The 2025-26 NBA season will be here before you know it! Teams are preparing for what should be a highly competitive, unpredictable and thrilling year. Yet, the league’s competitive landscape has changed, as a number of teams positioned themselves to make key moves that will have long-term impacts on their success. Among the key narratives are the Denver Nuggets’ reliance on Nikola Jokic, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s promising youth, and the Memphis Grizzlies’ unique offensive approach.
Last year, the Nuggets were a disaster any time Jokic wasn’t on the floor. They were outscored by 9.3 points per 100 possessions during that time. This statistic can be used to emphasize how important their star player is to keeping them competitive. The Thunder are still stacked with burgeoning young talent and crazy-good depth. Others are concerned that they will be too comfortable following their title-winning campaign last year. Second, they prioritize turning defense into offense. This strategy is underscored by an astonishing second best in the league 13.2, showing how prolific they are in this facet of the game.
Outside of these teams, injuries have had a huge impact on what is expected nationally as we head into the 2023-24 season. Darius Garland will miss the start of the season due to a toe injury, while Max Strus is sidelined for months with a fractured foot. These looming challenges will no doubt push the limits of teams’ resilience – at least those you’ll meet.
Denver Nuggets: A Dependable Star and Questionable Depth
The Denver Nuggets’ approach is incredibly dependent on their star big man, Nikola Jokic. Last year, the Nuggets had a rough go anytime Jokic had to leave the floor. Their negative scoring differential told the story of just how terrible they were. This dependence on Jokic poses some concerns, especially about the depth of this team and their fortune to stay competitive when Jokic isn’t in the lineup.
Jokic’s supporting cast could turn out to be the best he’s had in his MVP run. The team has made efforts to improve its roster, which could provide Jokic with the assistance needed to sustain high performance throughout the season.
KCP’s recent shooting statistics bolster the Nuggets’ outlook. He’s shot 41% on his three-point attempts during those last four seasons. This would be a big deal for spacing the floor and opening up more looks for Jokic.
“We have to use youth as our advantage,” – Will Hardy
Oklahoma City Thunder: Promising Youth and Defensive Strategies
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the few teams with realistic championship aspirations heading into this season and for good reason. Although there are concerns about potential championship complacency after their recent successes, the depth of this young team offers optimism for fans.
The Thunder’s defensive prowess has been a point of focus, considering how well they were able to convert defense to offense last season. That 13.2 is an amazing testament to their ability to score off a turnover. It is this capacity to capitalize on counterattack opportunities that renders them a dangerous adversary.
Their youth is a great asset, but it is a big challenge. Head coach Will Hardy stressed changing the narrative around youth, but didn’t just focus on its negatives. The Thunder’s youthful roster could evolve into one of the most competitive in the league by 2025-26.
“We can’t only look at the downsides of youth. We want to try to flip the narrative on its head. Sure, there are negatives to being young. But there are also a lot of positives.” – Will Hardy
Memphis Grizzlies: A Unique Offensive Approach
Under coach Taylor Jenkins, the Grizzlies have chosen an unusual path. They lead the league in running the fewest on-ball screens and handoffs per game (49.7) since player tracking was introduced in 2013-14. This approach moves away from traditional offensive playbooks and poses difficult problems for defenses to solve.
Under new coach Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies have played nine games and averaged 73.7 on-ball screens and handoffs per game. Offensively, this indicates a shift in their offensive approach. Here’s hoping this little change might make them even more powerful as they face the upcoming season.
Beyond tactical changes, player development is still a focus for Memphis. Shaedon Sharpe provided a glimpse into his future potential in his preseason debut, creating enthusiasm and intrigue about his role going forward.
“This is a big season for Ja,” – Zach Kleiman
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