ESPN’s 2025 Summer Forecast has answered some of the league’s biggest questions heading into the NBA’s 80th season and gave its predictions for the league’s biggest questions and awards, as well as the East and West standings. They will now round out the forecast with conference champion and Finals winners.
This season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will look to become the first back-to-back champions since 2018 and break the streak of seven straight different champions, but there will be plenty of challengers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, after boasting the second-best regular-season record last season, only behind the Thunder, will be battling in an injury-riddled Eastern Conference. However, the New York Knicks, after hiring Mike Brown as their new coach this offseason, also have plenty of postseason experience to push even further.
We asked our experts to rank their top choices for the East and West — and the eventual NBA champion — with a first-place vote receiving five points, a second-place vote receiving three and a third-place vote receiving one.
Here are the results:
Who will win the Eastern Conference finals?
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: 98 points
2. New York Knicks: 72 points
3. Orlando Magic: 21 points
4. Milwaukee Bucks: 7 points
5. Indiana Pacers: 3 points
The Cavs aren’t exactly starting the season with momentum, with starters Darius Garland and Max Strus out for extended periods following offseason foot surgeries. But the conference finals are a long way off, and if they are healthy, their full roster should put them as favorites.
One thing that must be considered in the current era is that the Knicks — unlike the Cavs — are currently under the second apron, which gives them significantly more flexibility to add to or adjust their roster during the season. The Knicks are somewhat settled with this current roster, but are in a position to go after a big name if one becomes available before the February deadline. That could be a factor down the line.
After years of staying on the sidelines when it comes to trades, the Magic’s uber-aggressive four-first-rounder deal to get Desmond Bane was quite a gambit. It only makes sense if this Orlando roster is good enough to compete for a conference finals berth. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t — we’ll have to see in seven months. — Brian Windhorst
Who will win the Western…
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