Last season of the NBA was filled with a lot of ups and downs. As the 2025-26 NBA season is about to start in just a month’s time, it’s a great time to review the 24-25 NBA season
We had broken records, funny moments, crazy highlights, and of course, drama. First let’s talk about basketball. Over the course of the 82-game season we had some young stars rise and lots of surprises to the NBA landscape. Cade Cunningham is one to really shine on: the Detroit Pistons star guard averaged career highs across the board, led the Pistons to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 with a 44-38 record, ranking 6th in the Eastern Conference.
Another surprise was the rise of Dyson Daniels. After years of looking like a bust on the New Orleans Pelicans, he rose to prominence with personal career highs like leading the league in steals with 3.0 steals per game, the most since Gary Payton in the 90s. Other surprises include the rise of the Houston Rockets, who won 52 games this year, going second in the Western Conference, led by Amen Thompson, Alphren Segun and more.
We also can’t talk about surprises without discussing the blockbuster trade halfway through the season. On a late night on February 1st, 2025, former Dallas Maverick franchise player Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for a return package of Anthony Davis and Max Christie. It was so insane that people originally thought the trade was fake, shocking everyone in the sports world. Maverick fans were unhappy, to say the least; their reaction to the trade initiated boycotts and protests.
This led to a drop in season ticket holders, a loss in Instagram followers, and negative fan sentiment directed at the team’s ownership (the Adelson family) and General Manager Nico Harrison. Protests have included chanting for Harrison’s firing, creating anti-Nico billboards, and even attempting to show support for Dončić by buying his new team’s jerseys.
Now we have to talk about another huge storyline that has been lingering for years but really came to light this year. NBA media has been very controversial over the past few years for inconsistent journalism, need for hot takes, and have even been criticized for a lack of basketball knowledge. The whole Lebron vs Stephen A Smith back and forth was a big part of this issue.
In February, the media asked Anthony Edwards about his chance of being the face of the NBA. He quickly shut them down and explained to the press, “I’m capable of being that guy, but I don’t want to be that guy.” A reporter then told James about this and asked him his thoughts on Edwards stance, he sided with him saying “I mean, Channing Frye said it the other day … Why do you want to be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s— on everybody?’” James then further added on with, “It’s just weird. It’s weird energy from the people that — I don’t know, but Channing, he said it perfectly. Couldn’t say it any better.”
As James took some shots at the media, Stephen A was not having it. The next day on ESPN sports show First Take, Smith was not holding back, saying “It was straight BS”. Their problems don’t stem from this, though. Back when James’s son, Bronny James (Lebron James jr) was drafted at the 55th overall pick, he was hit with major criticism and hate with people claiming nepotism because his last name is James, crazy because white owners have been doing nepotism since the beginning of time with no hate, but I digress.
It even got personal, as Smith said the following “Lebron I am begging you as a father..” This was very controversial because Smith was questioning James’ parenting skills. So on March 26, during a timeout of a laker game, James confronted Smith courtside telling him to keep Bronny’s name out of his mouth. This situation continued to escalate even further with interview on interview, but that could be its own article for the future
Some other basketball drama is Jimmy Butler having massive turmoil with the Miami Heat, after 4 years, and 2 NBA finals appearances, Butler believed the team was not good enough and said quote “I want to get my joy back.” He was also suspended for a few games due to him openly criticizing the Miami Organization. On February 5th, 2025, Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors.
We also had some disappointments this season. The Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, failed to make the playoffs this year, due to dysfunction. Another team of dysfunction is the Philadelphia 76ers, due to injuries to Joel Embiid missing most of the season, Tyrese Maxey missed time, and so did their new pickup Paul George. Heck, even their breakout rookie star Jared McCain tore his ACL in the beginning of the season. The Memphis Grizzlies experienced a drastic decline after reaching the second seed in the Western Conference, ultimately firing their coach mid-season. The Milwaukee Bucks had a disappointing campaign marked by injuries to key players like Damian Lillard and struggle to reach championship aspirations, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo still having a great MVP-level season.
End-of-season awards include, NBA MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; Defensive player of the year: Evan Mobley; Most Improved Player: Dyson Daniels; Clutch Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson; Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson; Rookie of the Year: Stephon Castle; and sixth man of the year: Payton Pritchard.
The 2025 playoffs marked the continuation of an unprecedented parity era — seven different champions in seven years. Gone are the days of dynasties like the golden state warriors of the 2010s dominating. Instead, young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton are seizing the torch from veterans like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The playoffs weren’t without their shocks. The Golden State Warriors, written off as aged stars, with some Curry magic, they stunned the Houston Rockets in a seven-game first-round upset. Anthony Edwards showed that a backcourt defense of Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves is not ideal, leading to him taking the Minnesota Timberwolves to a gentleman sweep of the Lakers The Miami Heat became the first-ever 10-seed to qualify via the play-in, though they were quickly swept by Cleveland.
Meanwhile the New York Knicks, for the first time since 2000, made the Eastern conference finals beating the reigning champion Boston Celtics, unfortunately for Celtics fans, NBA superstar Jayson Tatum went down with an achilleas tear, putting him out for next season and risking the remainder of his career. In the wild wild west, the Nuggets nearly ended Oklahoma City’s season in the second round, pushing the Thunder to the brink in a classic series and the Timberwolves took out the Stephen Curry-less Warriors due to Curry going down in game 1 of that series.
Indiana was the shock of the postseason. Led by Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers became the darlings of the East, storming through the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Knicks. Along the way, they set an NBA record with five comebacks from 15 points down, proving their resilience and flair for the dramatic. All roads led to the NBA finals, while the Pacers were showing off their “Devil’s Magic”, the Oklahoma city Thunder made quick work of the Timberwolves in 5. The 2025 NBA Finals had everything fans dream of — star power, clutch moments, dramatic swings. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander solidified himself as one of the league’s true superstars. His steady hand and ability to create offense in crunch time earned him Finals MVP honors and comparisons to past greats. Indiana’s run to the Finals was defined by resilience, but their hopes ended with Haliburton’s Achilles tear. His absence in Game 7 left the Pacers without their floor general, and the Thunder capitalized. OKC won 4-3 and are now the reigning champions going into next season.
Now for expectations, things have shaken up quite a bit, Kevin Durant got traded to the Houston Rockets, upcoming hyped up Rookie Cooper Flagg got drafted 1st overall to the Dallas Mavericks in an absolute shock of a draft lottery.
The Lakers are extending Coach JJ Reddick to maximize the Lebron and Luka years, and the Los Angeles Clippers are going through an insane Salary cap scandal which could cost the team millions of dollars and their future going forward. With OKC’s youth-driven dominance as they signed back their big 3 of Shai, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
A hungry pack of challengers, aging superstars making their final pushes, and off-court controversies simmering, the 2025–26 NBA season promises intrigue at every turn. Expect the Thunder to set the early pace, but don’t be surprised if a new contender rises from the chaos. Injuries, depth, and management decisions will shape the season as much as star power. One thing’s certain: the NBA has rarely felt more unpredictable— or more compelling.
