Charles Barkley Reveals His Pick For Best Team in the Eastern Conference
Oct 2, 2025
The past few years, the Eastern Conference has clearly been the weaker of the two conferences in the NBA, and in 2025–26, the gap may be even bigger. That comes as a result of several key injuries during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, with both Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming campaign.
That’s left several contenders like Cleveland, New York, and Milwaukee to fight it out for the top seed, but in his latest comments, NBA icon and analyst Charles Barkley has another pick for the best team in the East.
“I mean, s***, the Sixers, if they could get healthy, they might be the best team in the East. I know the Knicks and Cleveland are probably going to be favored. I think the Hawks got better. But, man, I gotta tell you something; I ain’t got no faith in anybody right now in the East. The Cavs, they’re going to have to prove it before people give them their credit.”
Given his ties to Philadelphia, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that Barkley picked the 76ers to be the best team in the East this season, but if they stay healthy, they are a genuine threat. Health is a major concern with Paul George and Joel Embiid, however, so unless they both find a way to miraculously stay healthy for the entire campaign, Barkley may be a little off in his prediction ahead of the 2025–26 season.
