The start of the NBA season is five days away.
Friday, Oct. 17 marks the final day of the NBA preseason. Coaches and players have worked their way back to game shape, and contenders have their eyes on a trip to the NBA Finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the reigning NBA champions and were dominant last season from the start of play to the end. The Thunder led the league with 68 victories, which was 16 more than the Western Conference’s second-best team, the Houston Rockets (52), and four more than the leader in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers (64).
Yet, the NBA has not seen a repeat champion since the Golden State Warriors won consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018.
Here are the record projections for every NBA team for the 2025-26 season with previews of each:
Eastern Conference record projections
(Projected 2025-26 conference seed in parentheses for applicable teams.)
Atlantic Division
(1) New York Knicks; 59-23: New coach Mike Brown should rely on New York’s depth far more than his predecessor did, but the biggest improvement the Knicks should see this season is a more diversified offense, and one that features star Jalen Brunson off the ball more often.
(6) Philadelphia 76ers; 43-39: This is all going to come down to the health of Philly’s players, the most important being Joel Embiid. He reported to training camp slimmed down, has been limited during the preseason, and his comments at media day signaled that he’ll likely be on a load management schedule. The Sixers, though, could be a candidate to outperform if they can get him consistently on the floor.
Brooklyn Nets; 16-66: A team that is very clearly amassing draft capital and building for the future, the Nets will have to rely on young, unproven players. There will be growing pains along the way, and it’s not clear if Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. can carry the offense.
Central Division
Southeast Division
Western Conference
(Projected 2025-26 conference seed in parentheses for applicable teams.)
Northwest Division
Pacific Division
(4) Los Angeles Clippers; 51-31: The investigation into Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer’s role in allegedly circumventing the salary cap will hang over the franchise until there is a resolution. But this is probably the last season for this veteran roster to compete for a championship. Adding John Collins and Brook Lopez shores up the front court.
(8) Los Angeles Lakers; 43-39: Not having LeBron James for the start of the season will put a ton of pressure on Luka Dončić. The Lakers better hope that James’ sciatica issue doesn’t linger, because they will miss his play-making. The biggest hole on the roster, however, is at center, where DeAndre Ayton may not be a long-term solution.
Southwest Division
(2) Houston Rockets; 55-27: Losing point guard Fred VanVleet to a torn anterior cruciate ligament is a blow, but Houston remains a legitimate title threat with Kevin Durant in the fold. They’re hyper-athletic and long at the wing, built to defend a team like the defending-champion Thunder.
(9) Memphis Grizzlies; 39-43: Memphis is counting on rookie Cedric Coward, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2025 draft, and free agent signing Ty Jerome replacing Desmond Bane. Ja Morant is dealing with a sprained ankle but should be okay. The biggest question facing the Grizzlies is turnovers and inefficient play; they need to clean that up.
New Orleans Pelicans; 28-54: A slimmed-down Zion Williamson could inject a significant boost for a Pelicans team that needs it with team missing point guard Dejounte Murray (Achilles). New Orleans does have a couple of promising rookies in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, but the Pelicans may still have a tough time clawing into the playoff picture.
2025-26 NBA playoff predictions
Eastern Conference
First round
- (1) Knicks def. (8) Heat
- (7) Celtics def. (2) Cavaliers
- (3) Pistons def. (6) 76ers
- (5) Hawks def. (4) Magic
Conference semifinals
- (1) Knicks def. (5) Hawks
- (3) Pistons def. (7) Celtics
Conference finals
- (1) Knicks def. (3) Pistons
Western Conference
First round
- (1) Thunder def. (8) Lakers
- (2) Rockets def. (7) Warriors
- (3) Nuggets def. (6) Timberwolves
- (5) Spurs def, (4) Clippers
Conference semifinals
- (5) Spurs def. (1) Thunder
- (3) Nuggets def. (2) Rockets
Conference finals
- (3) Nuggets def. (5) Spurs
2026 NBA Finals
- Nuggets def. Knicks
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
