Overview
- After a year defined by Luka Dončić’s trade to the Lakers, Oklahoma City’s first title and Dallas landing rookie cornerstone Cooper Flagg, analysts say those shifts set the stage for 2026.
- Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum both ruptured Achilles tendons in the 2025 playoffs, and reporting points to Tatum targeting an early-2026 return that could recalibrate Boston’s ceiling.
- Federal cases tied to illegal gambling led to indictments of Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups; both pleaded not guilty, remain on unpaid leave and are subjects of ongoing NBA inquiries.
- Outlets forecast Oklahoma City as the team to beat, with projections ranging from a Thunder repeat and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as MVP to an OKC push toward a 70-win season.
- Speculation diverges on major structural moves in 2026, with conflicting projections on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee and on whether the NBA will opt for expansion or hold off.