The Defining Statistic for Every NBA Team’s 2025-26 Season

Atlanta Hawks: 10 and 5

Optimism abounds for the Hawks this season, fueled by prospects like Dyson Daniels` anticipated breakout and what many consider the Eastern Conference`s most impactful offseason. However, Atlanta`s aspirations for a deep playoff run, reminiscent of their surprising 2021 conference finals appearance, may heavily rely on the elevation of Jalen Johnson`s game. Despite being frequently sidelined by injuries, playing only 36 games last season, Johnson showcased an exceptional ability to fill the stat sheet when on the court.

Last season, Johnson averaged 10 rebounds and 5 assists per game, placing him in an elite group alongside Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Domantas Sabonis as the only players to achieve such round numbers. Over the past four seasons, Joel Embiid is the sole other player to reach these benchmarks. While this doesn`t imply Johnson is an MVP candidate, it suggests he could be much closer to an All-NBA selection and genuine stardom than many currently perceive.

Boston Celtics: 99.5%

The most significant void for the Celtics this season will undoubtedly be Jayson Tatum, as the six-time All-Star recovers from an Achilles tear. Yet, the dramatic overhaul of Boston`s big-man rotation should not be underestimated. In the previous postseason, the Celtics allocated an astonishing 99.5% of their non-garbage time center minutes to Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, according to Cleaning the Glass. All three players have since departed.

Their roles will now be filled by a combination of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher, and Xavier Tillman. While these players offer diverse strengths and play styles, they represent a clear downgrade from their predecessors. This substantial adjustment for Boston and coach Joe Mazzulla provides another compelling reason to question the Celtics` competitive standing during their “gap year” without Tatum.

Brooklyn Nets: 3

GeniusIQ tracking data indicates that six players for Brooklyn averaged at least 3 minutes of possession per game last season. Five of these six—Dennis Schroder, D`Angelo Russell, Ben Simmons, Killian Hayes, and Trendon Watford—are no longer with the organization. Cameron Johnson, who was second on the team in scoring, has also moved on.

New acquisition Michael Porter Jr. is expected to help compensate for Johnson`s scoring, but he is not a primary ball-handler. This opens up significant ball-handling opportunities for the Nets` young backcourt. Expect considerable rookie growing pains, particularly given Brooklyn`s draft of a record five first-rounders. Furthermore, Cam Thomas (assuming he re-signs as a restricted free agent) is projected to command an exceptionally high usage rate, having posted a 32.6% mark last season, just shy of Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham in league rankings.

Charlotte Hornets: 35.9%

Last season, LaMelo Ball led the league with a 35.9% usage rate, the 23rd highest single-season mark in NBA history. Typically, players shouldering such heavy offensive loads are superstars delivering elite production; 19 of the 22 players with higher usage rates earned an All-NBA selection in those respective seasons. The rare exceptions include DeMarcus Cousins during his trade from the Kings to the Pelicans, Jermaine O`Neal in the season of the “Malice at the Palace” suspension, and Michael Jordan in his initial Wizards season.

However, even if Ball had played enough games to qualify for All-NBA consideration, he wouldn`t have been close. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) was the lowest for any player in NBA history with a 35% usage rate. Combined with his frequent injury absences, it remains uncertain whether Ball is still the franchise cornerstone the Hornets should build around, or merely a ball-dominant entertainer who struggles to translate his individual output into team wins.

Chicago Bulls: 164

The Bulls have long exemplified NBA mediocrity, and their record provides undeniable proof. Over the four seasons since they acquired DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso to embark on a new franchise era, Chicago has posted an even 164-164 win-loss record. Despite the departures of DeRozan, Ball, Caruso, and Zach LaVine from the roster, the team shows no clear signs of committing to a full rebuild. Instead of draft picks, they pursued players in trades involving Ball and Caruso, suggesting they are likely to hover around the .500 mark once again in 2025-26.

Cleveland Cavaliers: 42%

In three seasons with Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers have compiled an impressive 163-83 regular-season record (a 66% win rate), ranking third-best in the NBA over that period. Yet, in the playoffs, their performance has sharply declined, with a mere 11-15 record (42% win rate).

