The 2025-26 NBA season has commenced with expert analysts from major outlets forecasting the Oklahoma City Thunder as favorites to repeat as champions, while the Eastern Conference is expected to be a battleground between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The season kicked off with high-profile matchups, including the Thunder raising their championship banner before a double-overtime victory over the Houston Rockets, and the Golden State Warriors defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in their opener. These games set the stage for a highly anticipated campaign filled with storylines and potential upsets, drawing attention to key players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić.
Expert panels from TSN and CBS Sports have released comprehensive predictions, synthesizing insights from multiple analysts to provide a unified outlook on the season. These predictions cover conference standings, playoff outcomes, and individual awards, drawing from in-depth knowledge of team rosters, player performances, and historical trends to offer a balanced perspective.
In the Eastern Conference, the Knicks and Cavaliers are the front-runners, with experts split on who will emerge victorious. The Knicks, under new coach Mike Brown, are praised for their depth and offensive improvements, while the Cavaliers rely on their core of Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, despite past playoff struggles. The Orlando Magic are seen as a rising threat, potentially disrupting the top seeds with their young talent.
The Western Conference is dominated by the Thunder, who are lauded for their youth, defense, and star power led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, the Denver Nuggets, with Nikola Jokić and a bolstered bench, pose a significant challenge, as do the Golden State Warriors with the addition of Jimmy Butler. Other teams like the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be competitive, making the West a tough and unpredictable conference.
For the NBA Finals, the Thunder are heavily favored to win it all, with many experts predicting a repeat performance. The Nuggets and Knicks are common picks as runners-up, but surprises could come from teams like the Cavaliers or Warriors. The MVP race is equally contested, with Jokić, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić among the top contenders, reflecting the league’s depth of talent and individual brilliance.
These predictions are based on factors such as offseason moves, player health, and team chemistry. For instance, the Thunder’s retention of key players and the Nuggets’ depth additions are highlighted as reasons for their high expectations. In the East, the Knicks’ coaching change and the Cavaliers’ consistency are key points of discussion, emphasizing how strategic adjustments could influence playoff success.
As the season unfolds, fans can watch for whether the Thunder can overcome the difficulty of repeating as champions, a feat not achieved since the 2018 Warriors. The Eastern Conference’s perceived weakness may lead to unexpected playoff runs, while the West’s competitiveness ensures thrilling matchups throughout the year, ultimately shaping the narrative of this NBA season.