It seems like only yesterday the New York Knicks hoisted the trophy and the city held a parade that spanned avenues and boroughs. But here we are, on the threshold of another season, and that means a fresh start. With that, here are my thoughts and big questions about NBA ’25-26.
LEBRON TO THE 76ers: I have decided I may be the only one on the planet who doesn’t understand the LeBron James-to-Philly thing. I’m assuming it’s to win another chip, but for a person who seems content with his legacy (at least, that’s what he tells us), is it worth it? We’re at the point in the story where it doesn’t skew any GOAT conversation one way or the other.
Cade Cunningham (photo courtesy Detroit Bad Boys)
GET CADE RELIABLE HELP? Listen, I don’t know if Jalen Duran is worth 200 million…but I know one thing for sure: Cade Cunningham is one step away from superstar status, and he needs a running mate. A reliable running mate. It could have been Detroit vs. New York if anyone other than Cunningham had produced any offensive output against Cleveland.
LAKERS MAY NOT MISS LEBRON AS MUCH AS MANY SPECULATE: The team LeBron left, the Los Angeles Lakers, had an insurance plan. They have a healthy Luka and a team that genuinely seems to like each other. I wonder if anyone remembers a team like that that went to the NBA Finals a few seasons ago…led by the same guy.
WILL WEMBY APPLY WHAT HE LEARNED FROM THE ’25 FINALS: Did Wemby learn from his mistakes? Was that Finals series a valuable teaching lesson? The only vision anyone remembers now is blue-and-orange confetti in San Antonio. If Wemby is indeed the future of the league, then the margin for error has gotten a lot thinner.
TIMBERWOLVES COULD GO EITHER WAY, UP OR DOWN: Anthony Edwards is maybe one of the most noticeable players in the NBA. His popularity comes from his bravado and confidence. He has an air of 90s nostalgia, when great players knew they were good and walked around as if everyone else should part the way. LaMelo Ball is his new running mate…which is interesting enough. But the Timberwolves took a risk because they knew they had to. Minnesota once had another great player who had to leave to win a championship. Let’s hope Edwards doesn’t have to be the next.
Photo courtesy of WKYC
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME: Cleveland is playing the same movie. But it’s not with new commentary or better sound effects. Which guarantees the outcome will be the same.
STEADY STATE OR SOMETHING MORE IN SAN FRAN? As a Steph Curry fan, I’m not sure I would have made the same choice. He should have been LeBron by now. What are the Warriors’ expectations this season, other than making the playoffs?
CAN THE KNICKS REPEAT? The New York Knicks will get their rings. And what they did last season will remain historic. It’s been a long time since a team won back-to-back championships. But ask a Knicks fan, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility to dream of another.
WIZARDS?!?! Accumulating once-great players?
PACERS PROSPECTS: Will the Pacers be good again with just one player back in the lineup?
Giannis in South Beach (photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports)
GIANNNIS GOES TO MIAMI AND DOES ANYBODY REALLY CARE? Well, some will, and more won’t.
JOKIC 2025-26: Does Jokic have another championship run in him?
OKC MORE THAN OK? Is the Oklahoma City Thunder a formidable threat?
ROUND MOUND’S FUTURE AT ESPN: Charles Barkley says he is done after this season. When Inside the NBA left TNT for ESPN, it felt different. Same guys, same awesome show, but ESPN isn’t a place people go to stay forever. No one knows if Barkley is serious, but if he leaves, the game won’t be any better.
