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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