NBA cheat sheet: Everything you need to know for 2025-26 season

The Oklahoma City Thunder will start their title defensive Tuesday against the Houston Rockets to kick off the 2025-26 NBA season, and theScore has you covered with everything you need to get ready for the new campaign.

Looking ahead 🔮

Securing the bag: 6 NBA players vying for big free-agent deals

Miami Heat newcomer Norman Powell and Brooklyn Nets heat-check merchant Cam Thomas are among six players looking to attain massive paydays with standout play during the upcoming campaign. Read more ...

Milestones watch: 8 players who could make history in 2025-26

LeBron James and Nikola Jokic are among eight of the league's most celebrated stars looking to vault themselves up some historic lists featuring all-time greats. Read more ...

7 breakout candidates for 2025-26

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard and Detroit Pistons defensive savant Ausar Thompson are two of seven players primed for breakout campaigns in 2025-26. Here's why. Read more ...

Predicting the next NBA champion and major award winners

Will the Thunder repeat as champs? Is Victor Wembanyama a lock for DPOY? Who will come out of the depleted East? Our editors make their best guesses at answering these questions and many more. Read more ...

Featured analysis ✍️

Offseason grades: Eastern Conference

An offseason that included the draft and a free-agent frenzy saw several teams in the East upgrade in hopes of capitalizing on key absences and departures from conference powers Boston and Indiana. Read more ...

Offseason grades: Western Conference

An arms race out West saw former champs, established squads, and emerging groups make additions with an eye on unseating the Thunder come playoff time. Read more ...

NBA watchability rankings: The bottom 15

Not all of the league's 30 teams are easy on the eyes. Whether the result of a sluggish pace of play, inefficiencies at both ends, or the pitfalls and perils of rebuilding rosters, these are the NBA's least watchable teams. Read more ...

NBA watchability rankings: The top 15

Unlike the first installment, Part 2 celebrates the league's most watchable teams that will have fans circling particular matchups on the calendar months in advance. Did your favorite team make the top 15? Read more ...

12 key storylines to follow during season

Giannis’ future in Milwaukee, Kawhi’s tree-planting side gig, a last dance for the elderly Warriors, and the approaching Wembymania are among 12 of the biggest stories to watch in the NBA this season. Read more ...

Preseason overreactions: How real are these 7 NBA trends?

Alperun Sengun's transformation into Baby Jokic has helped fill the playmaking void left by Fred VanVleet. The Utah Jazz have the worst defense ever. How real are these preseason developments? Read more ...

Power Rankings: Thunder set sights on title defense

On the eve of the 2025-26 campaign, we're determining the league's pecking order following another busy offseason highlighted by major moves and key additions. Are the Thunder still the team to beat? Read more ...

Betting 💵

Win total bets: 11 teams to target before season tips off

Win totals are a valuable tool for evaluating expectations. The Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs are among 11 teams whose over-under win totals we've assessed here. Read more ...

Preseason Rookie of the Year rankings

Cooper Flagg leads a capable group of first-year players looking to establish themselves at the next level. Is the Dallas Mavericks phenom a lock for Rookie of the Year, or could there be stiff competition elsewhere? Read more ...

NBA championship bets: Finals, conference title winners

Even in this parity-driven era of the NBA, the eventual champion is predictable. Nine of the last 10 champions entered the season with top-five odds to win the title. Will this trend continue? Read more ...

Preseason Most Valuable Player rankings

Defending winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and three-time honoree Nikola Jokic are the favorites to take home the NBA's most coveted individual award. How do the other marquee stars stack up? Read more ...