Bleacher Report Predicts This Season's NBA Champion, not OKC

The 2025–26 NBA season is about to begin! Every team is starting the season 0-0, and every team can enter the season with hope and optimism. While only a few teams are currently considered NBA title contenders, the NBA season is long and crazy, and any team could emerge as the year goes on. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report came up with “1 Bold Prediction for Every Team During 2025–26 NBA Season,” including his pick for the 2026 NBA Champion. 

“The Nuggets still have the best player in the world. And over the past two seasons that didn't end in glory, they were plus-11.1 points per 100 possessions when Jokić was on the floor.

Now, with new additions such as Jonas Valančiūnas, Bruce Brown, and Tim Hardaway Jr., the team should be better equipped to survive without him.

The starting lineup could be better, too, with Cameron Johnson providing a bit more versatility than MPJ and Christian Braun still developing as one of the league's top cutters and transition weapons.

This team feels as well-rounded as it has since 2022. And league history tells us that most players of Jokić's caliber win multiple championships. This is the year he gets his second.”

Predicting that the best player and the second-best team in the NBA will win the championship isn't exactly bold. Jokic and the Nuggets were only a few games away from another NBA Finals appearance last season, and this season they are going to be even better. 

The problem is, Oklahoma City still looks like a juggernaut. That's what makes this a bold prediction. Until it is proven otherwise, the Thunder have to be considered the most likely team to win it all this year. They dominated last season, and while they didn't make any major roster changes, almost all of their players are likely to improve.