The 2025-26 NBA season is just around the corner, and the excitement is already palpable. It is expected to be a season full of significant changes.
With stars like Kevin Durant, Myles Turner, and Kristaps Porzingis on new teams, and with teams like the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers preparing for a season without their key figures, the league is preparing for a new stage. Could these new faces, team changes, and unexpected injuries give way to an unexpected champion?
The Alofoke Deportes expert panel, made up of NBA analysts, answered the most important questions ahead of the 2025-26 season, including which teams will take an unexpected turn, which stars could leave their current teams, and whether we will see a new champion for the eighth consecutive season.
Alofoke Deportes experts voted for the San Antonio Spurs as one of the teams with the greatest potential for improvement in the 2025-26 season.
San Antonio Spurs/Atlanta Hawks: 55 points
Philadelphia 76ers: 49 points
Orlando Magic: 48 points
Minnesota Timberwolves: 6 points
Houston Rockets: 5 points
The Spurs, with a streak of 22 consecutive playoff appearances between 1997 and 2019, could finally end their six-year drought after selecting in the top 10 for four straight years. The development of San Antonio’s young talents, especially back-to-back NBA Rookie of the Year award winners, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, will be crucial in leading a revamped team that now features another Rookie of the Year candidate in Dylan Harper, along with the additions of veterans like Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk.
The Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers are also strong contenders. The 76ers and the Hawks faced off in the Eastern Conference semifinals five years ago. Philadelphia’s prospects depend heavily on the health of their veteran stars, Joel Embiid and Paul George, as well as the continued growth of Tyrese Maxey. The Hawks, for their part, have had a potentially transformative preseason by adding scorers like Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard to complement Trae Young, in addition to a reliable defender like Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
The young and ambitious Orlando Magic are also in the fight, looking to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Which team will suffer the most problems?
Milwaukee Bucks: 41 points
Los Angeles Lakers: 32 points
Boston Celtics/Phoenix Suns: 28 points
Philadelphia 76ers: 25 points
Indiana Pacers: 19 points
The Bucks top this list due to the growing uncertainty surrounding the franchise. Although Giannis Antetokounmpo remains one of the best players in the world, the talent gap between him and the rest of the team is notable, even after Milwaukee signed Myles Turner in free agency. To sign Turner, the Bucks cut Damian Lillard and distributed the remaining $110+ million from his contract over the next five years, giving them flexibility to find a short-term solution, an indication of desperation to hold on to Antetokounmpo’s final years.
The Bucks’ plan for this season will largely depend on Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP has already taken on great responsibilities, but leading this team to contention without a clear second star will require, perhaps, his most Herculean effort. Milwaukee started last season with a 2-8 record, but then found a way to recover and reach the playoffs before being eliminated in the first round. Will the Bucks have the patience and confidence to recover if they start the season slowly again?
Which superstar will request a transfer?
Zion Williamson: 10 votes
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 7 votes
LeBron James: 6 votes
Ja Morant: 1 vote
Trae Young: 1 vote
Zion Williamson’s situation in New Orleans could change with the change in the Pelicans’ management. If Williamson has a good start to the season and avoids the injuries that have plagued his career, he could seek a fresh start instead of remaining in a stagnant franchise. There has also been speculation about the possibility of Antetokounmpo asking to leave Milwaukee.
Which superstar injury will have the biggest impact in the Eastern Conference?
Jayson Tatum: 20 votes
Tyrese Haliburton: 5 votes
Joel Embiid: 1 vote
Tatum’s Achilles tendon injury forced the Celtics to dismantle their core and reduce their payroll. Boston traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and also lost Luke Kornet and will likely part ways with Al Horford, who remains a free agent. Although the Celtics still have Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and newcomer Anfernee Simons is a capable scorer, no team in the league lost more talent than the Celtics this offseason. The team’s depth is no longer of championship caliber, particularly in the paint, and it’s clear that Boston is aiming for next season to reopen their title window once Tatum can return to the court.
Will we have a different champion for the eighth consecutive season?
Yes: 15 votes
No: 11 votes
Alofoke Deportes experts believe that parity will continue to reign in the NBA this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, the seventh different NBA champion in the last seven seasons, is a young team with potential. However, the competition in the league continues to grow, which led the panel to conclude that parity will prevail in the NBA this season.
Which team is most likely to make a big move before the trade deadline?
Golden State Warriors: 7 votes
Los Angeles Lakers: 5 votes
Cleveland Cavaliers/New Orleans Pelicans: 3 votes
Philadelphia 76ers: 2 votes
Memphis Grizzlies: 1 vote
The Warriors lead this list, as they have indicated their desire to make moves before the deadline. The Lakers, who are in the Luka Doncic era, have kept some first-round picks that could be used to close a deal as LeBron James’ contract expires. In the case of the Cavaliers, disappointment and desperation could generate moves. If they fear that their high-value core will not achieve playoff success, they could decide to trade one of their players.
