The NBA has finally returned.
The league tips off Tuesday, Oct. 21 with a doubleheader featuring the Houston Rockets against the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, with the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors in the nightcap.
For teams, a new season presents a blank slate as they all chase the same thing: the Larry O’Brien trophy.
For players and coaches, team goals take precedence – to be sure – but their individual successes can also lead to historic greatness. Take Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s season as a comparison: he became just the fourth player in league history to win regular season Most Valuable Player, the regular season scoring title and NBA Finals MVP.
Who will take home the biggest prizes at the conclusion of this season? USA TODAY Sports reporters Lorenzo Reyes, Scooby Axson, Mark Giannotto, Jon Hoefling and James Williams made their preseason predictions for individual awards, conference finals and the eventual NBA champion:
NBA playoff predictions
Our experts make their picks for the conference final matchups, the NBA Finals matchup, the 2025-26 NBA champion and the Finals MVP.
Eastern Conference finals matchup
Reyes: New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons
Axson: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Giannotto: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Hoefling: New York Knicks vs. Orlando Magic
Williams: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Western Conference finals matchup
Reyes: Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs
Axson: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors
Giannotto: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Hoefling: Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors
Williams: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets
NBA Finals matchup
Reyes: New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets
Axson: New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Giannotto: New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Hoefling: New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets
Williams: New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA champion
Reyes: Denver Nuggets
Axson: Oklahoma City Thunder
Giannotto: New York Knicks
Hoefling: Denver Nuggets
Williams: Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
Reyes: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Axson: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Giannotto: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Hoefling: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Williams: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA individual awards
Our experts make their picks for 2025-26 MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Most Valuable Player
Reyes: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Axson: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Giannotto: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Hoefling: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Williams: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Defensive Player of the Year
Reyes: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Axson: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Giannotto: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Hoefling: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Williams: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Rookie of the Year
Reyes: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Axson: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Giannotto: V.J. Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
Hoefling: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Williams: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Sixth Man of the Year
Reyes: Jordan Clarkson, New York Knicks
Axson: De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers
Giannotto: Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets
Hoefling: Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Williams: Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
Most Improved Player of the Year
Reyes: Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
Axson: Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
Giannotto: Benedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
Hoefling: Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Williams: Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Clutch Player of the Year
Reyes: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Axson: Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Giannotto: Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Hoefling: Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Williams: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Coach of the Year
Reyes: Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
Axson: Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
Giannotto: Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Hoefling: Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
Williams: Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
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