ESPN`s 2025 Summer Forecast has already addressed key questions for the NBA`s 80th season, offering predictions for major awards and the Eastern and Western Conference standings. Now, the forecast concludes with the highly anticipated predictions for conference champions and the ultimate NBA Finals winner.
This season, the Oklahoma City Thunder aim to become the first back-to-back champions since 2018, seeking to break a streak of seven consecutive seasons with different titleholders. However, they face numerous formidable challengers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished with the league`s second-best regular-season record last season (trailing only the Thunder), will compete in an Eastern Conference grappling with injuries. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks, under new coach Mike Brown, bring significant postseason experience, positioning them to advance further.
Our panel of experts was asked to rank their top choices for the Eastern and Western Conference titles, as well as the eventual NBA champion. A first-place vote garnered five points, a second-place vote three points, and a third-place vote one point.
Here are the detailed results:
Who will win the Eastern Conference Finals?
- 1. Cleveland Cavaliers: 98 points
- 2. New York Knicks: 72 points
- 3. Orlando Magic: 21 points
- 4. Milwaukee Bucks: 7 points
- 5. Indiana Pacers: 3 points
The Cavaliers aren`t starting the season with optimal momentum, as starters Darius Garland and Max Strus are sidelined for extended periods following offseason foot surgeries. However, the conference finals are still distant, and if the team achieves full health, their complete roster should establish them as favorites.
A critical factor in the current NBA landscape is that the Knicks, unlike the Cavs, are operating below the second apron of the salary cap. This provides them with significantly more flexibility to augment or modify their roster throughout the season. While the Knicks` current roster is largely settled, they are in a strong position to pursue a high-profile player should one become available before the February trade deadline, which could prove decisive later in the season.
After years of being passive in the trade market, the Magic`s aggressive move to acquire Desmond Bane in exchange for four first-round picks was a bold gamble. This strategy only makes sense if Orlando`s roster is truly capable of contending for a spot in the conference finals. Whether they are or aren`t remains to be seen over the next seven months. — Brian Windhorst
Who will win the Western Conference Finals?
- 1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 106 points
- 2. Denver Nuggets: 50 points
- 3. Houston Rockets: 35 points
- 4. Los Angeles Lakers/Minnesota Timberwolves: 7 points
- 5. Golden State Warriors: 2 points
It`s somewhat surprising that the Houston Rockets aren`t favored to challenge Oklahoma City in their quest to become the NBA`s first repeat champions since the Warriors. Given a strong offseason that saw the addition of arguably the league`s best scorer, Kevin Durant, to a roster already brimming with young talent, the Rockets are expected to pose a significant threat to the reigning champions, who nonetheless dominated the summer`s voting.
The Denver Nuggets secured the No. 2 spot in this poll primarily due to their performance in last season`s Western Conference semifinals, where they pushed the eventual champions to seven games, rather than solely their offseason activity. Their moves included trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson and acquiring Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown, and Tim Hardaway Jr.
However, there`s a strong argument to be made for continuity.
The Thunder made it a priority this offseason to secure their incredibly talented trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. In fact, OKC is poised to bring back 14 players from last season`s 15-man roster, making them strong favorites to repeat as Western Conference champions. — Michael C. Wright
Who will win the 2026 NBA Finals?
- 1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 101 points
- 2. Denver Nuggets: 36 points
- 3. Cleveland Cavaliers: 27 points
- 4. Houston Rockets: 21 points
- 5. New York Knicks: 11 points
According to our panel, there`s a high probability that the Thunder will put an end to the league`s streak of seven straight seasons with a different champion. It`s reasonable to expect Oklahoma City to be an even stronger team after their recent title run, primarily due to the natural progression and development of their young core`s talent, which perfectly complements their 27-year-old reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
However, the 2023 champion Nuggets are widely regarded as the primary challenger to the Thunder`s potential repeat. After pushing Oklahoma City to a grueling seven-game series in the Western Conference semifinals, Denver strategically bolstered its roster this summer to provide Nikola Jokic with the deepest supporting cast of his career. Last season, the Thunder demonstrated that extensive prior playoff experience is not a prerequisite for winning a championship. The Cavaliers, having maintained their core four players despite a disappointing second-round exit after a 64-win regular season, are hoping to achieve a similar breakthrough for the Eastern Conference.
The Houston Rockets haven`t advanced beyond the first round since trading James Harden five years ago. Yet, the acquisition of future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant to complement a franchise that has shown double-digit improvements in wins over the past two seasons has firmly placed Houston in the conversation for championship contenders. — Tim MacMahon