The Eastern Conference is known for a couple of things in the NBA: being the Western Conference’s little brother, struggling to have their #1 seed reach the NBA Finals, and having a different team represent them in the NBA Finals almost every season.

What does it all mean heading in to the 2025-26 season? Well for starters, the Cleveland Cavaliers are due for another strong regular season: which as mentioned, doesn’t always translate to playoff success. After years of contending, the Boston Celtics are due to take a major step back with Jayson Tatum sidelined and the roster re-tooling in the meantime.

This could open the door for the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, or Atlanta Hawks to take a step up in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are wildcards, but have talent when healthy.

Read on for my 2025-26 NBA Eastern Conference Standings Predictions, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any predictions, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter/X, on Facebook, or by commenting directly on this post!

2025-26 NBA Predictions

Eastern Conference, Western Conference, Playoffs and NBA Finals

15. Washington Wizards (16-66)

(AP News)

The Washington Wizards are the Washington Wizards, nothing more, nothing less, heading into 2025-26 season. Jordan Poole and Alex Sarr might have a couple of decent individual performances, but the Wizards certainly won’t win more than 25 games.

14. Brooklyn Nets (21-61)

(New York Post)

As a Denver Nuggets homer, I’m interested to see how Michael Porter Jr. fits on the Brooklyn Nets: will the veteran basically have the green light to take 30 shots a game, or will he be forced to co-exist with the Nets younger core? Either way, Brooklyn itself will be a lottery team again in 2025-26.

13. Charlotte Hornets (25-57)

(WNCT)

Lonzo Ball and Brandon Miller are a very solid foundation, but the Charlotte Hornets don’t have enough depth and talent around them to compete over an 82-game season, not even in the Eastern Conference.

12. Toronto Raptors (28-54)

(Forbes)

The Toronto Raptors have enjoyed regular season success, postseason success (with Kawhi Leonard on the roster), and most recently, a few years of mediocrity. But now, Toronto fades in to obscurity: not bad enough to be the worst team in the Eastern Conference, but still significantly below the expectations of a Play-In team. Brandon Ingram enters the fold, but he may not be able to turn Toronto’s fortunes around.

11. Miami Heat (34-48)

(Bleacher Report)

The Miami Heat, much like the Chicago Bulls, are a perirenal Play-In Tournament contender, but without a Jimmy Butler to hold the team together, Bam Adebayo and company might slide a spot for a rare playoff miss for head coach Erik Spoelstra and owner Pat Riley.

10. Indiana Pacers (36-46)

(NBA)

Much like the Boston Celtics later on, the Indiana Pacers wouldn’t feel like 2025-26 was already a lost season if they only lost Tyrese Haliburton due to injury. But with Myles Turner and Thomas Bryant also not on the roster this season, the Indiana Pacers that take the floor this October won’t be the same ones that made the NBA Finals in June.

9. Chicago Bulls (39-43)

(FanSided)

The Chicago Bulls are typically sniffing around the Play-In Tournament, and that’s exactly where I have them finishing once again. I like the core of Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Nikola Vučević, and could see Chicago finishing a couple spots higher than this as well.

8. Philadelphia 76ers (41-41)

(Fadeaway World)

The Philadelphia 76ers success depends on both success and execution, with Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey carrying these expectations. If everything went well, Philadelphia could likely return to being a top four seed in the Eastern Conference, but it’s just too early to tell at this point in time. Availability is also an ever-lingering issue for Philadelphia’s stars.

7. Boston Celtics (42-40)

(Boston Herald)

The 2024 NBA Champions are in a major transition mode entering the 2025-26 season. Star player Jayson Tatum will likely miss the entire season die to an Achilles tear, shifting pressure on to Jaylen Brown and the rest of the team. If this was the championship squad minus Tatum, the Boston Celtics would likely still be able to compete in the softer Eastern Conference. But Kristaps Porzingis is gone, Al Horford remains a free agent, and Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet also left town. Anfernee Simons could be an interesting addition, but overall, Boston is set to take a step back unless the new core rallies together quickly.

6. Atlanta Hawks (45-37)

(Sports Illustrated)

The Atlanta Hawks added veteran big man Kristaps Porzingis and skilled guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker this off-season, which should help Trae Young and company remain in the mix near the middle of the conference.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)

(Dallas Hoops Journal)

The Milwaukee Bucks will look different next season, with Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, and Pat Connaughton out, but Myles Turner, Cole Anthony, Gary Harris in. Each departure was an important one, but the additions are also promising: if Giannis Antetokounmpo can mesh with his new role players, Milwaukee could be a force to reckon with once again.

4. Detroit Pistons (49-33)

(NBA)

More than anything, Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons will be building off last year’s progress, as they got better as the year went on. Key offseason moves include the subtractions of Dennis Schröder and Tim Hardaway Jr., and the additions of Caris LaVert and Duncan Robinson.

3. Orlando Magic (53-29)

(Spectrum News 13)

After finishing 41-41 last season, the Orlando Magic re-tooled around their core, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony skipping town, but with Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones coming in. With teams like the Celtics and Pacers set to take a step back, Paolo Banchero and the Magic could see themselves rising up the standings.

2. New York Knicks (58-24)

(Reuters)

Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony-Towns and the New York Knicks were on the cusp of an NBA Finals appearance last season, and remain one of the most talented teams in the Eastern Conference. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is out, and veteran head coach Mike Brown is in.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21)

(Slam Magazine)

After winning the Eastern Conference with ease last season, finishing 64-18, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the clear favorites to win the Eastern Conference in the regular season once again. Cleveland lost Isaac Okoro, but added Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. in the offseason. The question remains if Donovan Mitchell and company can turn their top standing in to an NBA Finals appearance.

SEE ALSO: 2025-26 NBA Predictions: Western Conference Standings

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