner, the Indiana Pacers are likely to go from an NBA Finals team to having one of the worst records in the Eastern Conference. The trio of Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith, led by Pascal Siakam, is solid but may not be enough to compete in a young and improving East.
Most Improved: Orlando
Biggest decline: Houston
Most Improved: Atlanta
Biggest decline: LA Clippers
What Will This Year’s Playoff Field Look Like?
Pham:
East:
Knicks
Cavaliers
Hawks
Magic
Pistons
Bucks
Celtics
Raptors
Pacers
Sixers
It’s a wide open Eastern Conference this year with the injuries to Jayson Tatum and Haliburton — stars of two teams that represented the East in the Finals the last two seasons.
The seeding for seeds 3-8 should be competitive, but the gap between the Knicks and the Cavaliers is significant between them and the rest of the East. Atlanta is a dark horse to come out of the East with them retooling around Trae Young. The addition of Kristaps Porzingis to space the floor along with the leaps from the trio of Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels gives Young his best supporting cast in years.
West:
Lakers
Thunder
Nuggets
Timberwolves
Grizzlies
Spurs
Rockets
Warriors
Suns
Clippers
While Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have led their respective teams to a championship in their prime, the rest of the West has several teams well overdue for a championship appearance.
In San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox is going to be playing with not just the best teammate in his career, Victor Wembanyama, he’s also playing with a legitimate 2K cheat code. Star guards like Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic have been knocking on the door for a title.
Other guards like Fox, Ja Morant and Devin Booker only add to the loaded West that some talents like them are going to be in the Play-In when they should actually be in the top four. It’s a real chance the West could finish with the top-six teams earning over 50 wins and perhaps the Play-In teams finishing with a winning record, similar to the 2023-2024 season.
Malik:
East:
Knicks
Cavaliers
Magic
Hawks
Pistons
Heat
Bucks
Raptors
Celtics
Bulls
West:
Thunder
Nuggets
Timberwolves
Rockets
Lakers
Warriors
Spurs
Mavericks
Grizzlies
Clippers
Stautzenbach:
East:
Bucks
Hawks
Knicks
Cavaliers
Pistons
Magic
Raptors
Celtics
Pacers
Heat
West:
Thunder
Rockets
Nuggets
Timberwolves
Spurs
Lakers
Mavericks
Grizzlies
Warriors
Clippers
Award predictions:
Pham:
MVP: Anthony Edwards
DPOTY: Herb Jones
ROY: Yang Hansen
MIP: Andrew Nembhard
COTY: Chris Finch
Sixth man: Jordan Clarkson
Malik:
MVP: Nikola Jokic
DPOY: Dyson Daniels
ROY: V.J. Edgecombe
MIP: Michael Porter Jr.
COTY: Quin Snyder
Sixth man: Naz Reid
Stautzenbach:
MVP: Victor Wembanyama
DPOTY: Bam Adebeyo
ROY: Cooper Flagg
MIP: Deni Avdija
COTY: Quin Snyder
Sixth man: Anfernee Simons
What Are Your Conference Finals and Finals Predictions?
Pham:
ECF: Magic vs. Cavs
WCF: Lakers vs. Thunder
Finals: Magic vs. Lakers
Champion: Lakers
Malik:
ECF: Knicks vs. Cavs
WCF: Thunder vs. Timberwolves
Finals: Knicks vs. Timberwolves
Champion: Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards says he plans to bring a Championship to Minnesota:
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to make it happen. I’m going to get fly as hell to where they can’t stop me.”
(via: @JonKrawczynski) pic.twitter.com/ZfHE3XkRMB
— Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) October 20, 2025
Stautzenbach:
ECF: Hawks vs. Bucks
WCF: Thunder vs. Nuggets
Finals: Hawks vs. Thunder
Champion: Thunder
The Atlanta Hawks are going to surprise a lot of people this year. Pairing Porzingis star players Jalen Johnson and Trae Young means this team has the ability to score from anywhere. The Hawks will soar all the way to the finals.
In the West, the reigning NBA champions still have the most talented and well-built roster in the NBA, and I don’t think things will change. They will repeat as the number one seed in the Western Conference and also have the best record in the NBA.
The Thunder are a team built with youth in mind, with star players like Chet Holmgren, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Williams—all under 28. So, not only do the Thunder have one of the most talented teams, but they also seem to be one of the youngest, with an average roster age of 24.53.
Not only do the Thunder have star players, but they also have depth with players like Alex
Caruso playing a key role in defense.
This team remains one of the most complete in the NBA, and there’s no reason they won’t secure at least a Finals berth unless shown otherwise.