Your ultimate NBA season preview, including predictions, best bets, award picks and much more from Luke Reimer of FlurrySports!
As football and baseball have hit their strides, the NBA offseason has gone under the radar. With the NBA regular season here, there are a number of storylines to follow this year. Will this be LeBron James’ last season? How does Cooper Flagg perform in his rookie year? Can Kevin Durant lift the Rockets to the championship? How will Oklahoma City follow up a championship run? Can anyone overtake the Cavaliers in the East? I try to answer all of these questions and more in the following article.
Read on for my 2025-26 NBA season preview, including regular season predictions, playoff finishes, award winners and stat leaders! All of the betting odds in this article are provided by way of BetUS Sportsbook. Sign up through our link today to claim a $3,625 welcome bonus for NBA betting!
Biggest NBA Storylines | Ultimate 2025-26 NBA Season Preview
The Rise of the Atlanta Hawks
Ever since the Atlanta Hawks went to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, things have not been great. That looks to change this season as Quin Snyder is in his third season leading the charge. Snyder has shown a penchant for bringing intense pressure defense. As one of the game’s best talent developers, Snyder gets another year with Jalen Johnson, who continues to improve on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. On top of Johnson, last year’s top overall draft pick, Zaccharie Risacher, is in a position to make a huge jump from his rookie season. Risacher really came into his own as a two-way scoring threat last season, something that he will be asked to do again at the forward position. Dyson Daniels figures to slide back into the off-guard position this season to bring that high-intensity defense, the perfect player for Snyder. Newcomers Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker bring a perfect mix of offense and defense to a team that struggled to find consistency last season. Luke Kennard will provide incredible three-point shooting off the bench, while Onyeka Okongwu will be that defensive anchor. All of those players will be led by Trae Young. He remains one of the premier guards in the league.
Atlanta has the perfect mix of offense and defense with a ton of versatility. The Hawks aren’t extremely deep, but their top 10 players are among the best in the entire league. Led by a great coach and a veteran point guard, the Atlanta Hawks are going to surprise a lot of people this season.
Injuries, Inconsistent Defense Hurt Lakers in What Could Be LeBron’s Last Season
I may be a little biased because I am not a Lakers fan by any means, but I find it hard to believe that the Lakers are any sort of contenders this season. They find themselves in another year of having their money tied up between two players — Luka Doncic and LeBron James are set to make a combined $98M this season. With James already out for the start of the year, one has to wonder how much he actually plays this season. I don’t care if it is LeBron. Paying a 40-year-old $52.6M is not the recipe for winning a championship, especially if he is not going to play games. While Austin Reaves is a good player, Rui Hachimura is not good enough to be consistently relied upon. Another issue that the Lakers have faced is finding consistent play at the center position. They have cycled through veteran centers and are once again in the same spot, relying on Deandre Ayton to fill that spot. Ayton is way too soft a player to have a solid role on a championship team. When looking at their bench unit, guys like Jake LaRavia, Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes will be put into big spots. Those guys are not great, but will have some nights of nice shooting.
The Lakers will still be able to make the playoffs because Doncic is that good a player. This Lakers team will have nights where they look like one of the elites, but as always, they will falter when it matters most. J.J. Redick is a podcaster and one of the most overrated coaches in the NBA. He was hired by his wine-drinking buddy. The big names like Doncic and James will marquee the Lakers, but there are just way too many holes on this team for them to really be taken seriously.
Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis Lead Mavericks to Playoffs
Cooper Flagg will instantly make an impact in the NBA. His ability to cover every position on the court and create his own shot is going to be invaluable without Kyrie Irving. With Flagg, Dallas will head into the season with a starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively. On paper, that looks like one of the better lineups in the entire league. If Irving returns this year, it likely won’t be until the end of the year or the playoffs. The defensive ability of both Flagg and Davis will be able to keep the Mavericks afloat, while even though he has lost a step, Thompson can still hold his own on the perimeter. Flagg and Davis’ two-way play is going to be tough for any team to prepare for and will be enough to sneak out of the play-in to finish as the eight seed.