While injuries have played a role, with Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen all missing at least one playoff game during this span, Cleveland has consistently failed to be competitive in its playoff eliminations, falling in five games in each of the last three seasons. Coming off a dominant 64-18 regular-season performance, the Cavaliers are expected to rack up many more wins in 2025-26. However, they now find themselves at a crossroads similar to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the decade: their regular-season dominance will only be validated if they can prove their mettle in the postseason.

Dallas Mavericks: 5

For the Mavericks to capitalize on their championship window before 33-year-old Kyrie Irving and 32-year-old Anthony Davis enter their mid-thirties, Irving`s recovery from left ACL surgery this season will be paramount. Only slightly less crucial is the immediate high-impact contribution from No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who will be just 18 years old on opening night.

Flagg is widely regarded as one of the best NBA prospects in decades, certainly possessing the potential for instant success. However, it`s an incredibly challenging feat for any player of his age and experience to contribute to winning basketball, regardless of talent. Historically, only 5 teenagers have ever been regular perimeter starters for a playoff-bound team, according to Stathead: Jayson Tatum, Luol Deng, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, and Stephon Marbury. Notably, Tatum is the sole player to achieve this in the past two decades.

Denver Nuggets: 7

Basketball Reference`s MVP award shares statistic effectively quantifies a player`s MVP candidacy by aggregating the percentage of possible votes received each season. This system rewards both decisive MVP wins and consistent high finishes in balloting year after year. With three emphatic MVP victories and two runner-up finishes over the past five seasons, Nikola Jokic is rapidly ascending this prestigious leaderboard.

Following his second-place finish in 2024-25, Jokic has moved into seventh place in career MVP award shares, surpassing legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O`Neal, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. A similar performance in 2025-26 would see him overtake Bill Russell and Magic Johnson. With two more top-tier seasons, he could potentially eclipse Larry Bird and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, securing third place all-time, behind only LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

While the Nuggets aim to capture another title after a strong summer, there`s also immense individual legacy at stake for Jokic as he continues to build his case as one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Detroit Pistons: 2

Despite the Pistons` notable improvement last season, jumping from a league-worst 14 wins to 44 wins and a hard-fought playoff loss, their core quartet of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren played together in a mere 2 games for a total of five minutes. Due to various injuries and coaching decisions, Detroit`s four most crucial young building blocks, all aged 23 or younger, essentially spent an entire season without sharing the court. With the addition of No. 5 pick Ron Holland, the quintet of recent lottery selections never played together.

Consequently, even with Detroit`s changes in their veteran rotation for 2025-26—Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dennis Schroder out; Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson in—the Pistons have much to learn about their anticipated long-term core. Key questions remain: Is Ivey`s small-sample 3-point improvement sustainable? Can Ivey and Thompson alleviate some of Cunningham`s significant offensive burden? And where does Holland fit into the picture after a quiet rookie campaign?

Golden State Warriors: 47%

For the majority of last season, the Warriors faced a significant challenge: their offense dramatically faltered when Stephen Curry was resting. According to Cleaning the Glass, Golden State managed just 104.2 points per 100 possessions when both Curry and Jimmy Butler III were off the court. This figure ranked in the 5th percentile league-wide. In stark contrast, Golden State`s offense with Curry on the floor soared to 120.1 points per 100 possessions, an 85th percentile mark.

However, Butler`s arrival after the trade deadline largely resolved this issue. The Warriors maintained a perfectly respectable 113.9 offensive rating with Butler on the court without Curry, placing them in the 47th percentile. An average offensive performance in these circumstances is more than acceptable, given Golden State`s elite production with Curry. When factoring in their phenomenal, 99th-percentile defense during those Butler-without-Curry minutes, it becomes clear why Golden State finished the season 23-8 with the league`s third-best net rating after Butler`s debut.

While the Warriors` offense did struggle in the second round of the playoffs when Curry was injured, Butler was also dealing with his own physical ailments at the time.

Houston Rockets: 1.21

Last season, the Rockets were a strong team across most facets of the game, but a critical weakness proved costly. Houston ranked just 22nd in half-court scoring efficiency, per Cleaning the Glass, making them the worst among all playoff teams. They particularly struggled to generate points in one-on-one matchups.

