The NBA would like to be ready for the 2025-2026 season. To break things down, experts at ESPN are publishing their predictions on which teams will lock down the court. Naturally, Nikola Jokic has quickly established himself as the favorite for the league’s MVP honors. That expectation is based on a collective prediction from six ESPN scribes in a recent expert roundup. Nipping at his heels in second place is Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with four writers supporting him to win this award. There’s no shortage of intrigue at play as these predictions shuffle the deck in advance of what should be an exhilarating 2023 season.
Aside from player prognostications, there are favorites for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Eight ESPN writers are on the New York Knicks bandwagon. In fact, they have them favored to win the Eastern Conference. In the other conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder were picked by 9 scribes to run away with the top of the Western Conference. The excitement is in the air as clubs put the finishing touches on their squads and gameplans ahead of the new season.
Top Player Predictions
Nikola Jokic with his incredibly high baseline performance has earned his place in the leadership of this league. For now, six ESPN writers think he will keep it up and win the top player title again for the 2025-2026 season. It’s his potential to become an elite two-way player all around the diamond that has made him a darling of draft analysts.
Perhaps most notable, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a consensus favorite, getting the nod from four of our writers as the leading candidate. His overall skill set and huge year-to-year strides have launched him into the conversation as one of the NBA’s best up-and-comers. As he continues to develop, many are eager to see if he can rise to the challenge and claim the coveted title.
Further down the writers’ list, it’s no surprise that Luka Doncic is picked by two of them to join the league’s very best this year. Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards each got one apiece, highlighting the wide array of talents fighting for top honors. The diversity in these predictions illustrates the depth of talent in the NBA and raises questions about how these players will perform.
Conference Favorites
Click through the Eastern Conference predictions to see that eight scribes have a lot of faith in the New York Knicks. Everyone of them rooting for the squad to seize the title! Few off-season roster moves and strategic developments could have a major impact on their ongoing quest for supremacy. The Cleveland Cavaliers, just behind them, are the pick of six scribes as potential conquerors of the King in the East.
The Western Conference in comparison should be a lot more interesting and competitive. Beyond those three, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the obvious other favorites. There are nine ESPN writers who think they have the strongest conference title winning chances. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, although close behind, got three more predictions for success. Only the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets each received one prediction, meaning some surprises may be on the docket this season.
Championship Contenders
As the conversation shifts to who might come out on top in any given possible NBA Finals pairing, the predictions still heavily favor the Oklahoma City Thunder. In fact, nine of ESPN’s writers think they’ll win the title this year. Our defending champs, the Denver Nuggets, are being considered serious favorites as well — two of our scribes have them winning the trophy again.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were on the receiving end of a very controversial Finals prediction. This shows just how big of an impact they can have this season. With such diverse opinions on championship favorites, fans can expect thrilling matchups as teams vie for glory on the court.
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