NBA Regular Season Predictions 2025-26
| West Team | Record | East Team | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Oklahoma City Thunder | 65-17 | 1. Cleveland Cavaliers | 58-24 |
| 2. Denver Nuggets | 58-24 | 2. Atlanta Hawks | 51-31 |
| 3. Houston Rockets | 53-29 | 3. New York Knicks | 50-32 |
| 4. Minnesota Timberwolves | 53-29 | 4. Detroit Pistons | 46-36 |
| 5. Los Angeles Clippers | 49-33 | 5. Orlando Magic | 44-38 |
| 6. Golden State Warriors | 46-36 | 6. Milwaukee Bucks | 42-40 |
| 7. Los Angeles Lakers | 43-39 | 7. Philadelphia 76ers | 41-41 |
| 8. Dallas Mavericks | 42-40 | 8. Boston Celtics | 40-42 |
| 9. San Antonio Spurs | 40-42 | 9. Miami Heat | 39-43 |
| 10. Memphis Grizzlies | 38-44 | 10. Chicago Bulls | 39-43 |
| 11. Phoenix Suns | 37-45 | 11. Toronto Raptors | 36-46 |
| 12. New Orleans Pelicans | 34-48 | 12. Indiana Pacers | 35-47 |
| 13. Portland Trailblazers | 31-51 | 13. Charlotte Hornets | 26-56 |
| 14. Sacramento Kings | 28-54 | 14. Brooklyn Nets | 25-57 |
| 15. Utah Jazz | 20-62 | 15. Washington Wizards | 21-61 |
2026 NBA Playoff Predictions
Eastern Conference Playoffs
First Round: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers over (8) Boston Celtics (5 Games), (2) Atlanta Hawks over (7) Philadelphia 76ers (4 Games), (3) New York Knicks over Milwaukee Bucks (5 Games), (5) Orlando Magic over (4) Detroit Pistons (7 Games)
In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, things feel like they should be pretty chalk. As it always is in the East, there is a very obvious divide between the elite teams and the rest of the playoff teams. The interesting teams, though, are the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. That comes down to those teams having a star player out this year or one leaving in the offseason. Even without Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, these aren’t bad teams, but when you are down your best player (in Milwaukee’s case, last year’s second-best player), it is way too much to make up for. Cleveland is by far the best team in the conference, but I could see one of those huge three-point shooting games from Boston to steal a game. For Atlanta, there is just way too much firepower for Philadelphia to compete with, and how can you rely on Joel Embiid to be healthy?
It is a similar sentiment for the Knicks over the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be enough to make games close in this series, but the Knicks are just the better team. The most fun series will be Orlando and Detroit. We saw the firepower that Detroit had last season in the NBA Playoffs, but I am expecting Paolo Banchero to make that jump to superstar-dom this season. This series could go down as one of the better series in playoff history, as both teams are stacked with talent, but I think Orlando has just a little more firepower.
Second Round: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers over (5) Orlando Magic (5 Games), (3) New York Knicks over (2) Atlanta Hawks (7 Games)
After dispatching the young Detroit Pistons in the first round, the Magic’s run comes to an end against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Assuming Cleveland can get through the first round without injuries this season, I am expecting them to make a lot of noise in the playoffs. Donovan Mitchell is one of the best scorers in the NBA, and with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, there is more than enough defense down low to neutralize Banchero. In a hard-fought first-round series with the Pistons, the Magic are going to be beat up and tired against a very rested Cavs team.
As for the Knicks and the Hawks, this is another series that has the potential to be very fun to watch. With how close the Knicks have come to making the NBA Finals over the past few seasons, it is hard for me to believe that they let a Hawks team get past them. This is a series in which Jalen Brunson can continue to establish himself as one of the better players in the NBA, as Trae Young is going to struggle to stay in front of him. Karl-Anthony Towns should be able to pull Kristaps Porzingis out of the paint, and with Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, New York has the upper hand at the wings. I do think Atlanta can make this series close, though, as Quin Snyder has the coaching advantage over Mike Brown. This is going to be a star-driven series, and the Knicks just have more of that star power.
Eastern Conference Finals: (3) New York Knicks over (1) Cleveland Cavaliers (6 Games)
The Knicks are back in the Eastern Conference Finals. After firing Tom Thibodeau in favor of Mike Brown, New York has found the change it needs to get over the hump. This team is too good not to get to the championship in a very winnable conference. As stated before, Jalen Brunson will continue to ride his playoff hot streak and bring the Knicks back to the championship. That will leave Cleveland in a similar spot to last year. While injuries really affected them last season, it is hard for me to believe that they have what it takes to get to the championship. These are the two best starting lineups, on paper, in the East, but when we look at the benches, I am not sure that the Cavs will be able to rely on Larry Nance, Lonzo Ball and Sam Merrill to play those big minutes when Mitchell needs a rest.