According to GeniusIQ, Houston scored only 0.91 points per isolation play in both the regular season and postseason—a rate worse than only the Jazz, Wizards, and Raptors. None of Houston`s perimeter players could consistently create high-quality shots against set defenders, with Fred VanVleet (15th percentile among players with at least 100 isos), Amen Thompson (15th percentile), and Jalen Green (12th percentile) all struggling.

Enter Kevin Durant. Not only is Durant a vast improvement over the Rockets` previous options, but he also led the entire league in isolation efficiency last season, averaging 1.21 points per isolation. The Rockets identified their primary offensive weakness and addressed it decisively. With Durant now orchestrating the offense in crucial late-game situations, Houston is poised to become a formidable contender in the Western Conference.

Indiana Pacers: 13.6

The Pacers` main objective this season is to position themselves for a return to contention when Tyrese Haliburton recovers from his right Achilles tear in 2026-27. This requires two primary steps. First, they must identify Myles Turner`s long-term replacement at center, whether from within (Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff) or via external acquisition. Second, they need to ascertain which of their young, recently drafted first-round reserves—Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker—are long-term keepers.

Mathurin, a former No. 6 pick, is arguably the most intriguing prospect due to his unique downhill scoring ability on Indiana`s roster. However, Mathurin has shown limited development since an impressive rookie season. His traditional and advanced statistics have remained remarkably consistent across his first three NBA seasons; for instance, his Player Efficiency Rating (PER, where 15 is average) has barely fluctuated from 13.1 as a rookie to 13.0 as a sophomore, and 13.6 in his third year. If Mathurin can significantly expand his game in Haliburton`s absence, rather than remaining on this statistical plateau, it would be a substantial long-term benefit for the Pacers.

LA Clippers: 14.5

The Clippers were a dominant force for extended periods last season—provided their stars were on the court. However, their performance shifted notably when key players rested. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Clippers were an astounding 14.5 points per 100 possessions better with center Ivica Zubac on the court, marking the third-largest margin for any player with at least 1,000 minutes (trailing only Nikola Jokic and Dorian Finney-Smith). Kawhi Leonard`s on/off differential was also impressive at 10.5 points, ranking ninth league-wide.

Evidently, the Clippers recognized the necessity of bolstering their bench, a problem they actively addressed throughout the summer. They signed Brook Lopez, an ideal backup center for Zubac, and acquired Bradley Beal and Chris Paul on affordable contracts to enhance backcourt playmaking. Additionally, they traded for John Collins, introducing a new, multipositional dimension to their frontcourt rotation alongside Zubac and Leonard. Despite their aging roster and intense competition in the West, these upgrades position the Clippers as a legitimate contender.

Los Angeles Lakers: 4.4

With Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the roster, the Lakers possess a theoretically unstoppable offensive weapon: pick-and-rolls between James and a talented guard have historically created mismatches and yielded exceptional results. Yet, the Lakers surprisingly underutilized this dynamic after last season`s blockbuster trade. In the regular season, James set just 3.8 picks per 100 possessions for Doncic, while Doncic set a mere 0.6 for James, totaling only 4.4 picks per 100 possessions, according to GeniusIQ.

For context, James and Kyrie Irving executed 15.1 picks per 100 possessions for each other during their last two seasons together in Cleveland. James and Austin Reaves have averaged 11.3 picks per 100 possessions throughout their shared Lakers tenure.

To be fair, the Lakers were navigating a novel roster situation on the fly last season, and the star duo`s pick rate did significantly increase in the playoffs, rising from 4.4 to 9.2 per 100 possessions (though this was predominantly James setting screens for Doncic). This synergy unsurprisingly led to substantial scoring, with the Lakers averaging over 1.2 points per play when a Doncic-James pick directly resulted in a shot, foul, or turnover. For the Lakers to maximize this unique partnership in 2025-26, they should substantially increase its utilization.

Memphis Grizzlies: 30.5%

The Grizzlies find themselves at a peculiar juncture in their competitive timeline. While they took a step back this summer by trading Desmond Bane, they still possess a deep, well-rounded roster anchored by a couple of highly-paid stars. However, any playoff aspirations will remain elusive if Ja Morant cannot rectify his inconsistent 3-point shooting.

