NBA 2025-26 Season Preview: Thunder Gaze to Repeat, Lakers Face Challenges

The 2025-26 NBA season is officially underway, and all eyes are on the Oklahoma City Thunder as they attempt to defend their championship title. The league is reshuffling the cards, with prominent teams like the Los Angeles Lakers looking to craft their mark.

League Format and Playoff Structure

The NBA consists of 30 franchises divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each team plays 82 regular-season games. The top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs. Teams ranked seventh through tenth participate in a play-in tournament to secure the final two playoff spots per conference.

The playoffs follow a best-of-seven format through the quarterfinals, semifinals, and conference finals. The conference winners then compete in the NBA Finals, also a best-of-seven series.

Recent Champions

• 2025: Oklahoma City Thunder (2 titles)
• 2024: Boston Celtics (18 titles)
• 2023: Denver Nuggets (1 title)
• 2022: Golden State Warriors (7 titles)
• 2021: Milwaukee Bucks (2 titles)
• 2020: Los Angeles Lakers (17 titles)
• 2019: Toronto Raptors (1 title)
• 2018: Golden State Warriors (6 titles)
• 2017: Golden State Warriors (5 titles)
• 2016: Cleveland Cavaliers (1 title)
• 2015: Golden State Warriors (4 titles)
• 2014: San Antonio Spurs (5 titles)
• 2013: Miami Heat (3 titles)
• 2012: Miami Heat (2 titles)
• 2011: Dallas Mavericks (1 title)
• 2010: Los Angeles Lakers (16 titles)

Title Contenders

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the season as favorites, building on the momentum of their championship run. The Los Angeles Lakers, featuring LeBron James and Luka Doncic, are also expected to contend, though their success hinges on team chemistry and role player performance. Other strong contenders include the Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, and the Milwaukee Bucks, powered by Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Boston Celtics, record champions with 18 titles, are also in the mix, contingent on Jayson Tatum’s recovery. The Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and LA Clippers are also expected to be competitive.

German Players in the NBA

Several German players are making their mark in the NBA:

• Dennis Schröder (Cleveland Cavaliers): Captain of the German national team.
• Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic): A key player for the Magic, averaging 24.2 points in the 2024/25 season.
• Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic): Recovered from a torn cruciate ligament and contributing as a role player.
• Tristan da Silva (Orlando Magic): Averaged 7.4 points per game in his rookie season.
• Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC Thunder): A champion with the Thunder.
• Maximilian Kleber (Los Angeles Lakers): Currently recovering from injuries.
• Ariel Hukporti (New York Knicks): The youngest German NBA player.

Lakers’ Championship Aspirations Questioned

Following a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James was direct about the Lakers’ current standing. “You want me to compare us to them? That’s a championship team right there. We’re not,“ James told reporters. “We can’t sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes, and they can. That’s why they won a championship.“

Lakers coach JJ Redick echoed this sentiment, stating, “I think when you play the best teams — and Oklahoma City is clearly — you know, you have to have a really high level of effort and you have to have a really high level of execution. It’s got to be both, and I thought for the most part our effort was fantastic. In key stretches of the game, our execution wasn’t great.“

Broadcast Information

Fans can catch NBA action on “Prime Video” (86 games, including 29 at German prime time and the entire finals series), “Sky” (numerous games), and the English-language “NBA League Pass” (every game).

The 2025-26 NBA season promises excitement and competition as teams battle for supremacy. With the Thunder looking to repeat and the Lakers striving to contend, the league is set for a thrilling year.