The final games of the NBA preseason were played this past week as the 2025-26 NBA season begins on Oct. 21. Over the past three weeks, fans have been able to see the new looks of different teams, including trades that were made over the summer and new free agent signings. Although preseason matches don’t count towards a team’s record, they can be a metric to predict for how teams will end up doing when the regular season starts. 

In the Western Conference, the leading teams include the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs are led by Victor Wembanyama, who recently returned from a deep-vein thrombosis injury that ended his season in February. San Antonio’s preseason was very successful, as they went undefeated through five games. With players like last season’s Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, veteran De’Aaron Fox and this year’s draft picks, Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant, they have a lot of potential this season. With many offensive and defensive threats and a young core with great team chemistry, the Spurs will surely be a competitor in the West. Down in Houston, the Rockets were also undefeated with a 4-0 record. Many are eager to see the Rockets play as two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant signed with them over the summer and recently agreed to a two-year, $90-million extension. The Rockets’ size will be a force to reckon with as Durant and centers Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams stand at 6 feet 11 inches, while power forward Jabari Smith Jr. stands at 6 feet 10 inches. Adams has an immense presence in the paint and is an elite rebounder while Sengun and Smith Jr. are strong scorers, with a combined average of 31.3 points per game. The Dallas Mavericks only lost one game against the Charlotte Hornets and with a record of 3-1, they are yet another team to watch out for. With the Mavericks taking Cooper Flagg as the number one pick in this year’s NBA draft, their future is bright with his start alongside veterans Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis.

In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic, the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks took the top three positions. The Orlando Magic have spent the last few seasons rebuilding their team and now look ready to compete, as they went undefeated with a 4-0 record. With key players like Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero, the Magic could be a team that takes others by surprise in the East. The Knicks also had a great NBA preseason, going 4-1 with their only loss being against the Washington Wizards. Although some of their best players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart are being handled with caution due to injuries, they continue to be in great form for the upcoming season with Jalen Brunson leading the way. Up in Milwaukee, the Bucks finished the preseason with a great 3-1 record, only losing to the current NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although they came up short last year, losing in the first round of playoffs, the Bucks have played well this preseason. Having just signed guard A.J. Green to a four-year, $45-million contract to play alongside former NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo, they are sure to be positive about what is yet to come. Although ESPN is putting the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Denver Nuggets and the Cleveland Cavaliers as favorites for this year, the NBA is truly unpredictable and, right now, anyone can win. As fans await the start of the NBA season, many teams have a new look and it will be yet another competitive year for the title.