With the NBA offseason in full swing, anticipation is already building for what promises to be one of the most hotly contested campaigns in recent memory. The Oklahoma City Thunder may be the reigning champions after their remarkable 2023 title run and a blistering 68-win season, but the narrative heading into 2025-26 is all about the surging Denver Nuggets, the retooled New York Knicks, and a host of hungry contenders eager to dethrone the champs.
Let’s start with the Denver Nuggets, who have wasted no time addressing the shortcomings that led to back-to-back second-round playoff exits. After a 2023 championship, Denver’s hopes for a dynasty were dashed by injuries, roster imbalances, and a lack of depth, particularly behind their three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. But this summer, the Nuggets front office pulled out all the stops, reshaping the team with a flurry of savvy moves. Gone are Michael Porter Jr., Russell Westbrook, and Dario Saric, whose contracts weighed heavily on the books. In their place, the Nuggets added Jonas Valanciunas as a legitimate backup center, plus sharpshooters Cameron Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr., and brought back the versatile Bruce Brown. Suddenly, Denver boasts not just star power but arguably the deepest rotation in the league.
The projected lineup is enough to make any Western Conference foe nervous: Jamal Murray at the point, Christian Braun at shooting guard, Cameron Johnson on the wing, Aaron Gordon at power forward, and Jokic anchoring the middle. Off the bench, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, and Valanciunas round out a unit loaded with shooting, defense, and playoff experience. It’s no wonder that six-time All-Star and former Clippers legend Blake Griffin, speaking on Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston, declared, “I think Denver got better this summer. Denver took Oklahoma City to seven games. I think Denver gets to the Finals.”
Griffin’s bold prediction doesn’t stop there. When asked about the East, he pointed to the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers as the teams to watch, giving the edge to New York: “New York or Cleveland in the East. I'll take New York. Maybe they learn from some mistakes, they make a few tweaks.” He doubled down, stating, “I will go with the Knicks–Denver Finals.”
Denver’s playoff run last year was no fluke, even though they ultimately fell short. They pushed the Thunder to a grueling seven-game series despite battling injuries to key contributors like Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon, while Jokic endured perhaps the toughest three-game shooting stretch of his career. Yet, with the new additions, the Nuggets now have the shooting and depth that have eluded them in recent years. The rest of the West should be on high alert.
But the Western Conference is no cakewalk. The Thunder are still the defending champs, and their young core is brimming with confidence after last season’s 68-win rampage. The Los Angeles Lakers, led by the ageless LeBron James and the ever-dangerous Luka Doncic, are perennial threats. And don’t sleep on the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have reached the Western Conference Finals two years running and return with their core intact. It’s a battlefield out West, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
On the other side of the country, the New York Knicks have quietly built something special. Fresh off their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000, the Knicks have retained their core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. The big shakeup came on the sidelines, where the front office made the surprising decision to part ways with Tom Thibodeau and bring in Mike Brown as head coach. Brown’s arrival signals a new era of adaptability and fresh ideas for a team that, while successful, became somewhat predictable with a Brunson-centric offense last postseason.
Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks’ marquee addition, is already singing the praises of his new coach and the team’s championship ambitions. “We have a chance to win a championship and it only happens if everyone is connected. Everyone has to be fully invested in each other and in our goal. So, kind of just really getting to know him, his people, you know, the way he likes to play basketball, the way he wants to coach, the way he wants to operate practice and everything,” Towns shared, underscoring the buy-in that Brown is fostering early on.
The Knicks are not just running it back—they’re retooling for a deeper run. The supporting cast remains strong, and with the addition of Towns, New York finally has the inside-outside balance to complement Brunson’s dynamic playmaking. Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges provide defensive grit and versatility, while the bench has been bolstered with subtle but effective depth upgrades.
In the East, the Cavaliers loom as the Knicks’ primary rivals. Cleveland had a historically good regular season last year, only to flame out in the playoffs. Still, with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley locked in, they’re not going anywhere. Injuries have ravaged other top contenders: the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers are all dealing with depleted rosters, and the Miami Heat are without Jimmy Butler. Even Giannis Antetokounmpo finds himself without an All-Star running mate for the first time in years. As a result, the East feels more open than ever—a golden opportunity for the Knicks to seize the moment.
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have made waves in the West by trading away Jalen Green and doubling down on Alperen Sengun and newly acquired Kevin Durant. Amen Thompson is pegged for a breakout year, and after finishing second in the West last season, Houston looks poised to crash the party. Both Denver and Houston were eliminated in seven-game thrillers last postseason, a testament to just how close the race is at the top.
Amid all the shifting dynamics, the league’s focus remains on the question: Can anyone topple Oklahoma City, or will the Nuggets’ revamped lineup finally take them over the hump? Will the Knicks’ new direction under Mike Brown unlock their full potential, or will Cleveland’s hunger for redemption spark a run? One thing’s for sure—fans are in for a wild ride.
As opening night draws closer, the NBA landscape is as unpredictable as ever. With Denver and New York both reloaded and ready, and a host of contenders lurking, the 2025-26 season is shaping up to be a classic. Buckle up—basketball fans are about to witness a showdown for the ages.
