The 2025-2026 NBA season has arrived. Parity hasn\u2019t ever been stronger, as the league could potentially crown a new champion for the eighth straight year, an active league record \u2014 although the Oklahoma City Thunder may have something to say about that.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dive into analysis from a few of The Lead\u2019s writers on what to look for this season:<\/p>\n
Who Will Improve the Most and Who Will Have the Biggest Decline? Most Improved: Atlanta<\/p>\n The Atlanta Hawks should be expected to have the largest win increase this season. Both Dyson Daniels<\/a> and Zaccharie Risacher<\/a> are projected to make significant improvements, and with Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a> joining Trae Young<\/a>, Atlanta now features one of the league\u2019s best offensive units. <\/p>\n The strong defensive capabilities of Daniels, Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu<\/a>, Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a>, and Jalen Johnson<\/a> should allow the Hawks to compete with teams on that end of the floor.<\/p>\n Biggest decline: Indiana<\/p>\n With the season-ending loss of Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> and the departure of Myles Turner<\/a>, 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<\/a>, Bennedict Mathurin<\/a> and Aaron Nesmith<\/a>, led by Pascal Siakam<\/a>, is solid but may not be enough to compete in a young and improving East.<\/p>\n Mac Pham:<\/a><\/p>\n Most Improved: Orlando<\/p>\n Biggest decline: Houston<\/p>\n Benjamin Stautzenbach<\/a>:<\/p>\n Most Improved: Atlanta<\/p>\n Biggest decline: LA Clippers<\/p>\n What Will This Year\u2019s Playoff Field Look Like? East:<\/p>\n Knicks It\u2019s a wide open Eastern Conference this year with the injuries to Jayson Tatum<\/a> and Haliburton \u2014 stars of two teams that represented the East in the Finals the last two seasons. <\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n West:<\/p>\n Lakers While Nikola Jokic<\/a> and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n In San Antonio, De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> is going to be playing with not just the best teammate in his career, Victor Wembanyama<\/a>, he\u2019s also playing with a legitimate 2K cheat code. Star guards like Anthony Edwards<\/a> and Luka Doncic<\/a> have been knocking on the door for a title. <\/p>\n Other guards like Fox, Ja Morant<\/a> and Devin Booker<\/a> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Malik:<\/p>\n East:\u00a0<\/p>\n Knicks West:<\/p>\n Thunder Stautzenbach:<\/p>\n East:<\/p>\n Bucks West:<\/p>\n Thunder\u00a0\u00a0 Award predictions: MVP: Anthony Edwards<\/p>\n DPOTY: Herb Jones<\/p>\n ROY: Yang Hansen<\/a><\/p>\n MIP: Andrew Nembhard<\/p>\n COTY: Chris Finch<\/p>\n Sixth man: Jordan Clarkson<\/a><\/p>\n Malik:\u00a0<\/p>\n MVP: Nikola Jokic\u00a0<\/p>\n DPOY: Dyson Daniels\u00a0<\/p>\n ROY: V.J. Edgecombe\u00a0<\/p>\n MIP: Michael Porter Jr.\u00a0<\/p>\n COTY: Quin Snyder\u00a0<\/p>\n Sixth man: Naz Reid<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Stautzenbach:<\/p>\n MVP: Victor Wembanyama\u00a0<\/p>\n DPOTY: Bam Adebeyo\u00a0<\/p>\n ROY: Cooper Flagg<\/a><\/p>\n MIP: Deni Avdija<\/a><\/p>\n COTY: Quin Snyder<\/p>\n Sixth man: Anfernee Simons<\/a><\/p>\n What Are Your Conference Finals and Finals Predictions? ECF: Magic vs. Cavs<\/p>\n WCF: Lakers vs. Thunder<\/p>\n Finals: Magic vs. Lakers<\/p>\n Champion: Lakers<\/p>\n Malik:<\/p>\n ECF: Knicks vs. Cavs\u00a0<\/p>\n WCF: Thunder vs. Timberwolves\u00a0<\/p>\n Finals: Knicks vs. Timberwolves\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Champion: Timberwolves<\/p>\n Anthony Edwards says he plans to bring a Championship to Minnesota: <\/p>\n “Don\u2019t worry about it. I\u2019m going to make it happen. I\u2019m going to get fly as hell to where they can\u2019t stop me.\u201d<\/p>\n (via: @JonKrawczynski<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/ZfHE3XkRMB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) October 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Stautzenbach:<\/p>\n ECF: Hawks vs. Bucks<\/p>\n WCF: Thunder vs. Nuggets<\/p>\n Finals: Hawks vs. Thunder\u00a0<\/p>\n Champion: Thunder<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In the West, the reigning NBA champions still have the most talented and well-built roster in the NBA, and I don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n The Thunder are a team built with youth in mind, with star players like Chet Holmgren<\/a>, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Williams<\/a>\u2014all 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.<\/p>\n Not only do the Thunder have star players, but they also have depth with players like Alex<\/p>\n Caruso playing a key role in defense.<\/p>\n This team remains one of the most complete in the NBA, and there\u2019s no reason they won\u2019t secure at least a Finals berth unless shown otherwise.<\/p>\n
\nShayan Malik:<\/a><\/p>\n
\nPham:<\/p>\n
\nCavaliers
\nHawks
\nMagic
\nPistons
\nBucks
\nCeltics
\nRaptors
\nPacers
\nSixers<\/p>\n
\nThunder
\nNuggets
\nTimberwolves
\nGrizzlies
\nSpurs
\nRockets
\nWarriors
\nSuns
\nClippers<\/p>\n
\nCavaliers
\nMagic
\nHawks
\nPistons
\nHeat
\nBucks
\nRaptors
\nCeltics\u00a0
\nBulls<\/p>\n
\nNuggets
\nTimberwolves\u00a0
\nRockets\u00a0
\nLakers
\nWarriors
\nSpurs
\nMavericks\u00a0
\nGrizzlies
\nClippers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Hawks\u00a0
\n Knicks
\n Cavaliers\u00a0
\n Pistons
\n Magic\u00a0
\n Raptors\u00a0
\n Celtics
\n Pacers\u00a0
\n Heat<\/p>\n
\n Rockets
\n Nuggets
\n Timberwolves
\n Spurs\u00a0
\n Lakers
\n Mavericks\u00a0
\n Grizzlies
\n Warriors
\n Clippers<\/p>\n
\nPham:<\/p>\n
\nPham:\u00a0<\/p>\n