Western Conference Playoffs
First Round: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder over (8) Dallas Mavericks (5 Games), (2) Denver Nuggets over (7) Los Angeles Lakers (6 Games), (6) Golden State Warriors over (3) Houston Rockets (7 Games), (4) Minnesota Timberwolves over (5) Los Angeles Clippers (5 Games)
Even though I have been one of the bigger Dallas Mavericks supporters this offseason, they are just way too outmatched in the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are retooled and, using such a strong defense, they should be able to handle Dallas with relative ease. I can see Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg getting hot for one game, but as stated before, OKC is just way too stacked. In the matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, we get to see yet another year where Jamal Murray takes down LeBron. We know that Murray is a playoff riser, but the Lakers once again are trying to remedy their defensive problems with a bad center. Deandre Ayton is way too soft to be able to play with Nikola Jokic. While Luka Doncic is awesome on offense, his inability to play defense will be the Lakers’ downfall. Doncic and James should be enough, though, to give the illusion that this is a close series.
In a rematch of the first-round matchup last season, we are treated with another episode of Golden State vs Houston. The Warriors got the best of the Rockets last season, but Houston brought in Kevin Durant in the offseason to get the team over that hump. Unfortunately, they lost Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL in the offseason. That gives the Warriors what they need to beat the Rockets in a hard-fought series. Draymond Green can still match up with Durant, and I would assume that Amen Thompson either guards Steph Curry or Jimmy Butler. The player that Thompson is not guarding will then have the advantage. We know that Butler is a playoff riser, so even though they are much older, give me the Warriors to pull the major upset over a Rockets team that was expected to compete for the championship this season. The final series seems like an easy one to predict, as the Timberwolves match up well with the Los Angeles Clippers. While I am a James Harden fan, the combination of offense and defense from Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert is just too much for the Clippers.
Second Round: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder over (4) Minnesota Timberwolves (6 Games), (2) Denver Nuggets over (6) Golden State Warriors (5 Games)
I am as big a fan of Anthony Edwards as anyone in the world, and I really like Chris Finch, but unfortunately for them, they get a bad draw with the Oklahoma City Thunder in a loaded Western Conference. We have seen Edwards have those huge games, but we have also seen him have those 20% shooting games. He will see Lu Dort and Alex Caruso on him in this series, and with how physical those two play, Edwards may get into situations where he is forcing shots. That means Julius Randle has to be a 22+ point scorer. The issue with that is he will draw Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. The Timberwolves are fun to watch, but like the Mavericks before them, they will be outmatched in this one.
The old-man Golden State Warriors don’t have a chance in this series. Denver is just too stacked for a starting lineup full of 30-somethings to handle. Jokic is obviously the main problem for the Warriors in this game. Al Horford is not what he once was with the Atlanta Hawks, so how does GS defend Jokic? Draymond Green will be too caught up with Aaron Gordon. Steph and Jimmy Butler should be able to get theirs in this series, but the bench unit of Tim Hardaway and Bruce Brown adds to that incredible starting lineup for Denver.
Western Conference Finals: (2) Denver Nuggets over (1) Oklahoma City Thunder (7 Games)
I know that I have said a couple of these series have potential to be among the best in recent memory, but if we are really breaking it down, this has the potential to be one of the best of all time. We saw these two matchups last year, with Denver giving the Thunder everything that they could handle. Oklahoma City blew Denver out in Game 7 last year. But this year, Denver is retooled. I mentioned Hardaway and Brown earlier, but I think the addition of Cam Johnson is as big as any this year. Johnson’s defense is better than Michael Porter’s, and he is a more consistent shooter. Possessions won’t stop with Johnson, which should give Jokic more opportunities to do what he does. Given Murray’s playoff rising, Aaron Gordon’s size and athleticism, and Christian Braun’s versatility, Denver’s starting five is as good, if not better, than Oklahoma City’s.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already one of the better players in this era. He has the MVP and the championship, but in order to be thought of in the conversation with those all-time legends, this feels like a big series for him to win. The key for Denver in this series is not to let the others on this team beat them. They did that last year, and it somewhat worked in their favor. Jalen Williams is a top-15 player in the NBA and an incredible two-way player, but outside of him and SGA, Denver has the better collection of role players. It will come down to the role player who makes the big play. In my mind, a guy like Braun or Gordon is more suited to do that than Dort or Hartenstein.
