TThe 2025–2026 NBA season has begun, and although each team has played only a few games, there is still much to anticipate. In this article, I will share some insights on what to expect this season based on early games and developments from the previous season.
This Year’s Rookie Class is a Force to be Reckoned with:
The 2024 draft class was considered relatively weak, though a few players demonstrated competitiveness in the league. In contrast, the 2025 class has high expectations and is regarded as one of the strongest in recent history. Generational prospects such as Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecomb are making a strong impression. Edgecomb, in particular, scored 34 points in his NBA debut, setting a new record for the most points in the first quarter by a player in their debut, a record previously held by LeBron James.
The GOAT Debate may Already be Over:
Personally, I side with LeBron James in the ongoing debate between him and Michael Jordan, but the discussion of the greatest player of all time may soon include another contender. The NBA simply cannot be discussed without mentioning the impending threat of Victor Wembanyama. Despite his season ending prematurely last year due to deep vein thrombosis’ (blood clots), Wembanyama has come back and played like he only improved from the condition. Averaging 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 4.8 blocks per game, Wembanyama has been dominant. He records more blocks per game than 14 NBA teams, and at only 21 years old and entering his third season, his performance is likely to improve even further.
The Magic do Not Have What it Takes:
One of my main takes when I did a similar story last year was that the Magic were underrated. This season, with the Eastern Conference riddled with injuries, the Magic made a big trade for Desmond Bane. Jalen Suggs is also back from his long-term injury, so surely they can show that they’re able to compete, right?
Well, it hasn’t been looking good for them. Desmond Bane is having trouble fitting into his new role, and the team’s pile of talent isn’t being used the way it could be. My main concern is Paolo Banchero, who I’ll admit I was wrong about. He is not playing like a No. 1 overall pick should. Both the eye test and advanced stats agree: his impact is not enough to lead the team. If the Magic can’t figure out their squad by the All-Star Break, they’ll likely be the laughing stock of the playoffs.
The Power Balance Between Conferences is Becoming a Problem:
It’s not unusual for one conference of the league to have better teams than the other, after all, the conferences are only based on the location of a team. What is unusual, though, is that nearly every team that is contending this year or has a promising future is in the West. Going 48-34 earned the Bucks the fifth seed in the East last season, but the Grizzlies only earned the eighth seed in the West with the same record. It’s even more drastic this year, with a massive gap forming between the conferences. A solid nine out of the fifteen teams in the West could be considered contenders for the championship, while really only the Knicks are convincing in the East. The Cavaliers, Pistons, and Magic have had a couple of mentions, but none of them are showing that they’re capable of taking down the giants that have been prevalent in the West. Admittedly, there are some setbacks in the East. The Pacers and Celtics have been dropped from contention due to Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum both suffering an Achilles tendon tear in the playoffs, keeping them sidelined for the majority of this season. Even with the return of the two stars in the future, who knows if the conference gap will grow even larger?
