CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 27: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder posts up against Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 27, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Thunder defeated the Cavaliers 108-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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With the 2025-26 NBA season tipping off tomorrow night, 30 teams are beginning their journey toward their aspirations. Expectations vary for the different teams across the league immensely. For some teams, a playoff berth is their ultimate goal this year, for other teams, internal development is their goal, and for the best teams in the league, an NBA championship is the only thing that could make the season a success. There’s a clear hierarchy in the league, and there are a handful of squads who should be in the running for favorite this year.
In the western conference the Oklahoma City Thunder are an obvious choice for favorites. After winning the title last year they didn’t lose any key rotation players, and they will have the chance to replicate their dominant regular season from last year. Oklahoma City had a more arduous journey during last year’s regular season than they were given credit for.
Winning 68 games overshadowed the hardships they went through, but they showed a lot of resilience, especially for such a young team. At one point they had to play with no big men, and rely on their team defense to keep them afloat.
Chet Holmgren, an integral piece of their championship team only played 32 games last season, missing most of the year with a right iliac wing fracture. Holmgren is one of the best and most versatile defenders in the league, and his rim protection and ability to guard multiple positions all over the floor is one of the reasons OKC’s defense is so strong. With this being said, he is only 22 years old and still has loads of room to grow on the offensive end. Although they were ranked highly, OKC’s offense struggled at times when it was time for players outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to create offense. During the playoffs, OKC’s lack of elite creation outside of Gilgeous-Alexander caused them to drop many games.
If Holmgren can stay healthy this season, and grow as an on-ball creator, it will make OKC even more dangerous. Holmgren’s speed and ball handling at the center position give him a leg up against many defenders, but for certain matchups he is held back physically. A big step for Holmgren would be developing on-ball counters for when he is stonewalled by defenders. Currently when he is stopped, he just picks up his dribble and gives up on the play, if he could develop some sort of spin move, or maybe even put on some muscle, it would help his game immensely.
Oklahoma City faced tons of challenges during the regular season and they were still able to cruise to 68 wins, with injury luck on their side, as well as some internal development from their young players, there’s no reason they can’t win 70 games this season. They still have the reigning MVP, they will still have one of the best if not the best defense in the NBA, and now they have even more experience on top of all this.
In the eastern conference the favorite is less clear cut. After the injuries to Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum and Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton, the landscape in the eastern conference looks very different than it did last year. The New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers are the two teams who are clearly a cut above the rest of the eastern conference, but looking at it from a roster vs roster standpoint, Cleveland should have the edge this season.
Cleveland won 64 games last season, and they were truly dominant during the entire regular season. They were first in the east last year, and had the second best record in the NBA, and they made improvements to their team with the addition of Lonzo Ball.
Cleveland had the number one ranked offense in the league last season with an offensive rating of 121, and they had the 8th best defense in the league with a defensive rating of 111.8. They have one of the most complete rosters in the NBA, they have loads of creation, and they also have the reigning defensive player of the year.
Donovan Mitchell took a step back statistically last season in order for Darius Garland to have more of a featured role in Cleveland’s offense, especially as a playmaker and the benefits were seen immediately. Evan Mobley also took a huge step offensively, notably as a self-creator. Cleveland’s roster has little to no holes this year and barring injury they should be the favorites coming out of the east.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers will likely be the best teams in their respective conferences, and with the NBA tipping off this week, we will see if they will live up to these lofty expectations.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikaibruce/2025/10/20/which-team-is-the-favorite-to-come-out-of-the-east-and-west/