NBA Championship Predictions | NBA Betting Futures
(2) Denver Nuggets over (3) New York Knicks (6 Games)
The New York Knicks finally get back to the NBA Finals, but unfortunately for them, they get a matchup with the best team in the league. Nikola Jokic makes his case to be a top-10 NBA player of all time in this series, as Karl-Anthony Towns is way too outmatched. Jokic’s ability to both score and pass the ball will set up the three-point shooting for Cam Johnson perfectly. Jamal Murray matches up well with Jalen Brunson and should be able to work Brunson into one-on-one situations all of the time. Christian Braun will be a major x-factor in this one, as his ability to get to the rim is severely underrated. Denver can just attack you from all different angles, and if the Knicks need to rely on Brunson, like we have seen in the past, the Knicks are finished. The Nuggets have too many guys for someone like Towns to be the best player in the series. The Knicks will pick up a win or two because they are a good team, but this really feels like somewhat of an easy championship victory for the Nuggets, cementing Jokic’s legacy as a top-10 player in NBA history.
NBA Awards Predictions | NBA Betting Futures
Odds for these NBA futures can be found at BetUS Sportsbook, which can be used anywhere in the USA!
NBA MVP Prediction: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+225)
I am fully expecting Oklahoma City to breeze through the regular season once again this year. They bring back almost the entire same team as last year, which means that Gilgeous-Alexander is in line for another strong scoring season. SGA is the leader of the best team in the NBA, so it is hard to believe that he wouldn’t be in talks for NBA MVP at the end of the season. The NBA is not shy about repeating MVPs, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic have combined for five of the last seven MVP awards. SGA is just too strong a scorer, and OKC is just too good a team for him not to be at the top of the list for the MVP this season.
Also Considered: Nikola Jokic (+225), Luka Doncic (+350), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1000), Anthony Edwards (+2200)
NBA Rookie of the Year Prediction: Cooper Flagg (-200)
I have said coming into the 2025 NBA Draft that Cooper Flagg is a better pro prospect than Victor Wembanyama was when he came into the NBA. I would go as far as to say that Flagg is the best NBA Prospect since LeBron James. We saw Flagg put together one of the best freshman seasons in college basketball history last year at 17 years old. Now, he gets slotted in at a forward position on a Mavericks team that certainly looks like it can make the playoffs. Flagg’s combination of shot creation and defense already gets him into a top-75 ranking in the NBA. With an injury to Kyrie Irving, I would not be shocked if Flagg handled the ball at some point this year as well.
Also Considered: Dylan Harper (+1000), Tre Johnson (+900), Ace Bailey (+1000)
Defensive Player of the Year Prediction: Victor Wembanyama (-185)
With the exception of Cooper Flagg, this feels like the easiest pick for the NBA season awards. Victor Wembanyama is primed for another big season, and much of that has to do with his defensive ability. Wembanyama, while not the quickest player, has more than enough length to cover the entire court by himself. Not only do his long arms help contest shots, but it is next to impossible to pass around him. When looking at Wembanyma as a whole, he has an argument for being both the best rim protector and perimeter defender. Over his career, he averages 3.7 blocks per game and 1.2 steals per game. He is the next glory-boy for the NBA, so giving him DPOY is almost a certainty at this point.
Also Considered: Chet Holmgren (+650), Evan Mobley (+1200), Anthony Davis (+1800)
Sixth Man of the Year Prediction: Bobby Portis (+2500)
After bouncing around in the early years of his career, Bobby Portis has certainly found a home as the first man off the bench for the Bucks. During his time in Milwaukee, Portis has emerged as one of the better sixth men in the league. Always near the top of the Sixth Man of the Year voting, Portis has never won the award. While some may be out on him winning after a few inefficient seasons, I think that he may put together the best season of his career. Outside of Giannis, it will be hard to find consistent scoring in Milwaukee. Without Khris Middleton, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez, it really feels like Portis is, at worst, the third scoring option for the Bucks this season. Especially with an average bench unit, I would imagine Portis sees upwards of 13 shot attempts per game. These NBA betting odds feel like incredible value for a guy who will be on the court for 25-30 minutes per game.
