Entering the 80th season of the league, the NBA is gearing up for an exciting first night full of star-studded moments across the league. Promising elite performances, expectations are high as the beginning preseason games begin on October 2. The regular season, which premiers October 21, showcases the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, two of the best teams from the 2024-25 season, with the Thunder being the defending champions.
Despite high expectations, certain dominant teams may not return to the same spotlight they were in last year, due to injuries. Boston Celtics star player Jayson Tatum ruptured his achilles last season in the Eastern Conference semifinals game against the New York Knicks, removing a franchise pillar from the 2024 NBA champions’ team. Responding to this shift, role players on the Celtics such as Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis have been traded in an attempt to rebuild, focusing on healthy players Jaylen Brown and Derrick White to maintain success this season despite significant vulnerabilities.
In the Western Conference, the blockbuster mid-season trade which sent Luka Doncic, arguably a top three point guard in the NBA, to the Los Angeles Lakers, has shifted things up. His arrival in Hollywood places him alongside LeBron James who although is a front runner for the “Greatest of All Time” debate, is approaching his final seasons at age 40. If this duo finds success this season, consistent chemistry and dominance will be the key pillars of the Lakers gameplan. Referring to their dynamic as that of a quarterback and wide receiver, James has spoken multiple times on their need to build a strong offensive tempo for the entirety of the season.
Another star to keep an eye on is Evan Mobley, fresh off of a Defensive Player of the Year award. With a defensive rating of 108.3, averaging 9.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals per game, he anchors the Cleveland Cavaliers defense and has shaped internal expectations for sustained success this season. Although he is a rookie, No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks should also have an exciting season ahead, with expectations of the franchise’s success on his shoulders after the mid-season departure of Doncic last year.
Forecasting competitive contenders for the playoffs in May, numerous teams stand out. In the East, the Cavaliers and New York Knicks are once again the projected favorites. The Cavaliers aim to find wins with their strong, young and defensive core. The Knicks, on the other hand, return this season under new head coach Mike Brown. Despite the leadership change, point guard Jalen Brunson is confident in their team this year, already making a bold assertion in preseason press that the Knicks will claim the top seed spot come the postseason. In the West, OKC remains a model for consistency and chemistry contributing to success. With few significant changes to their leadership or roster, the Thunder will certainly maintain their dominance from last season. The Lakers with Doncic and James at the helm also possess a high ceiling, naming themselves as early favorites. The Houston Rockets may also emerge as a disruptor to the West via Alperen Sengun’s development coming off his first All-Star nod, combined with the introduction of veteran Kevin Durant.
If key players can stay healthy and teams can constructively focus on building chemistry and consistency in the next few months until April, the NBA will likely be between the Los Angeles Lakers and The New York Knicks, with the Knicks narrowly prevailing in Game 7. The league will live or die by roster redesigns, midseason trades, and who adapts fastest under pressure.
