I remember sitting through last season’s playoffs thinking how predictable the league had become—until the offseason chaos hit. Watching the trade deals, free agency moves, and surprise draft picks unfold felt a bit like that moment in a horror film where everything you thought was solid starts to crumble. It reminds me of a line from a review I once read about a horror game: “I found that to be such a perplexing choice, given how much else Hedberg has done well in the horror world and even does well here. Whenever the combat bored me or the puzzles left me totally stumped, I persevered, in part, because I wanted to see how the story shook out.” That’s exactly how I feel about the 2025 NBA championship race right now. We’ve seen major shakeups—some brilliant, some baffling—and even when certain team moves left me scratching my head, I can’t look away. I’m too invested in seeing how this all plays out.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Denver Nuggets. They’ve kept their core largely intact, and why wouldn’t they? Nikola Jokić is still the best center in the league, a player who makes everyone around him better in ways that stats can’t fully capture. Last season, they finished with around 57 wins, and I’d bet they’ll hover near that mark again. But here’s the thing—staying the same while others evolve can be a risk. I’ve always believed that in sports, stagnation is the first step toward decline. The Western Conference is a bloodbath, and while Denver’s continuity is an advantage, it might not be enough if other teams like Phoenix or the Lakers have truly upgraded their rosters in meaningful ways.
Then there’s the Eastern Conference, where the Boston Celtics made what I consider one of the most intriguing—and risky—moves of the summer. Adding a veteran scorer who can create his own shot sounds great on paper, but chemistry isn’t built in press conferences. I’ve followed this team for years, and while I admire their front office’s boldness, I worry they’re prioritizing talent over fit. Remember when they stacked the deck a few seasons back and fell short in the Conference Finals? It feels like déjà vu. On the other hand, Milwaukee’s quiet retooling around Giannis Antetokounmpo could pay off big time. They didn’t make headlines, but they filled gaps—adding a reliable three-point shooter who hit 41% from deep last season and a defensive specialist off the bench. Sometimes, it’s the subtle moves that win championships.
Out West, the Golden State Warriors are the wildcard. Steph Curry is still Steph Curry—a generational talent who can single-handedly swing a series. But let’s be real: their bench depth was exposed last year, and while they’ve brought in some young legs, I’m not convinced they’ve done enough. I’ve always had a soft spot for this team—who doesn’t love a good underdog story, even if they’ve been dominant for years?—but Father Time is undefeated. Klay Thompson isn’t the same defender he once was, and Draymond Green’s intensity can only carry them so far. If their new acquisitions don’t pan out, I can see them struggling to make it past the second round.
And then there are the dark horses. The Memphis Grizzlies, for example, with Ja Morant back in the lineup—assuming he stays healthy and out of trouble—could surprise everyone. I love watching this team play; they’ve got that youthful energy that reminds me of the OKC Thunder back in the day. But youth alone doesn’t win titles. They’ll need to mature fast, especially on defense, where they ranked in the bottom half of the league last season. Similarly, the LA Clippers, if Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can stay healthy (a big if, I know), have the talent to upset anyone. But I’ve been burned before betting on their health, so I’m cautiously optimistic at best.
What fascinates me most, though, is how these roster changes mirror that idea of perseverance I mentioned earlier. Just like in that horror game review, where the reviewer pushed through boring combat and frustrating puzzles to see how the story unfolded, I think we’re all sticking with this NBA season—even the messy parts—because the narrative is just too compelling. We want to see if superteams can gel, if underdogs can rise, and if legacy players have one more run left in them. Personally, I’m leaning toward the Nuggets coming out of the West again—they’ve got the chemistry and the best player on the planet. But in the East, I’ll go out on a limb and say the Milwaukee Bucks have a real shot if their role players step up. They’ve flown under the radar, and sometimes that’s the best place to be.
In the end, predicting the outright NBA champion for 2025 feels like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing. We have data, we have trends, but basketball isn’t played on spreadsheets. It’s played on the court, with egos, injuries, and moments of brilliance that no one sees coming. I’ll be watching every twist and turn, not because I’m sure of the outcome, but because I’m not. And honestly, that’s what makes it all worth it.