While the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won the Larry O’Brien Trophy on Sunday with a 103-91 Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers, are arguably more well-positioned than other recent champions to repeat, recent history says that won’t be easy.
Here are five teams that could extend the league’s run to eight champions in eight seasons in 2025-26.
5. Detroit Pistons (44-38)
2024-25 playoff result: L, Eastern Conference first round (4-2)
The Pistons were a great story in 2024-25. Now, it’s time to become a great team.
Detroit, led by 2024-25 third-team All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham, has strong pieces in place to take another leap during the upcoming season.
This will be a pivotal offseason in the Motor City. Per ESPN, the Pistons have a projected $19 million in cap space, although they could only have the mid-level ($14.1 million) and biannual ($5.1 million) exceptions by re-signing Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway Jr. However, with full control of their tradeable future draft capital, the Pistons could make a splash should a star become available.
4. New York Knicks (51-31)
2024-25 playoff result: L, Eastern Conference Finals (4-2)
The Knicks need a head coach, but injuries to top East rivals have cleared their path. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton all suffered torn Achilles during the playoffs, threatening each’s availability for the upcoming season.
Guard Jalen Brunson, the 2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of the Year, has been one of the league’s top postseason performers the past two seasons, scoring 951 points in 31 games. Since the start of the 2023-24 playoffs, only Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has more postseason points (990). (h/t Stathead)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
2024-25 playoff result: L, Western Conference Finals (4-1)
After running into a wall in the West Finals the past two seasons, the Timberwolves should be highly motivated to find a way over the hump and win the franchise’s first NBA championship. Forwards Julius Randle and Naz Reid have player options worth monitoring, but as long as two-time All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards, who turns 24 in August, stays healthy, Minnesota should remain in the West’s top tier.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18)
2024-25 playoff result: L, Eastern Conference semifinals (4-1)
Injuries derailed one of the best regular seasons in Cavs franchise history, with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter among the team’s stars limited at some point in the playoff loss to Indiana.
As ESPN notes, the top six in Cleveland’s rotation are under contract next season. That continuity should help the Cavs in their attempt to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their first championship with a second.
1. Houston Rockets (52-30)
2024-25 playoff result: L, Western Conference first round (4-3)
Hours before Game 7 of the 2024-25 NBA Finals tipped off, the Rockets made a major play to win the West by agreeing to terms on a trade to acquire 11-time All-NBA forward Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.
The Rockets stalled offensively in the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors without a legitimate primary scoring option, which shouldn’t be a problem with Durant, one of the league’s most gifted scorers, even as he enters his age-37 season.
Houston was among the league’s top defensive teams in 2024-25, ranking sixth in opponent points per game (109.8) and fourth in defensive rating (110.8). Durant could be the missing link that leads to an NBA title next June.