Over his last three seasons, which have been plagued by injuries and suspensions, Morant has shot a dismal 30.5% from beyond the arc. This represents the worst mark among all point guards with a minimum of 500 attempts in that span. Throughout his entire career, Morant has converted only 31.6% of his 3-pointers, making him the second-least accurate active point guard with at least 1,000 attempts, trailing only Russell Westbrook. While Morant boasts other exceptional skills, such a lack of perimeter shooting simply isn`t a recipe for success in the modern, space-oriented NBA.

Miami Heat: 56%

Entering last season, there was anticipation for Bam Adebayo`s long-awaited offensive leap, fueled by his increased willingness and success in shooting 3-pointers. Yet, even as Adebayo demonstrated meaningful improvement from long range—making 79 3-pointers last season compared to just nine in his entire career before March 2024—he experienced a noticeable decline across the rest of his offensive production.

Adebayo`s true shooting percentage plummeted to a career-low 56%, marking its fourth consecutive decrease since his career-high 63% in 2020-21. He generated a career-worst free-throw rate, rarely attacked the rim, and ranked among the league`s least efficient post-up scorers. With Norman Powell—who led the NBA in points per touch last season—joining Tyler Herro, the Heat will boast more offensive firepower in the backcourt in 2025-26. However, for Miami to contend in the Eastern Conference, a significant offensive resurgence from Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt is essential.

Milwaukee Bucks: 1

The Milwaukee Bucks reigned supreme in the NBA in 2021. Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and newly crowned Finals MVP, was in the prime of his career at age 26, surrounded by a strong veteran supporting cast. Yet, despite this foundation, they have won a total of only 1 playoff series in the four seasons since:

• 2021-22: Lost in second round to Celtics
• 2022-23: Lost in first round to Heat
• 2023-24: Lost in first round to Pacers
• 2024-25: Lost in first round to Pacers

While injuries to key stars—Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Giannis himself—have undoubtedly hampered Milwaukee in these playoff defeats, contributing to a string of bad luck, the consistent results represent a massive disappointment for a team of the Bucks` caliber. These outcomes are the primary impetus behind Milwaukee`s significant financial gambles this summer.

Minnesota Timberwolves: 21

Anthony Edwards continues his ascent in the hierarchy of the NBA`s best players. In 2022-23, he earned his first All-Star selection in his third year. By 2023-24, he secured a second-team All-NBA nod, finishing seventh in the voting. And in 2024-25, he again made second-team All-NBA, climbing one spot higher to finish sixth in the vote.

It`s worth noting that the past 21 NBA champions have featured a current or recent first-team All-NBA honoree. Every title-winning team since the 2004 Pistons has relied on a top-5 player to guide them to the promised land. Edwards isn`t quite at that tier yet. However, at just 24 years old, he is certainly capable of making that crucial leap.

Coming off consecutive conference finals losses, the Timberwolves have several aspects to address this season—including replacing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, managing Mike Conley`s workload in his late 30s, and integrating younger talent. Yet, the most vital development for the team would be Anthony Edwards taking that final step forward. He needs to evolve into a bona fide All-NBA first-teamer, a proven prerequisite for the best player on a championship-caliber team.

New Orleans Pelicans: 2018

Given the roster`s pervasive injury risks and Dejounte Murray already recovering from a torn Achilles, what constitutes a realistic best-case scenario for New Orleans this season? The Pelicans last secured a top-six finish in the Western Conference standings in 2018. That was so long ago that their roster included players like Tony Allen, Josh Smith, Emeka Okafor, Omer Asik, and Jameer Nelson; it truly feels like a bygone era of NBA basketball.

With due apologies for criticizing the Pelicans for what many consider the strangest trade of the summer—sending an unprotected 2026 first-round pick (from themselves or the Bucks) to Atlanta in exchange for moving up from No. 23 to No. 13 in the 2025 draft—there is simply far more downside than upside for them in 2025-26. Even when Zion Williamson was available last season, the Pelicans posted a 10-20 record, a 27-win pace that would have yielded a top-10 draft pick.

