NBA 2026 season preview

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: 13 October, 2026, 13:15

The 2026/27 NBA season is almost upon us, and there's plenty to look forward to. This summer was full of blockbuster trades and surprising moves. Some of the league's biggest stars have changed teams, completely shifting the balance of power in both conferences.

In our NBA season preview, we take a closer look at all 30 teams across the six divisions, analyzing their biggest transfers, roster changes and chances of success. We'll also share our predictions for the winner of each division ahead of the new campaign.

After a 53-year wait, the New York Knicks finally won the NBA championship last season. They beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals, with Jalen Brunson scoring 45 points in the final game and taking home the Finals MVP award. It was an incredible season for the Knicks, but also a very long one, as they played 101 games across the regular season and the playoffs.

There haven't been many big changes to the championship-winning squad. Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are all staying in New York. Mitchell Robinson left for Boston, with Andre Drummond coming in to add some depth at center. The expectations are obviously very high after last season. Brunson and Towns should once again be the main men, and the Knicks have one of the strongest squads in the Eastern Conference.

The Philadelphia 76ers only finished seventh in the Eastern Conference last season, but they could be one of the biggest improvers this year. They made two huge additions during the summer, bringing in Jaylen Brown from Boston and signing LeBron James after he left the Lakers. Paul George is gone, but the Sixers now have an incredible amount of quality with Brown and LeBron joining Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid.

As always, the biggest question is Embiid's health. He has played only around 32 games per season over the last three years, and Philadelphia simply can't rely on him staying healthy for an entire campaign. The good news is that they probably don't need him every night anymore. Brown, Maxey and even a 41-year-old LeBron should be more than capable of carrying the team through the regular season.

LeBron James first powder toss with the Philadelphia 76ers https://t.co/ERWJNf3tPt

— Deadspin (@Deadspin) October 8, 2026

A lot has changed in the Boston Celtics' squad after a 56-win season last year. As Jaylen Brown left, Paul George has come in and will now be expected to play a major role alongside Jayson Tatum. Boston also brought in Mitchell Robinson from the Knicks, giving them another strong defensive option around the basket. Tatum is now clearly the main man in Boston. He is back after rupturing his achilles, a serious injury that kept him out for a long period.

The Celtics still have Derrick White, and there is some interesting young talent in Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr. Boston should still be a very good regular-season team and reaching 50 wins looks realistic. However, there are more questions about them than in previous years. A lot will depend on Tatum staying healthy and George still being able to perform at a high level.

The Toronto Raptors had a strong season last year, winning 46 games before taking the Cleveland Cavaliers all the way to Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs. They have now made one of the biggest moves of the summer, bringing Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto in a trade that sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and future draft picks to the Clippers.

Kawhi obviously comes with injury concerns, but when healthy, he can still make a huge difference on both ends of the court. His arrival should also make life easier for Scottie Barnes, who could take another step towards becoming an All-NBA player this season. Toronto also have some exciting young players, including Collin Murray-Boyles and rookie Allen Graves.

With only 20 wins last season, there is still a long way to go for the Brooklyn Nets before they can think about competing for the trophy. Julius Randle arrived from Minnesota, but he is unlikely to turn the Nets into a playoff team on his own.

Brooklyn also selected Mikel Brown Jr. with the sixth pick in the draft, and the young guard should immediately get plenty of opportunities with the ball. Nicolas Claxton has left for Chicago, meaning Day'Ron Sharpe and Moritz Wagner will have more responsibility at center. Noah Clowney is another young player the Nets will hope can take a step forward.

Atlantic Division outright prediction: This should be a battle between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Knicks have kept almost their entire championship-winning core together, so I'll go with them to win the Atlantic Division this season.

The Detroit Pistons were one of the best teams in the NBA last season, finishing with an impressive 60 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. However, their season ended in disappointment as they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs. Cade Cunningham was once again the main man and should be in the MVP conversation this season.

There have been a few important changes during the summer. Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart are gone, with John Collins coming in to replace Harris at power forward. Detroit also added Isaiah Joe, giving them another much-needed shooter. Jalen Duren's future is less certain after some disappointing playoff performances and problems over a new contract. Repeating a 60-win season will be very difficult, but Detroit still have plenty of quality. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers had another strong regular season last year before losing to the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs. The team made an interesting move by adding Peyton Watson, who should fit perfectly alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. His athleticism and defence will be important, especially with James Harden and Mitchell sharing the backcourt. The Cavaliers did lose several rotation players, including Dean Wade and Max Strus, so their depth could be a concern.

