Evaluations for Each of the 30 NBA Teams Following the 2025-26 Regular Season
Tuesday night marked the beginning of the NBA playoffs, with the Portland Trail Blazers clinching the 7-seed in the Western Conference and the Charlotte Hornets triumphing in an overtime thriller to stave off elimination in the race for the East’s final playoff position.
As various narratives unfold over the two-month journey to determine the 2026 champion, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the recently concluded 82-game regular season for each franchise.
The 2025-26 season has been eventful, characterized by outstanding performances, surprising trades, and unexpected developments throughout the league standings. (Additionally, there has been considerable discussion regarding tanking and other contentious topics.)
In this report, we are assigning regular season grades to all 30 teams — a tribute to ESPN NBA analytics and grading expert Kevin Pelton — based on a straightforward criterion: Did a team meet, surpass, or fall short of its preseason expectations?
To earn one of the seven ‘A’ grades awarded, teams must have significantly exceeded expectations. Below is the breakdown of where all 30 teams stand. (Teams are listed in alphabetical order within each grade).
Jump to a grade range:
A’s | B’s | C’s | D’s | F’s
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS
‘A’ grades
Boston Celtics: A
2025-26 record: 56-26
ESPN Forecast: 43-39
Following a roster overhaul due to Jayson Tatum’s torn right Achilles — with Boston trading Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and losing Al Horford to free agency — a journey to the 2-seed seemed unlikely. However, thanks to a Coach of the Year-worthy performance by Joe Mazzulla and a career-defining season from Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA champions are back in contention. With Tatum regaining form during his 16-game lead-up to the playoffs, the Celtics have returned as the conference favorites.
Charlotte Hornets: A
2025-26 record: 44-38
ESPN Forecast: 26-56
There was a widespread belief — likely shared in Charlotte — that the 2025-26 season would primarily serve as a developmental year for the team’s young players as they prepared to secure another high lottery pick in a strong 2026 draft class. Instead, Charlotte posted an impressive 18-9 record after the All-Star break, advancing to the play-in tournament with a chance to reach its first playoff series in a decade. Regardless of the outcome in Friday’s game, the season has been a resounding success in Buzz City.
Detroit Pistons: A
2025-26 record: 60-22
ESPN Forecast: 47-35
Transitioning from 14 wins in 2023-24 to 44 wins last season was an impressive achievement. Achieving this season’s remarkable 60 victories, a feat accomplished only twice in the franchise’s storied history, is on another level. Cade Cunningham emerged as an MVP candidate, Jalen Duren blossomed into a star, and the Pistons reestablished themselves as a formidable, physical contender in the East.
Phoenix Suns: A
2025-26 record: 45-37
ESPN Forecast: 30-52
The Suns were anticipated to be a team more likely to finish at the bottom of the league rather than make the playoffs. Yet, they contended for a top-six seed in the West throughout the season, ultimately finishing seventh, and now must secure a win on Friday to qualify for the playoffs. Phoenix brought in a promising young coach in Jordan Ott, who has fostered a commendable work ethic and competitive culture in his inaugural season.
San Antonio Spurs: A
2025-26 record: 62-20
ESPN Forecast: 44-38
At the start of the season, merely reaching the playoffs was seen as an attainable goal for San Antonio, especially after their 34-win campaign, which saw Victor Wembanyama miss the second half due to a blood clot issue. However, Wemby not only remained healthy but also guided the Spurs to 62 wins while nearly catching the defending champion Thunder for the league’s best record.
Los Angeles Lakers: A-
2025-26 record: 53-29
ESPN Forecast: 50-32
While the current situation in Lakerland may not feel ideal, given significant injuries to key players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves just prior to the playoffs, it is difficult to view this season as anything but a success overall. The Lakers secured a top-four seed in the West, Doncic had an MVP-caliber season, and LeBron James adapted to a role as a third star, leading the franchise to envision a deep playoff run before injuries struck.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A-
2025-26 record: 64-18
ESPN Forecast: 64-18
It is noteworthy that winning 64 games is viewed as fulfilling expectations for the defending champions, which is a testament to their consistency. Achieving this despite numerous injuries throughout the season highlights the depth of talent on the roster, along with the reliability of potential two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City now aims to accomplish another anticipated goal: to end the NBA’s record streak of seven seasons without a repeat champion.
‘B’ grades
Portland Trail Blazers: B+
2025-26 record: 42-40
ESPN Forecast: 39-43
The regular season commenced with coach Chauncey Billups facing charges in a federal gambling investigation and concluded with the team completing a sale to new owner Tom Dundon. Despite these challenges, Portland finishing the regular season in the upper half of the play-in tournament is a notable achievement, particularly for interim coach Tiago Splitter and star forward Deni Avdija. It was a successful season for the improving Blazers, culminating in Avdija leading them to the 7-seed and the franchise’s first playoff appearance in five years.
