NBA Season Starts

In the coming weeks, one of the world’s most exciting sports leagues is returning. On October 21, the 2025-26 NBA season will begin, showcasing the world’s greatest talents going head-to-head every week. Here are some contenders for one of America’s greatest trophies, the NBA Finals Larry O’Brien Trophy:

Going into the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the obvious favorites for both the Western Conference and championship in general, claiming their second ever championship last year. Led by the league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and young stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, dominated the Western Conference and beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the NBA Finals. On the court, the three worked in tandem, boasting the league’s best defense and third-best offense. Will SGA and his crew repeat their success last year?

A team to be on the lookout for is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Still holding on to the pain from last season’s defeat to the Thunder, the Wolves are hungry for revenge. The star player and starting shooting guard, Anthony Edwards (the first pick from the 2020 NBA draft), is always a force to be reckoned with as his killer mentality and prowess on the court have proven time and time again that he won’t let his team go down easily. With a dynamic team full of aggressive players, they are definitely going to be a strong contender for the championship. 

In the Eastern Conference, three teams emerge as the scariest in the conference, unfortunately the fan-favorite Pacers will most likely not contend for the title due to superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton’s injury and their loss of longtime center Myles Turner. 

First, the number one seed last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who look to build on what was a shockingly great season last year. Armed to the teeth with offensive and defensive talent, scoring nearly 122 points per 100 possessions, which was the highest in the league, the team remains relatively unchanged and has the benefit of added experience under their belts. On paper, the Cavs boast a starting lineup--Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, and Jarrett Allen--that is capable of going toe-to-toe with the reigning champs. 

Another team to look out for is the ever-present Boston Celtics. Led by head coach Joe Mazzulla and superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have adopted a fiery, but risky offensive strategy: make more three-pointers than everyone else. In total, the team scored 1,457 three-pointers last season, setting a new NBA record for most in a single season. Although the team has lost major pieces, center Kristaps Porzingis and guard Jrue Holiday, the team has remained competitive, reaching the playoffs every year from 2015 to 2025, showcasing their consistency on the biggest stage.

 The final team that could make a splash in the Eastern Conference is the New York Knicks. Gifted with immense offensive talent in Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony-Towns, and OG Anunoby, as well as a hard-nosed defense, they look to build on what was a promising playoff run. After firing longtime head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks are hoping replacement Mike Brown can bring more success with what is one of the league’s most talented rosters. His strong defensive foundation and incorporation of modern offense seem perfect for this team, which made it to the quarterfinals last year. 

Although they don’t get as much recognition as the far and away contenders, a few teams could come in and disrupt the status quo. First, there are the veteran teams: The Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, and Golden State Warriors. Although all of these teams have aging veterans such as LeBron James (age 40), Kawhi Leonard (age 34), James Harden (age 36), and Stephen Curry (age 37), their age does have some positives. All of them have the wisdom and experience to lead their respective teams to the playoffs and potentially make a big run. Not to mention, the Los Angeles teams have built strong teams around their aging stars, with the Lakers bringing in Luka Doncic to do some of the heavy lifting for Lebron. 

Lastly, the Denver Nuggets cannot be counted out either due to their championship win only two years ago and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic always remaining a threat. Not to mention, the Nuggets pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games during their matchup in the postseason last year. 

For the first week, some matchups to look out for are the opening night headliners, the Houston Rockets vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers. It remains to be seen how Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets will fare against champions OKC, making this an enticing game to watch. However, the most eye-popping game will most likely be the Lakers vs. the Warriors. Two of the greatest players to play the game and one of the best rivalries in NBA history, Stephen Curry and LeBron James, will once again square off on October 21.