Also Considered: De’Andre Hunter (+850), Naz Reid (+950), Ty Jerome (+1000), Jordan Clarkson (+1200)
Most Improved Player Prediction: Bennedict Mathurin (+1600)
There is not a shot that Ben Mathurin is willing to pass up, and there is not a player that Mathurin is not talking trash to. We saw flashes of Mathurin being a go-to, big-time scorer for the Pacers in the playoffs off the bench. Now, he is slotted to slide into the starting shooting guard spot on the depth chart, with Tyrese Haliburton out and Andrew Nembhard moving to the one. Without Haliburton, Mathurin is expected to take on a more scoring role. While he can shoot the three, he is probably more effective at getting to the rim. Mathurin scored just above 16 points per game last year, and he has the opportunity to boost those scoring numbers up to 20. If he does, it seems like he has as good a shot as anyone in the NBA to win this award.
Also Considered: Amen Thompson (+850), Andrew Nembhard (+1400), Deni Avdija (+1600), Shaedon Sharpe (+1600)
Clutch Player of the Year Prediction: Anthony Edwards (+900)
As this is the newest NBA award introduced, it is difficult to predict who can win. With that being said, it really feels like Anthony Edwards is on a path to be among the elites in the league for years to come. I think that the Timberwolves play well enough to reach a four-seed in the West. With their popularity continuing to rise, it seems like one of the awards is going to be given to a Minnesota player. When we talk about players who will have the ball in the clutch moments, Edwards will be at the top of that list. As he continues to improve his three-point shooting, Edwards is likely to have opportunities to hit ample game-winning threes.
Also Considered: Jalen Brunson (+900), Luka Doncic (+1000), Steph Curry (+1400)
NBA Coach of the Year Prediction: Quin Snyder (+650)
As stated above in the NBA season preview, the Atlanta Hawks are my pick to be the surprise team in the NBA this season. While much of that has to do with bringing in guys like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kristaps Porzingis, having Quin Snyder as head coach is going under the radar. Not too long ago, Snyder was the hot name on the streets after leading the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert to a few playoff appearances. With the Hawks under Trae Young, the defense has been lacking, but with Snyder’s intense pressure, that should improve, especially with the offseason additions. Given how uninteresting the Hawks have been since they went to the conference finals in 2021, if they can get any seed higher than the five, then Snyder should be in the running for Coach of the Year.
Also Considered: Jamahl Mosely (+550), Ime Udoka (+800), David Adelman (+1000)
NBA All-NBA Team Predictions | 2025-26 NBA Season Predictions
First-Team All-NBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards
With the Oklahoma City Thunder projected to be the top team in the regular season again this year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will average at least 30 PPG and take home his second MVP award. Luka Doncic has recorded five straight First-Team All-NBA selections. Taking the reins of the Los Angeles Lakers, I don’t see that streak ending this year, as Doncic’s skill and big-time ability have the makings for a 27/8/8 season.
Nikola Jokic is another easy selection, as he still sits at the top of the pedestal when it comes to player rankings. A walking triple-double, Jokic will once again lead the Nuggets to a deep playoff run. Continuing with chalk, Giannis Antetokounmpo is as much of a lock for First-Team All-NBA as anyone in the league. He has been named to seven straight, and with my projection of him leading the NBA in scoring this season, he has to be included. As I stated before, Anthony Edwards is on the doorstep of becoming the face of the NBA. He is a back-to-back Second-Team All-NBA selection. This is the year that he breaks through and gets to the first team.
Second-Team All-NBA
Steph Curry, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant
At 37 years old, Steph Curry still has a case for best point guard in the NBA. While the Warriors did not add anything too crazy in the offseason, Curry will still have his scoring load, and given how good a player he is, Second-Team All-NBA is in the cards. The next two additions to the Second-Team All-NBA are two Cavaliers. With the Cavs looking like the best team in the East this season, it makes sense that the best scorer and best defender on the team achieve this feat. Both players are also above average on the other side. The Cavs will go as far as Mitchell and Mobley take them.
Anthony Davis is going under the radar this offseason, but I am expecting big things out of him in Dallas. Without Kyrie Irving, Davis is going to be the go-to scorer for Jason Kidd’s squad. His defense is still going to be elite, but with Cooper Flagg in town, can Davis focus just a tad more on his offensive game? The final pick is Kevin Durant. Coming off a Second-Team All-NBA appearance last season, Durant will be the go-to guy for a really good Rockets team this year.