Still, Cleveland should be fighting for the top spots in the East. If Mitchell continues performing at an elite level and Harden delivers, the Cavaliers have a realistic chance of winning the division.

First five for #ORLCLE. #LetEmKnow https://t.co/Fii9JxoWZ4

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 11, 2026

After winning only 19 games last season, the Indiana Pacers should be one of the biggest improvers in the Eastern Conference. Most importantly, Tyrese Haliburton is back after missing the season following his achilles rupture in the 2025 NBA Finals. If he can get anywhere close to his previous level, the Pacers immediately become a much stronger team.

There is also plenty of quality around him. Ivica Zubac gives Indiana a reliable presence at center, Kelly Oubre Jr. arrived during the summer, and fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler adds another talented young player to the squad. Haliburton may need some time to find his rhythm after such a long absence. However, this is largely the same core that reached the NBA Finals in 2025. 

There is a lot of young talent in the Chicago Bulls this season, and Caleb Wilson could be one of the most exciting rookies to watch. The fourth overall pick joins Matas Buzelis as another important part of the Bulls' future, and both should get plenty of minutes. Chicago also brought in Nicolas Claxton from Brooklyn, giving them a younger and more athletic option at center after Nikola Vucevic's departure.

Norman Powell is another new face and should provide some much-needed scoring and shooting. However, at 33 years old and on a short contract, there is a good chance he could be traded later in the season if Chicago are not competing for the playoffs. The same could potentially happen with Claxton. The Bulls only won 31 games last season, but this still feels more like a development year than the start of a serious playoff push.

Life after Giannis Antetokounmpo begins in the Milwaukee Bucks this season. It has been years of building everything around the Greek superstar, but the Bucks traded him to Miami and received Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakučionis in return, as well as several future draft picks. This is now a completely different project. 

Herro should immediately become one of Milwaukee's main scoring options, with Myles Turner and Ryan Rollins also likely to have important roles. The Bucks also have a new head coach in Taylor Jenkins, who will be responsible for starting what could be a long rebuild. Milwaukee still won 32 games last season, but competing for the playoffs looks much more difficult without Giannis. More players could also be traded during the season as the Bucks focus on the future. 

Central Division prediction: I think the Detroit Pistons will finish on top of the division once again. This season might not be as strong as the last one in terms of results, but Detroit still have one of the strongest squads in the East. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off back-to-back MVP awards and remains the biggest reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder are among the NBA title favourites. The Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals last season, losing a seven-game series to San Antonio, and they should be right near the top of the West again.

The squad does look slightly different. Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe are all gone, which is a significant amount of depth to lose. However, OKC have plenty of young players ready for bigger roles, including Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain. Jalen Williams will also be hoping for a healthier season after dealing with several hamstring problems last year. Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso and Wallace give the Thunder an incredible defensive group around SGA. Losing several rotation players could make them slightly weaker than before, but another 60-win season run is very realistic.

As long as Nikola Jokic is playing at his best, the Denver Nuggets will always have a chance to compete for the top spot in the division. The Nuggets won 54 games last season but suffered a disappointing first-round playoff exit against Minnesota. Jokic and Jamal Murray remain one of the best duos in basketball, and Denver should once again have one of the league's strongest offences.

There haven't been many major changes during the summer. Peyton Watson left for Cleveland, but the Nuggets brought in DeMar DeRozan, who should provide some much-needed scoring off the bench. Marvin Bagley III and Lonnie Walker IV are also new additions. The biggest concern is the health of Aaron Gordon, who missed a large part of last season. Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun will also need to improve after disappointing campaigns. 

One of the biggest moves of the summer saw LaMelo Ball join Anthony Edwards in the Minnesota Timberwolves. On paper, this could become one of the most exciting backcourts in the NBA. Ball brings elite playmaking and shooting, which should take some pressure off Edwards and give him more opportunities to attack instead of creating everything himself. However, Minnesota had to sacrifice some important players. 

Julius Randle and Naz Reid are both gone, meaning the frontcourt will look very different. Jaden McDaniels should have a bigger offensive role, with Rudy Gobert remaining hugely important defensively. Ayo Dosunmu also gives them another strong option in the backcourt. The Timberwolves finished sixth in the West last season before losing to San Antonio in the second round. Their ceiling looks higher now, but a lot depends on Ball staying healthy and building chemistry with Edwards.

