The NBA is finally back after the offseason got heated with a lot of blockbuster trades, numerous coaching changes, and bold roster moves. Along with the start of the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, the fans are buzzing with tension and excitement not knowing what to expect from the season that is most likely going to be the least predictable ones in years.
Oklahoma City Thunder as the defending champions are the first team to be placed as the favourites to repeat the feat of winning the title again after remarkable regular season and playoff runs (68-14 regular-season record and dominant playoff runs led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). However, it has been a long way since a team has managed to win the championship twice consecutively – the last one was the Golden State Warriors in 2018.
The East is left with New York Knicks being the team that can most probably make a breakthrough in the Finals with a newly appointed head coach Mike Brown, and the rival teams Boston and Indiana getting weak due to the major departures of their players.
On the other hand, Houston Rockets made an impressive move by bringing in Kevin Durant to provide elite scoring for a young, defensively-skilled team but the injury to Fred VanVleet is a cause for concern.
Moreover, Dallas Mavericks fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for their team with 18-year-old phenom and rookie, Cooper Flagg, stepping up to lead a rebuilt team alongside Anthony Davis while Kyrie Irving is out injured.
Luka Doncic is the main reason behind the new era of Los Angeles Lakers and he is basically the one looking to take over from LeBron James and bring back the franchise’s dominance, thus, attracting a lot of attention from the West.
What is more, two modern greats in the form of Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo come first to their second championship quests with the aim to secure their legacies as some of the greatest ever to play the game.
Along with the 2025-26 NBA season, the fans are guaranteed to be entertained by the shifting of stars, the formation of new dynasties, the renewal of old rivalries, the presence of various storylines and of course, the sublime basketball they will see right from the first tip-off.