Third-Team All-NBA
Cade Cunningham, Trae Young, Karl-Anthony Towns, LeBron James, Jalen Brunson
Cade Cunningham will continue his rise up the ranks of the best guards in the NBA. Unfortunately for him, the NBA is loaded with guard talent. Cunningham is one of those guys who can put up a triple-double on any given night. Third-Team All-NBA is going to feel like a disappointment for a player like Cunningham, but it shouldn’t. He will be up with the elites in due time.
Trae Young might be the most controversial player to include on this list, because it feels like there is some more talent out there. But leading the NBA in assists while navigating the Hawks to a two-seed in the East is certainly worthy of an inclusion here. The final point guard on the list is Jalen Brunson. His ability to get to the hoop at will, plus getting the New York push, will get him to the third team here. Along the same lines as Brunson is Karl-Anthony Towns. Love them or hate them, the NBA is in a better place when the Knicks are good. KAT will be a big part of that this season. The final spot goes to LeBron James. In what will probably be his last season, it seems inevitable that James gets the nod to an All-NBA Team based on legacy, whether he deserves it or not.
First-Team Defense
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Evan Mobley, Victor Wembanyama, Lu Dort, Amen Thompson
For whatever my money is worth, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best all-around defender in the world. He has made this team four times and should be a top pick to make it again this season. I am not sure how much more I can talk about Victor Wembanyama’s defense, but the DPOY should always be included on the First-Team All-Defense, no matter what. Evan Mobley, as stated before, is the defensive anchor for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that is going to contend in the East. Coming off a First-Team selection last season, Lu Dort is primed to make the team again this year. His physical on-ball defense is the heart of what the Thunder team is. The final pick is Amen Thompson, who is expected to make a big jump for the Rockets this season. With Kevin Durant, he won’t need to be relied on to score and can use his athleticism to continue his case as the best defender in the NBA.
Second-Team Defense
Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Williams
Jaren Jackson is so important to a Grizzlies team that has had its ups and downs in the Ja Morant era. A former DPOY and two-time First-Team Defense selection, Jackson is going to be relied on once again to handle opposing bigs this season. Speaking of handling opposing bigs, Rudy Gobert is set to defend his title as the best rim protector in the league. I think Victor Wembanyama probably takes that mantle this year, but a big part of why the Timberwolves have been so good recently can be attributed to Gobert’s defense. Even with injuries, Anthony Davis is still one of the NBA’s premier defenders in both the paint and along the arc. He should lead a really good defensive Dallas team this season.
Dyson Daniels is probably too low on this list, but I said that he reminds me of the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard. He is a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball and should give Trae Young ample time to focus on his offense. Jalen Williams rounds out the list as his ability to guard every player on the court allows the Oklahoma City Thunder to suffocate teams.
First-Team All-Rookie
Cooper Flagg, Tre Johnson, Jeremiah Fears, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey
Cooper Flagg is an easy pick for the All-Rookie First Team. He already looked like a seasoned vet in those scrimmages against Team USA. I am really excited to see Flagg in the NBA, even if he is a Duke guy. If you didn’t watch Texas basketball last year, go look up Tre Johnson’s highlights. The guy can score from anywhere on the court, and in Washington, he will have ample opportunities to get shots up this year. New Orleans went the route of point guard in the draft this year, selecting Jeremiah Fears to hopefully be that offensive leader that they have needed forever. He might not start at the beginning of the year, but come January, Fears should be leading the charge in New Orleans. The two Rutgers teammates round out the list, as Ace Bailey should step in and instantly become the number two scoring option in Utah behind Lauri Markkanen. Dylan Harper joins the young corps in San Antonio, and while it might take some time for him to get fully integrated, when Harper is on the court, you will notice.
Second-Team All-Rookie
Kon Knueppel, V.J. Edgecombe, Walter Clayton Jr, Cedric Coward, Derik Queen
I have talked about Kon Knueppel having a case for being the second-best player in this NBA Draft. Coming from a basketball family, Knueppel already has an NBA-level IQ, while slotting into being a go-to scoring option for Charlotte this season. After coming off one of the better championship runs in NCAA history, Walter Clayton is set to fill a big role for the Utah Jazz. We know that Clayton can score the ball from anywhere, so his ability to lead the bench unit for Utah this season will be on full display. V.J. Edgecombe is in an interesting spot in Philadelphia. He is a high flyer who should be able to get to the rim consistently. Philadelphia should be able to take advantage of his defensive ability, and sitting behind Paul George is going to be huge for his quick development.