LAMELO BALL AND ANTHONY EDWARDS ARE PUTTING ON A SHOW. 🔥 https://t.co/EcS6HsM7V9

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 7, 2026

The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the teams to watch closely this season after bringing in Ja Morant from Memphis. Damian Lillard is also finally returning to the court after missing the entire previous campaign with an achilles injury. Portland finished seventh in the Western Conference last season, and these additions should give them a much stronger offence.

However, fitting everyone into the rotation could be difficult for new head coach Micah Nori. Portland also have Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson in the backcourt, and Shaedon Sharpe is expected to miss several months with a knee injury. Jerami Grant and Kris Murray have also departed, leaving the team with fewer options at forward. The Trail Blazers have enough talent to fight for another playoff spot, but a lot will depend on how quickly Morant and Lillard develop chemistry.

There is plenty of young talent in the Utah Jazz system, but after finishing with a 22-60 record last season, the team still has a lot to prove. The good news is that Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George are back healthy after both missed significant time last year. Jaren Jackson Jr. is also ready for his first full season with the team after arriving late in the previous campaign.

Utah have another exciting young player in Darryn Peterson. Him and George should give the Jazz plenty of creativity in the backcourt. Walker Kessler's departure to the Lakers is a significant loss, so Jusuf Nurkic and Kyle Filipowski are expected to take on more responsibility at centre. The team's defence remains the biggest concern. They should improve considerably on 22 wins, although reaching the playoffs will still be difficult. 

Northwest Division prediction: This division is Oklahoma City's to take again. They still have the best overall squad in the division. 

For the first time in years, the Los Angeles Lakers are heading into a season without LeBron James. The four-time NBA champion has moved to Philadelphia, leaving Luka Doncic as the undisputed leader in Los Angeles. The Lakers finished fourth in the Western Conference last season before losing to Oklahoma City in the second round of the playoffs, and expectations remain high with Doncic leading the team.

Austin Reaves is coming off the best season of his career and should have an even bigger role alongside Luka. The Lakers have also been busy during the summer, bringing in Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili, among others. Kessler is a particularly important addition, as the team desperately needed a reliable rim protector. The biggest question is whether the Lakers can improve defensively. Doncic and Reaves should make them one of the strongest offensive teams in the league, but they will need more help from their teammates at the other end. 

Stephen Curry is still one of the best players in the NBA, but at 38 years old, he cannot carry the Golden State Warriors forever. The team had a disappointing campaign last season, winning just 37 games and missing the playoffs after losing in the Play-In Tournament. Curry himself played only 43 games, and injuries remain a massive concern heading into the new season.

Jimmy Butler is still recovering from a torn ACL and is expected to miss the start of the campaign. Kristaps Porzingis has also been struggling with health problems, leaving plenty of uncertainty around the squad. Draymond Green is an important defensive presence, but Golden State will need more from younger players like Brandin Podziemski and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. The Warriors haven't made any major improvements to their roster, and their aging core makes it difficult to see them competing with the strongest teams in the West. 

Yaxel Lendeborg stuffed the stat sheet in a win over the Kings 📊 23 PTS 10 REB 6 AST 10-14 FG https://t.co/aoLgiPSpZD

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 11, 2026

The Phoenix Suns were a pretty entertaining team to watch last season, especially with how aggressively they played on defence. They finished eighth in the West and made it through the Play-In Tournament, only to get swept by Oklahoma City in the first round. Still, there were plenty of positives, and head coach Jordan Ott has something to build on.

Devin Booker is the biggest star on the team, but Phoenix will need more consistency from Jalen Green. He can score plenty of points on a good night, although his decision-making sometimes lets him down. Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard have arrived during the summer, with Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale heading out. One concern is Mark Williams, who will miss a significant part of the season after shoulder surgery. Phoenix should remain a difficult opponent thanks to their defence, but the competition in the West is incredibly strong.

Darius Garland finally has the chance to lead his own team, and it will be interesting to see what he can do with that responsibility. The Los Angeles Clippers have moved on from James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, leaving Garland as their main playmaker. He should bring more pace to an offence that has been among the slowest in the NBA for several years.

