The NBA regular season kicks off with three games Tuesday, which means it’s time for the annual tradition of predicting records for all 30 teams.
We divvied out all 1,230 wins across the board. As a note, anti-tanking aimed reform to the draft lottery process should lead to more wins for the cellar dwellers who don’t have incentives to lose, and thus will make reaching the 60-plus win plateau more difficult for the NBA’s elite.
THE WEST
Thunder: 59-23 — This could be the last season for the (almost) fully constructed super core. Expect OKC to capitalize.
Spurs: 56-26 — The Knicks’ title defense will catch all the headlines, but the Spurs’ position is nearly as difficult. There hasn’t been a repeat conference champion since 2019.
Wolves: 53-29 — This feels optimistic, but an offensive juggernaut isn’t out of the question. But how will Minnesota’s new-look roster respond to physicality?
Nuggets: 51-31 — Peyton Watson’s departure lowers Denver’s ceiling, but picking Nikola Jokic to win fewer than 50 games feels like a fool’s errand.
Rockets: 50-32 — This team desperately needed a point guard last season. Fred VanVleet’s return from injury should solve a lot of issues.
Lakers: 47-35 — A core of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler is very good. It’s the rest of the roster that feels … incomplete.
Jazz: 44-38 — This is a lot of wins for a team that perfected the art of tanking over the past few years. But Keyonte George has grown into an excellent player, and he now has a strong supporting cast to flank him.
Trail Blazers: 42-40 — With both Ja Morant and Dame Lillard in tow, Micah Nori has an interesting roster to work with in Year 1. But it’s Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday who set this team’s reasonably high floor.
Suns: 41-41 — A good story a year ago for the quick rebuild executed under tight financial constraints, Phoenix plans to continue its ascent this season … but may not have the means.
Mavericks: 37-45 — There’s a lot of talent on this roster, headlined by second-year forward Cooper Flagg. But it’s possible the team is stripped for parts by the February trade deadline if the start is uninspiring
Grizzlies: 35-47 — There’s a lot of intriguing young talent on this roster, led by No. 3 overall pick Cam Boozer. Memphis won’t be bad for long.
Warriors: 35-47 — Golden State won’t have Jimmy Butler to open the season as he continues to rehab an ACL tear. The Warriors aren’t very good without him.
Clippers: 31-51 — The pieces and mix of veterans and youth aren’t terrible, but it’s really hard to win games without even a top-40 NBA player.
Pelicans: 29-53 — New Orleans’ roster didn’t work last season when it was relatively healthy. The Pelicans’ solution was to run it all back and hope for better results.
Kings: 18-64 — Quite possibly the worst team in the NBA this season. The new lottery system disincentivized losing 60-plus games in an anti-tanking effort. Sacramento figures to do it, anyway.
THE EAST
Pistons: 56-26 — Detroit plays every game the right way. That’s a great recipe for regular-season success. Can it also result in a deep playoff run?
Celtics: 52-30 — Jayson Tatum should be in full rhythm for Boston. And while the Jaylen Brown trade to Philadelphia raised eyebrows, basketball boss Brad Stevens has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Magic: 52-30 — This is probably the highest you’ll see anyone on the Magic. But Sean Sweeney elevates teams wherever he goes, and Orlando showed its upside in the playoffs last season before Franz Wagner got hurt.
Pacers: 51-31 — Tyrese Haliburton is back. The Pacers have a center in Ivica Zubac. Can they continue to establish the breakneck pace that nearly won them a title two years ago?
Raptors: 50-32 — Kawhi Leonard returns to the team where he most recently won a title. He fits like a glove on a long, athletic, defensive-minded roster.
Knicks: 49-33 — A veteran team that set NYC ablaze with a historic title has been in headlines mostly for contract negotiations this fall? This has championship hangover written all over it.
76ers: 48-34 — The starting five looks great on paper, but LeBron James and, especially, Joel Embiid are injury risks. Feels like a team that will make you wonder all season if the pieces will come together by April.
Cavaliers: 46-36 — Is the addition of Peyton Watson enough to revitalize what feels like an old, stale approach in Cleveland? If not, a shakeup is in order.
Hawks: 43-39 — The Hawks were a fun, breakthrough team last season. But have offseason roster shuffles from competitors left them behind?
Hornets: 36-46 — Charlotte is alarmingly banged up already. That, plus a likely adjustment period to the post-LaMelo Ball era, makes the Hornets an easy regression candidate.
Wizards: 34-48 — The Wizards have established veterans and a youthful core that breeds optimism. But this is a tough East to break into right now.
Bulls: 34-48 — There’s a lot to like about this budding Bulls core, including incoming rookie Caleb Wilson. A playoff appearance is unlikely, but a return to contention is in the not-too-distant future.
Nets: 31-51 — Julius Randle will be productive in Brooklyn. And the Nets have no reason to tank. But play-in contention feels like a long shot.
Bucks: 20-62 — Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t win with this Bucks core. There is no expectation that Tyler Herro can.
NBA Finals prediction
Oklahoma City over Orlando
