Opening day of the 2025–26 NBA Season is getting nearer and nearer, and news about the league are coming at a frenzy. We rounded up a few that you may have missed:
NBA GMs Show Love to Thunder, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama
The Oklahoma City Thunder were picked by NBA GMs as overwhelming favorites to repeat. The annual anonymous poll saw 80% of GMs choose the Thunder as this season’s champions, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets getting 7% each.
Meanwhile, 67% of GMs think Nikola Jokic will win his fourth MVP in the 2025–26 NBA Season, while 10% believe the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic will get his first. Others getting a vote were OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama also got the most votes as the league’s best defensive player (80%), with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley a distant second (7%).
Grizz’s Ja Morant, Pacers’ TJ McConnell Facing Time Off Due to Injuries
The season hasn’t even started yet and some teams are already dealing with the injury bug. Among the notable names dealing with injuries at the moment are Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and TJ McConnell of the Indiana Pacers. Morant sprained his ankle in practice early this week, while McConnell tweaked his hamstring in the Pacers’ preseason game versus the Wolves on Wednesday. In the same game, Pacers forward Delon Wright suffered a likely concussion after colliding heads with a Wolves player and dropping to the floor head-first.
NBA Returns to China After Six Years
For the first time in six years, the NBA will hold games in China by way of Macau, with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns scheduled to play each other twice over the weekend. The league hasn’t played in either China or its territories since 2019, when the Mainland “froze out” the NBA over a tweet by then Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey that read, “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.” Broadcasts of NBA games to China have returned gradually, but the games in Macau will be a first time after six long years.
Lakers Haven’t Had Complete Practice, Says De’Andre Ayton
From the looks of it, the Los Angeles Lakers have not had a complete practice yet after newly acquired center De’Andre Ayton told media that he hasn’t been able to work with Lakers main men Luka Doncic and LeBron James yet. It makes sense, though, as the Purple and Gold allowed Doncic some rest after playing in for Slovenia in EuroBasket, while James has been dealing with an injury.
Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Hints at End-of-Season Return
After suffering an Achilles tear in May, it appeared that the Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum will be missing the entire 2025–26 NBA Season. But the one-time champion is so far ahead of his recovery and was recently seen already dunking a basketball. What’s more, reports indicate he has told Celtics management that he wants to return this season, possibly after the All-Star break or a bit later.