There are some interesting players around him, too. Brandon Ingram gives the Clippers another scoring option, Rui Hachimura adds some much-needed shooting, and fifth-overall pick Keaton Wagler could make an immediate impact. Young center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser also showed promise last season. Unfortunately, injuries could ruin the Clippers' plans before they even get started. Ingram is dealing with a partially torn Achilles, and Garland has had problems with his toe. The Clippers also struggled badly with rebounding last season, and it's difficult to see that changing much. 

The Sacramento Kings' fans probably won't be expecting much after watching their team win just 22 games last season. The Kings finished tied for last in the Western Conference, and another difficult year could be ahead. However, seventh-overall draft pick Darius Acuff Jr. gives them something to be excited about. The young point guard is an excellent shot creator and should get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do.

The Kings still have some experienced players in Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Malik Monk, but it's unclear how long they will remain in Sacramento. All three could be involved in trades as the team looks to rebuild. Defence remains a major weakness, and even a healthy Sabonis won't solve all their problems. Sacramento have some promising young players, but competing for a playoff spot looks unrealistic. This season should be more about developing Acuff and finding a clear direction for the future.

Pacific Division prediction: I think the Lakers should win this division without too much trouble. Golden State are getting older, the Clippers are going through major changes, and Phoenix still have plenty of questions to answer. 

The Miami Heat pulled off the biggest trade of the summer, bringing Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Beach. After finishing with just 43 wins and missing the playoffs last season, the Heat desperately needed a superstar, and they got one of the best players in the league. However, they had to give up Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakučionis to make it happen.

Giannis and Bam Adebayo could form one of the most frightening defensive duos in the NBA. Both are excellent around the basket, although their lack of outside shooting could cause some problems offensively. Another concern is Giannis’ fitness. He missed 46 games last season, and Miami cannot afford to have him sitting on the sidelines for long periods. Still, Erik Spoelstra finally has a squad capable of competing with the strongest teams in the East.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO AND BAM ADEBAYO DUO IS COOKING. 🔥 https://t.co/KFsIN3Ik6r

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 9, 2026

Being 3-1 up against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and still losing the series must have been a painful experience for the Orlando Magic. They were just one win away from reaching the second round of the playoffs, but fell apart in the final three games. Considering they had to fight their way through the Play-In Tournament after a 45-win regular season, it was still a respectable campaign.

Orlando have plenty of talent, and keeping their best players healthy could make a huge difference this year. Franz Wagner played just 34 games last season, with Jalen Suggs also missing a significant amount of time. Paolo Banchero continues to develop into one of the league's best forwards, and Desmond Bane gives the Magic another reliable scorer after averaging 20.1 points last season. On paper, this team has everything needed to compete for a top-six spot in the East.

Trading Trae Young turned out to be a pretty good decision for the Atlanta Hawks. With Jalen Johnson taking over as the team’s leader, the Hawks won 46 games and finished sixth in the Eastern Conference, securing their first Southeast Division title in years. Their playoff run ended against the New York Knicks in the first round, but there was plenty to be happy about.

Johnson was absolutely brilliant last season, recording 13 triple-doubles and establishing himself as one of the best young forwards in the NBA. Atlanta have decided to trust the same group of players, with CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu all expected to retain their starting roles. The Hawks have a well-balanced squad without any obvious weaknesses, although they might struggle to match the star power of teams like Miami and Philadelphia. 

The Charlotte Hornets finally gave their fans something to celebrate last season, winning 44 games and reaching the Play-In Tournament. They even managed to beat Miami in their first game, but Orlando ended their hopes of making the playoffs. Despite that disappointment, it was a massive improvement for a team that had struggled for several years. Now comes the difficult part. LaMelo Ball has been traded to Minnesota, leaving Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel as the main faces of the franchise. 

Miller should have much more freedom offensively, and Knueppel has already shown that he can be a dangerous three-point shooter. Coby White will take over at point guard, with Naz Reid arriving from Minnesota to strengthen the frontcourt. There is plenty of young talent in Charlotte, but losing Ball could hurt their creativity and overall offensive production.

It's hard to imagine the Washington Wizards being any worse than last season, when they finished with just 17 wins and the worst record in the NBA. However, for the first time in years, there is actually some excitement around this team. The Wizards have brought in Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and they also landed the first overall pick in the draft, selecting AJ Dybantsa.