New York Knicks: 940

The New York Knicks` primary five-man lineup of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns logged an astonishing 940 minutes together in the regular season, by far the most in the NBA. Only one other lineup (the Timberwolves` starters at 714 minutes) reached the 500-minute mark. This extensive playing time was certainly expected given former coach Tom Thibodeau`s renowned preferences.

However, contrary to initial expectations, the Knicks` starters did not coalesce as effectively as anticipated, despite their Villanova connections and theoretical positional balance. This group finished with a modest +3.2 net rating, which sounds acceptable but is actually below average for a high-usage lineup; the 50 five-man units with the most playing time last season averaged a +5.0 net rating, based on NBA Advanced Stats data. Furthermore, in the playoffs, New York`s starters posted a -6.2 net rating, forcing the team to rely heavily on lineups featuring reserves Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride to reach the conference finals.

Under new head coach Mike Brown, and with the addition of two more reliable reserves (Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele), New York`s starters are unlikely to spend as much time together this season. Yet, they cannot merely play less; they must also play significantly better in their second season together for New York to make its first Finals appearance this century.

Oklahoma City Thunder: 99.2%

The reigning NBA champions are largely running it back. Dillon Jones is the only Thunder player who saw playoff minutes last season who is no longer with the team, and all 46 of his minutes came in garbage time. In essence, the 2024-25 champions are retaining players who accounted for an remarkable 99.2% of their playoff minutes in the upcoming 2025-26 season.

This exceptional continuity is poised to be a significant advantage for the Thunder as they attempt the NBA`s first repeat championship in eight years. They possess a deep understanding of how to play together, their young core has gained another year of high-stakes experience, and the team remains deep, tough, and balanced. The Thunder set an NBA record for point differential last season, and it`s entirely plausible they could be even better this year.

Orlando Magic: 2012

For years, Orlando`s defining statistical marker has remained consistent: 2012. This is because 2012 marks the last year in which the Magic ranked in the top half of the league in offensive efficiency. Since trading Dwight Howard that summer, Orlando`s offense, according to Cleaning the Glass, has consistently ranked near the bottom: 27th, 29th, 27th, 17th, 28th, 25th, 22nd, 21st, 29th, 30th, 26th, 22nd, and 26th.

Perhaps this will finally be the year for a breakthrough. Orlando`s star players could hardly have been less healthy than they were last season, and the acquisition of Desmond Bane provides the much-needed shooting the Magic have long lacked. A lineup built around Bane, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, and Paolo Banchero should be capable of scoring at a respectable rate. Given Orlando`s projected defensive strength, even an average offense could be sufficient for them to contend.

Philadelphia 76ers: 58

Over the past two seasons, Joel Embiid has appeared in a mere 58 total regular-season games for the Philadelphia 76ers. More specifically, since he faced undue criticism for missing Philadelphia`s trip to Denver in 2024, Embiid has participated in just 25 out of a possible 121 games (21%), and even when he did play, he often did not resemble his peak form.

With a fully healthy Embiid, Philadelphia undoubtedly possesses the potential to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season. However, at this juncture, relying on such a significant hypothetical is impossible. Consequently, the 76ers enter the 2025-26 season with perhaps the largest disparity between their floor and ceiling of any team in the league.

Phoenix Suns: 2032

No team has gambled more of its future assets for less immediate success than the Phoenix Suns. They are currently considered an underdog to even finish within the top 10 in the Western Conference next season. Crucially, the Suns cannot realistically pivot to a tanking strategy because they do not control their own first-round draft pick until 2032. This means six more years of other teams potentially benefiting from Phoenix`s lottery possibilities, following the Suns giving Houston the No. 10 pick this summer (only to reacquire it in the Kevin Durant trade).

Portland Trail Blazers: 16%

The Portland Trail Blazers appear to be a team on the ascendant, coming off a strong close to the 2024-25 season and an aggressive summer that brought Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard to Rip City. With a potential frontcourt featuring Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan, the Blazers could establish one of the league`s premier defenses.

However, a critical question remains: will Portland generate enough offense to push into the playoff picture? An often-overlooked concern is Portland`s propensity for turnovers. Last season, the Trail Blazers coughed up the ball on 16% of their possessions, ranking 29th league-wide. For context, the other teams in the bottom five for turnover rate—the Jazz, Nets, Hornets, and Wizards—were arguably the four worst teams overall.