Toronto Raptors: B+
2025-26 record: 46-36
ESPN Forecast: 33-49
The Raptors were challenging to evaluate entering this season, especially since Brandon Ingram (ankle) had yet to make his Toronto debut after joining the team prior to last year’s trade deadline. However, he played 77 games — the most since his rookie season in 2016-17. Ingram’s resurgence and Scottie Barnes’ All-NBA-caliber improvement have propelled the Raptors into the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Atlanta Hawks: B
2025-26 record: 46-36
ESPN Forecast: 47-35
Atlanta began the season with hopes of securing a top-four seed, centered around longtime franchise star Trae Young. However, Young was sidelined in October due to a knee injury, played only 10 games for the Hawks, and was traded to the Wizards in the season’s first deal. Despite struggling in the lower tier of the East play-in picture through the All-Star break, a strong finish led by first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson propelled the franchise to a sixth-place finish.
Denver Nuggets: B
2025-26 record: 54-28
ESPN Forecast: 53-29
This season has been eventful in Denver, concluding in a peculiar manner as the Nuggets attempted to avoid facing the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, ultimately still ending up against a team they have met in the playoffs twice in the last three seasons. Nevertheless, Denver will enter the playoffs in relatively good health and as one of three teams expected to contend for a second championship in four seasons, aligning with their preseason expectations.
Houston Rockets: B
2025-26 record: 52-30
ESPN Forecast: 54-28
This season also concluded at or above expectations, albeit through a more complicated route than anticipated. With starting point guard Fred VanVleet sidelined due to a torn ACL, Houston’s offense struggled, and the team’s young players — particularly Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard — experienced inconsistencies. Nevertheless, Houston is poised to win a playoff series for the first time since 2020, matching last season’s total of 52 wins.
Philadelphia 76ers: B-
2025-26 record: 45-37
ESPN Forecast: 40-42
Until recently, this season would have been regarded as a significant success following last year’s injury-plagued 24-58 campaign. However, the news of Joel Embiid’s emergency appendectomy could jeopardize the 76ers’ resurgence before the playoffs even commence. Despite the Sixers striving for a top-six seed, rookie VJ Edgecombe excelled, and Tyrese Maxey positioned himself for a likely All-NBA breakthrough, the 2025-26 season may conclude like many recent seasons in Philadelphia — with disappointing injury news regarding Embiid.
‘C’ grades
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Brooklyn Nets: C
2025-26 record: 20-62
ESPN Forecast: 23-59
While the process may not have been enjoyable, Brooklyn ultimately arrived at its expected destination: the bottom three in the NBA standings, securing the highest possible odds for a top-four pick in June’s draft. Michael Porter Jr. having a career season after joining the team (along with a future first-round pick) in an offseason trade with Denver was a welcome surprise, but the Nets’ overall objective was achieved.
Cleveland Cavaliers: C
2025-26 record: 52-30
ESPN Forecast: 59-23
Cleveland began this season as co-favorites to emerge from the East, but a tumultuous season led to the Cavaliers dismantling their “Core Four” and finishing in fourth place. With former MVP James Harden taking Darius Garland’s place in the backcourt in one of the most significant trades of the season, Cleveland is relying on a deep playoff run to alter this evaluation, but the regular season has been unsatisfactory.
Minnesota Timberwolves: C
2025-26 record: 49-33
ESPN Forecast: 51-31
The Timberwolves have benefited from the tanking strategies at the top of the Western Conference in recent days, as they will face the Nuggets, a team they have historically succeeded against in the playoffs, followed by an inexperienced Spurs squad as they aim for a third consecutive Western Conference finals appearance. However, it has been a rollercoaster season, and instead of contending for a top-four position in the West, they nearly found themselves in the play-in tournament.
New York Knicks: C
2025-26 record: 53-29
ESPN Forecast: 54-28
Similar to the Cavaliers, the Knicks entered the season with high expectations after parting ways with coach Tom Thibodeau following last season’s conference finals loss. While the narrative of this season will ultimately be shaped by the playoffs, it can currently be viewed as a mild disappointment. In Brown’s first season, the Knicks appear to be a team that has not fully realized its potential as they pursue their preseason goal of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time this century.
Utah Jazz: C
2025-26 record: 22-60
ESPN Forecast: 19-63
The Jazz achieved their preseason objective: retaining their first-round pick and making one final attempt at the top of the draft. Utah accomplished this while acquiring former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. and facing fines for tanking along the way, resulting in a more intriguing season than many anticipated. The only remaining question is whether this will finally be the year the team experiences some lottery luck.
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