If you don’t know who Cedric Coward is, watch some of his Washington State tape from last season. Coward is expected to run the two for the bench unit in Memphis this season and should be a solid 10 PPG guy. The final addition to this list is one that is close to my heart. I love Derik Queen, and getting drafted to New Orleans is a great spot for him. The big man can handle the ball like a guard and has a soft finish around the hoop. A pick-and-pop with him and Zion Williamson as the ball handler would be appointment television.
NBA Stat Leaders | 2025-26 NBA Season Predictions
Leading Scorer (PPG): Giannis Antetokounmpo (+175)
As stated before in this article, the Bucks are going to need to rely on Giannis Antetokounmpo as much as they ever had to. While Myles Turner is assumed to be fit the role, there are still questions about who is going to be that number two scoring option. Without a guy like Damian Lillard or Khris Middleton in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo takes on that much more of a scoring role. Turner should provide more consistent outside shooting compared to Brook Lopez, meaning that opposing big men are going to be pulled out of the paint. Without solid guard scoring and (hopefully) improved free throw shooting, Antetokounmpo has the chance to get to that 35 PPG scoring mark this season.
Leading Rebounder (RPG): Domantas Sabonis (+200)
Domantas Sabonis has quietly been one of the better rebounding bigs in the NBA over the past five years. In fact, Sabonis is second in the NBA since 2020 when it comes to double-doubles. The Sacramento Kings are projected to be towards the bottom of the Western Conference again this season, so that probably means a lot of missed shots, which Sabonis should easily be able to clean up. Sabonis is not the biggest big man in the game, but he uses his body to band inside and is strong enough to box out bigger defenders. Sabonis is coming off a season where he averaged 13.9 rebounds per game. Over his career, that number is 10.7. There are a lot of shot-chuckers on this team, including now Russell Westbrook, so I am expecting another big rebounding season from Sabonis.
Leading Assister (APG): Trae Young (-130)
I promise that this is not an Atlanta Hawks fan boy blog; I just really like their team this season. The leader of the Hawks this season is going to be Trae Young. While he is an awesome scorer, he might be a better passer. Last season, Young led the NBA in this stat with the Hawks finishing ninth in the East. Now, with the best team that he has played with in his career, Young should be able to pawn off some of the scoring load, leading to him being more of a creator for others. With Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Luke Kennard, Dyson Daniels, Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Young has more than enough help to score the ball. He just needs to get them the ball, something that we are certain he can do.
Leading Blocker (BPG): Victor Wembanyama (-300)
I mentioned everything that I needed to about Victor Wembanyama when I talked about him winning Defensive Player of the Year. Most of the reason why he is going to win DPOY is that there is no doubt in my mind that he leads the NBA in blocks this year. His freakishly long arms allow him the ability to block shots from literally anywhere inside the three-point line. Last season, Wembanyama averaged 3.8 blocks per game. That improved upon his 3.6 mark in his rookie season. I do not think that it would be too crazy to say that he can get to the four blocks per game mark this season. We all know that Wembanyama is a freak, so I am not sure much more needs to be said.
Leading Stealer (SPG): Dyson Daniels (+115)
Steals are an interesting stat to track because sometimes it can be hard to really define what a steal is. Either way, there might not be a better on-ball defender in the NBA than Dyson Daniels. And on top of that, there might not be a better off-ball defender than Daniels. Last season, Daniels averaged a whopping three steals per game. That is the first time in 30 years that anyone reached that number. At 6-8, Daniels possesses almost a 6-11 wingspan. Using that wingspan and his great quickness, he reminds me a little bit of Kawhi Leonard back in his Spurs days. Not that they are the same size, but the long arms and anticipation are what make Daniels my bet to lead the NBA in steals per game again.
3 Point Leader (3PT): Anthony Edwards (+415)
Last year was the first season since 2011-12 that a player not named Steph Curry, Klay Thompson or James Harden led the NBA in three-point makes. That player? Anthony Edwards. It has become very clear in his young career that Edwards is not going to pass up a shot, even when it looks like he should not have one. Edwards’ three-point percentage ballooned from 35% to 40% last season. His attempts also went up from 6.7 to 10.3. Seeing that with more three pointers attempted correlating well with his percentages going up, and I am certain that Edwards boosts that 10.3 attempts per game up to 11, possibly 12. If that is the case, Edwards leading the NBA in three-pointers, sitting at +415, is insane value.
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