Compounding this potential issue, the Blazers traded Anfernee Simons, who had the team`s best assist-to-turnover rate. With Lillard unlikely to return this season, the Blazers will heavily rely on Scoot Henderson to create much of their offense. Among 30 point guards with at least 1,000 minutes played and an above-average usage rate last season, Henderson ranked 29th in turnover rate, according to Stathead, surpassed only by Russell Westbrook.

Sacramento Kings: 120.9

In over 1,000 possessions together last season, the Kings` new “big three” of Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine were outscored due to a porous defense that permitted a staggering 120.9 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass. This defensive rating placed them in the 11th percentile among all lineups league-wide. When Malik Monk joined this trio, Sacramento`s defense deteriorated even further, dropping to the 3rd percentile with a 124.8 defensive rating.

While some of these numbers may have been influenced by unfortunate 3-point shooting luck for opponents, it`s evident that the Kings` roster lacks a sufficient number of high-caliber defenders to elevate them back to defensive respectability in 2025-26. After a brief window of competitiveness, Sacramento finds itself back in a state of uncertainty, possessing a talented offense but seemingly without the defensive foundation to overcome its league-worst defensive vulnerabilities.

San Antonio Spurs: 30.4%

The most crucial development for San Antonio this season revolves around Victor Wembanyama`s return from the deep vein thrombosis that sidelined him after the All-Star break last season. If he can maintain his health, Wembanyama has the potential to earn first-team All-NBA honors and win Defensive Player of the Year in his third season.

However, the second most significant development will be how the Spurs` contingent of talented guards meshes—and whether they can provide sufficient spacing around Wembanyama to succeed in the modern NBA. Collectively, De`Aaron Fox, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and No. 2 draft pick Dylan Harper shot a combined dismal 30.4% from 3-point range last season (including Harper`s college statistics). Fox made 31% last season and holds a career mark of 33%. Castle made 28.5% as a rookie and 26.7% in his sole college season. Harper converted 33.3% in college.

San Antonio has ample time to build around Wembanyama, but with the 27-year-old Fox now signed to a substantial extension, the Spurs may face challenging personnel decisions in the coming years if this guard trio continues to struggle with floor spacing.

Toronto Raptors: $1.1 million

The Toronto Raptors are operating as an expensive franchise. They are projected to finish $1.1 million above the first apron, according to Spotrac, positioning them as one of only six teams in this financial tier. What makes the Raptors unusual is that the other five apron teams have either reached at least the conference finals or secured the No. 1 seed in the past two seasons, whereas Toronto has missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.

Typically, teams in this financial range are willing to incur various apron penalties because they are actively trying to maximize a championship contention window. The Raptors, however, have assembled one of the league`s priciest rosters (with Brandon Ingram at $40 million per year and Immanuel Quickley at $32.5 million!) despite no clear indication that they are close to contention, or that their highly compensated starting lineup can effectively play together. This significant investment offers the Raptors a sneaky upside, particularly in the weaker Eastern Conference, but also carries an abundance of downside risk if the pieces fail to quickly cohere.

Utah Jazz: 23

Three years into their rebuild, the Utah Jazz continue to prioritize youth. Of the 11 Utah players who logged at least 800 minutes last season, only four were older than 23 years old—and three of those (Collin Sexton, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson) were traded in the offseason. Only Lauri Markkanen, now 28 years old, remains from Utah`s small veteran contingent.

While the exact playing time for newcomers like Jusuf Nurkic, Georges Niang, Kevin Love, and Kyle Anderson remains to be seen, it appears more likely that Utah will allocate even more minutes to its younger players in 2025-26. Two new first-round picks have joined the team, and former lottery pick Taylor Hendricks, now 21, requires increased playing time after leg and ankle surgeries limited him to just three games last season.

Washington Wizards: 64

The Washington Wizards have endured seasons with 64 or more losses only twice in their franchise history. The first instance was in 2023-24, when they finished 15-67. The second was in 2024-25, when they recorded an 18-64 record (with an even worse point differential). Given the Wizards` continued reliance on young talent this season, there is little reason to anticipate significantly more success in the third year of their rebuild, even after suffering the two worst seasons in franchise history.