Dybantsa is one of the most exciting young prospects in basketball and already looked impressive during Summer League. Alongside Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly, he gives Washington a promising group of players to build around. And that's where things get complicated. Davis has struggled with injuries for years, and Young's availability is another concern. Washington have enough talent to surprise some opponents, but expecting them to suddenly become a playoff team would be optimistic. 

Southeast Division prediction: Miami might be the favourites after signing Giannis Antetokounmpo, but I'm going with Orlando to win the division. The Magic were unlucky with injuries last season and still managed to win 45 games. Miami will certainly be dangerous, but their new squad might need some time to find chemistry. 

The San Antonio Spurs were just three wins away from becoming NBA champions last season. The Spurs finished second in the West with an impressive 62-20 record and made it all the way to the Finals, where they lost 4-1 to the New York Knicks. It was a painful ending, but this young team should only get better.

Victor Wembanyama is already playing at an unbelievable level. He averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks last season, and at just 22 years old, he could soon become the best player in the NBA. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are also developing into excellent players, giving San Antonio one of the most exciting young cores in basketball. The Spurs haven't changed much during the summer, with Tobias Harris being their only notable addition. That's probably a good thing, considering how successful they were last season. 

San Antonio REFUSES to quit! The Spurs lead the NBA with 7 comebacks from 15 or more points down this season. 14-1 in their last 15 games following tonight's epic win 😤 https://t.co/UAIioYNfBe

— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2026

The Houston Rockets have one of the strongest defensive teams in the NBA, but their offence still needs some work. They finished fifth in the West with 52 wins last season, although losing to the Lakers in the first round was a disappointing result for a team with championship ambitions. Kevin Durant certainly did his part, averaging 26 points per game despite taking fewer shots near the basket than ever before.

The return of Fred VanVleet could be exactly what Houston need. They missed his playmaking badly last season, and having a proper point guard should take some pressure off Durant, Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson. The Rockets have also signed Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović, giving them more options in the backcourt. Under Ime Udoka, Houston have consistently been excellent defensively and on the offensive glass. Their main weakness is creating good shots in the half-court, where they rely too much on mid-range shooting.

Cooper Flagg was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable season for the Dallas Mavericks. They won just 26 games and finished near the bottom of the Western Conference, but their young superstar gave fans something to be excited about. Flagg improved throughout his rookie campaign, becoming more confident as a scorer and playmaker before eventually winning Rookie of the Year.

The good news is that Kyrie Irving is finally back after missing the entire previous season with a torn ACL. His return should make life much easier for Flagg, who had to carry too much responsibility offensively. Dallas have also brought in Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama and Marcus Sasser, adding some useful depth. There is also some real defensive quality in this squad, particularly with P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. However, Irving's fitness remains a concern, and Dallas still lack reliable playmaking options behind him.

Zion Williamson managed to play 62 games last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, which is actually a pretty big achievement considering his injury history. When he's fit, Zion is still one of the most difficult players to stop in the NBA. Unfortunately, even his improved availability couldn't save New Orleans from another disappointing campaign. The Pelicans finished with just 26 wins and missed the postseason entirely.

There is some serious scoring talent in this squad. Trey Murphy III has averaged over 20 points in each of the last two seasons, and Dejounte Murray looked impressive after returning from injury. Youngsters Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears also showed promise, with Queen earning All-Rookie Second Team honours. New head coach Jamahl Mosley faces a difficult task, particularly defensively. Playing Williamson and Queen together caused major problems last season, as neither provides enough protection around the basket. Herbert Jones can help, but he cannot fix everything on his own. 

The Ja Morant era is officially over in Memphis, and the Grizzlies are heading in a completely different direction. After winning just 25 games last season, the franchise decided to rebuild around younger players rather than chase immediate success. Morant's departure leaves a huge gap in star power, but Memphis have assembled a pretty interesting group that could surprise some opponents.

Rookie Cameron Boozer is probably the most exciting addition. The third overall pick has an impressive offensive skill set and could quickly become one of the team's most important players. Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. will compete for the starting point guard position, with Cedric Coward also expected to take another step forward. Memphis have also brought in Jerami Grant to provide some experienced scoring. What makes the Grizzlies interesting is their depth and the number of different lineups they can use. However, they lack a proven superstar capable of taking over games when the offence struggles. 

Southwest Division prediction: I don't think there's much of a debate here. San Antonio are comfortably the strongest team in the Southwest Division, and I fully expect them to finish first again. 

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