The NBA landscape is buzzing with anticipation as the 2025-26 season approaches, and fans are already debating who will emerge as the league’s biggest stars and which teams will rise to the top. While real-life results remain to be seen, a recent Strat-O-Matic computer simulation has added fuel to the fire, projecting some surprising twists and turns for the months ahead. Combined with insights from NBA legends and journalists, this simulated season preview offers a fascinating, if speculative, glimpse into what could unfold on the hardwood.
On October 17, 2025, Strat-O-Matic released its annual computer simulation of the upcoming NBA season, a tradition that has delighted fans and pundits alike with its blend of data-driven predictions and wild, sometimes outlandish, results. This year’s simulation didn’t disappoint, forecasting a dramatic season with unexpected upsets, record-breaking performances, and a few eyebrow-raising outcomes. For entertainment purposes only, these projections invite fans to imagine a season where anything is possible.
According to the simulation, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder would finish the regular season with a league-best 66-16 record. The two teams, each boasting a dynamic roster, would eventually square off in a thrilling NBA Finals matchup. The simulation has the Thunder prevailing in a hard-fought seven-game series, marking Oklahoma City as back-to-back champions—the NBA’s first since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Cleveland, meanwhile, would dominate the Eastern Conference, finishing 16 games ahead of second-seeded Detroit and steamrolling through the playoffs with a 12-1 record before falling just short in the championship round.
The simulated playoffs were packed with drama and unpredictability. In the East, three of the four first-round series ended in sweeps, a rarity in postseason basketball. The Western Conference, on the other hand, saw every first-round matchup go the distance to seven games. The Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors each finished the regular season at 42-40, but it was Dallas who clinched the final playoff spot by defeating the Lakers 117-103 in the West’s deciding Play-In game. The Lakers had previously eliminated the San Antonio Spurs, who, according to the simulation, missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season despite the presence of rising star Victor Wembanyama.
Chicago Bulls fans would have reason to celebrate in this alternate reality, as the Bulls toppled the Toronto Raptors in the 7 vs. 8 East Play-In game. This victory was particularly sweet for Chicago, who had been eliminated in the Play-In round for three straight real-life seasons. Meanwhile, the simulation predicted a challenging year for the Washington Wizards, who finished with a league-worst 15-57 record, followed by Charlotte at 25-57. Utah and Portland ended up tied at 27-55, requiring a coin flip to determine draft order in a highly anticipated 2026 NBA Draft featuring top prospects AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.
Individual performances in the simulation were nothing short of spectacular. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards delivered the highest-scoring game of the season, pouring in 68 points in an overtime thriller against New Orleans on February 6, 2026. Not to be outdone, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 60 points—also in New Orleans—on February 20. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg made an immediate impact, earning the simulated Rookie of the Year honors with averages of 18.5 points and 4.8 assists per game.
The MVP race, always a hot topic among fans and analysts, took center stage in both the simulation and real-life preseason debates. Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić was crowned the simulated MVP, reclaiming the honor from Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Detroit’s Cade Cunningham finished a surprising third in the virtual voting. Jokić’s simulated triumph comes on the heels of a remarkable real-life run: he has won three MVP awards in the last five years, with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Gilgeous-Alexander taking the other two.
NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash weighed in on the MVP conversation, sharing his thoughts with NBA journalist Zach Lowe on "The Zach Lowe Show." Nash, while expressing admiration for his fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, ultimately picked Jokić as his early favorite for the 2025-26 MVP award. "My heart's with Shai due to being my Canadian brethren and being incredibly proud, and I admire him so much, but I think it's Joker," Nash said. He elaborated, "For him not to get it two years in a row, unless something strange happens to him or their team this year, I mean, would anyone doubt if he averages another triple-double? He’s more skilled, he’s more accurate, and he’s got the best vision in the league, how do you not win MVP after not winning it last year?"
Lowe echoed Nash’s sentiments, identifying Jokić as his own early pick for MVP and suggesting that the Serbian big man could finish his career as one of the top three or four greatest statistical players in NBA history. Lowe went further, arguing that Jokić could cement his place among the top 10 all-time players if he secures another championship. Jokić’s only NBA title thus far came in 2023, when he led the Nuggets to glory and claimed the NBA Finals MVP.
Denver’s front office has been active in preparation for the new season, retooling the roster to support another championship push. The Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for small forward Cameron Johnson, and brought in veteran big man Jonas Valančiūnas to provide depth behind Jokić. Key contributors Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon remain in the fold, giving Denver a solid foundation as they aim to return to the NBA Finals after falling short last season in a grueling seven-game series against the Thunder.
The simulation, while often tongue-in-cheek, highlights just how unpredictable the NBA can be. Could Cleveland and Oklahoma City really dominate their conferences? Might a rookie like Cooper Flagg take the league by storm? Will Jokić reclaim the MVP trophy and lead Denver to another title, as both the simulation and respected analysts predict? And what about the teams pegged for disappointment—could they defy the odds?
With the real NBA season set to tip off soon, fans can only wait and watch as storylines unfold, rivalries reignite, and new legends are born. Whether the Strat-O-Matic simulation proves eerily prescient or wildly off-base, it’s clear that the 2025-26 campaign promises excitement, intrigue, and plenty of surprises. One thing’s for sure: the journey to crown the next NBA champion is just getting started.
