NBA: 2025-26 Season Preview

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After their shocking run to the championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2025-26 season with a new and unfamiliar distinction: the NBA’s undeniable Goliath. While their core remains young, their title validates them as the team to beat in a league facing major shifts. From seismic trades to a historic rookie class and key injuries, the upcoming season promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.

The Western Conference: The Thunder’s Reign and the Rise of Houston

The Oklahoma City Thunder (The Defending Champions): The Thunder capped off an extraordinary season with a thrilling 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The team, which finished the regular season with a remarkable 68-14 record, was built on a foundation of elite defense and the superstar play of Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Their stifling defense, led by All-Defensive selections Lu Dort and Jalen Williams, allowed them to hold the Pacers to just 91 points in the deciding game. Offensively, OKC relied on its league-leading free-throw shooting and the clutch scoring of Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged nearly 30 points per game in the Finals. The Thunder’s championship run was a masterclass in modern basketball—a team that played with pace, attacked the rim, and shut down opponents with swarming defense. Their victory marked the first title for the franchise since relocating to Oklahoma City.

The Houston Rockets (Kevin Durant’s New Kingdom): The biggest move of the offseason came from the Houston Rockets, who made a blockbuster seven-team trade to acquire superstar forward Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. This historic deal, which also saw Clint Capela return to Houston, signals the Rockets’ full-throttle shift into “win-now” mode. The move solidifies an already impressive core that includes Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. The immediate question is how Durant, a four-time scoring champion and two-time Finals MVP, will fit with the young, developing talent. However, the move gives the Rockets the elite scoring punch they lacked and makes them a legitimate threat to challenge the Thunder for Western Conference supremacy.

The Eastern Conference: Injuries Open the Door

The landscape of the Eastern Conference has been dramatically altered by two major injuries to its top stars.

The Boston Celtics (Without Jayson Tatum): The Celtics, who were a top-tier contender, will be without All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum for most, if not all, of the season. Tatum suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the 2024-25 Eastern Conference semifinals. While Tatum himself has not ruled out a return late in the season, the team is reportedly being cautious to ensure his full recovery. His absence creates a massive scoring and playmaking void that Boston will struggle to fill.

The Indiana Pacers (The Fallen Contender): The Pacers’ magical playoff run ended in heartbreak when their star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, suffered a similar Achilles injury in the first quarter of the pivotal Game 7 of the Finals. Haliburton’s injury dashed the Pacers’ championship hopes and left a massive hole in their offense.

With these two top teams hobbled, the door is open for a new leader in the East. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks are now seen as the top contenders. The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell, have the depth and experience to make a deep playoff run. Meanwhile, the Knicks, after firing coach Tom Thibodeau, hired Mike Brown and are aiming to finally return to the NBA Finals.

The Next Generation: The 2025 NBA Draft Class

The 2025 NBA Draft was all about one player: Cooper Flagg. The Dallas Mavericks selected the generational talent with the No. 1 overall pick, and he is expected to make an immediate impact alongside Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Scouts praise Flagg for his high basketball IQ, exceptional defensive instincts, and versatile offensive skills. He is the clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year and is in a unique position to learn from an elite playmaker on a contending team.

Other notable rookies to watch include:

Dylan Harper: Selected by the San Antonio Spurs, Harper is expected to be a primary ball-handler and scorer for a team in a rebuilding phase.
V.J. Edgecombe: Picked by the Philadelphia 76ers, Edgecombe is an athletic wing who should provide an immediate boost on both ends of the court.
Tre Johnson: The Washington Wizards selected Johnson to be a foundational piece for their backcourt.

Final Thoughts: What to Watch For

The 2025-26 NBA season is a mix of established power and new beginnings. The Thunder’s young roster will face the pressure of defending their title, while the Rockets’ addition of Kevin Durant makes the Western Conference more compelling than ever. In the East, the injuries to two of the league’s brightest stars create a vacuum at the top, leaving the conference wide open for a new team to seize control. With generational talents joining the league and a legendary veteran like LeBron James entering what could be his final season, every storyline feels bigger, and the race for the championship is poised to be as exciting as ever.