NBA Team Grades Revealed for 2025-26 Regular Season

On April 15, 2026, the NBA postseason officially began. Portland secured the West’s 7-seed. Charlotte won an overtime thriller to avoid elimination in the East.

Methodology

Filmogaz.com assessed every roster based on preseason expectations. The grading compared results to predicted outcomes for the 2025-26 regular season.

This piece presents NBA team grades across the league. It highlights records, forecasts, and pivotal events from the year.

A Grades

• Boston Celtics — 56-26. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 43-39.

  The roster was reshaped after Jayson Tatum’s torn right Achilles. Boston traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and lost Al Horford. Coach Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown delivered standout seasons. Tatum returned to form over a 16-game run into the playoffs.

• Charlotte Hornets — 44-38. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 26-56.

  Charlotte outperformed expectations. The team went 18-9 after the All-Star break. The season offered a genuine breakout for the franchise.

• Detroit Pistons — 60-22. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 47-35.

  Cade Cunningham emerged as an MVP candidate. Jalen Duren developed into a bona fide star. The Pistons reclaimed contender status in the East.

• Phoenix Suns — 45-37. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 30-52.

  Jordan Ott proved to be an excellent young hire. The Suns flirted with a top-six West seed. They finished seventh and will play in the play-in.

• San Antonio Spurs — 62-20. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 44-38.

  Victor Wembanyama returned healthy. The Spurs won 62 games. They nearly challenged the Thunder for the league’s best record.

• Los Angeles Lakers — 53-29. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 50-32.

  The Lakers achieved a top-four West seed. Devastating injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves struck before the playoffs. LeBron James embraced a third-star role all season.

• Oklahoma City Thunder — 64-18. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 64-18.

  The defending champions matched their forecast. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remained steady. The Thunder seek to avoid the repeat-champion drought.

B Grades

• Portland Trail Blazers — 42-40. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 39-43.

  The season began amid turmoil with coach Chauncey Billups facing federal gambling charges. The franchise completed a sale to Tom Dundon. Tiago Splitter and Deni Avdija helped Portland clinch the 7-seed, marking the first playoff appearance in five years.

• Toronto Raptors — 46-36. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 33-49.

  Brandon Ingram played 77 games. Scottie Barnes rose to All-NBA-level performance. Toronto returned to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

• Atlanta Hawks — 46-36. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 47-35.

  Trae Young was sidelined with a knee injury and played only 10 games. He was traded to the Wizards early in the season. Jalen Johnson’s first All-Star campaign keyed a late surge to sixth place.

• Denver Nuggets — 54-28. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 53-29.

  Denver entered the playoffs relatively healthy. The team tried to avoid the Timberwolves in the first round. The Nuggets remain a West title contender.

• Houston Rockets — 52-30. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 54-28.

  Fred VanVleet missed the season with a torn ACL. Young talents Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard had uneven stretches. The Rockets matched last season’s 52 wins and are expected to win a playoff series.

• Philadelphia 76ers — 45-37. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 40-42.

  An emergency appendectomy for Joel Embiid could affect the postseason. Rookie VJ Edgecombe impressed. Tyrese Maxey looks poised for an All-NBA breakthrough.

C Grades

• Brooklyn Nets — 20-62. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 23-59.

  The Nets finished near the bottom as expected. Michael Porter Jr. produced a career season after joining from Denver. The overall objective of securing a top pick was achieved.

• Cleveland Cavaliers — 52-30. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 59-23.

  Cleveland began as co-favorites in the East. The team broke up its “Core Four” during the year. James Harden replaced Darius Garland in a major trade.

• Minnesota Timberwolves — 49-33. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 51-31.

  The Wolves nearly slipped into the play-in. They will face the Nuggets in the first round. Minnesota aims for a deep postseason run.

• New York Knicks — 53-29. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 54-28.

  The Knicks entered with high expectations after moving on from Tom Thibodeau. This regular season felt like a mild underachievement. Playoff performance will define the campaign.

• Utah Jazz — 22-60. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 19-63.

  Utah kept its first-round pick as planned. The team traded for Jaren Jackson Jr. and received a fine for tanking. The Jazz remain positioned for draft lottery outcomes.

• Washington Wizards — 17-65. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 20-62.

  Washington secured the worst record. The franchise made two blockbuster moves, acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis. A high lottery pick is now part of next season’s outlook.

• Indiana Pacers — 19-63. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 39-43.

  Tyrese Haliburton missed the season with an Achilles tear. Indiana added All-Defense center Ivica Zubac. The club should emerge with a valuable draft position.

• Miami Heat — 43-39. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 39-43.

  Miami matched projections but in a convoluted way. The Heat finished in the play-in for the fourth straight season. Bam Adebayo stated his frustration with repeated play-in appearances.

D Grades

• Golden State Warriors — 37-45. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 48-34.

  The Warriors suffered season-ending injuries, including one to Moses Moody. Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porzingis endured lengthy absences. Early blown leads and injuries derailed expectations.

• Los Angeles Clippers — 42-40. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 50-32.

  The Clippers began 6-21. The team traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac for Darius Garland and a potential pick. The season was a disappointment relative to expectations.

• Chicago Bulls — 31-51. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 36-46.

  The Bulls set a new direction for the front office. The franchise is searching to replace Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley. The record left play-in hopes out of reach.

• Dallas Mavericks — 26-56. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 44-38.

  The Mavericks missed expectations. Anthony Davis played 29 games before being traded. The franchise must search for a new head of basketball operations.

• Memphis Grizzlies — 25-57. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 42-40.

  Memphis engaged in late-season tanking and rose in the lottery. Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to Utah. Ja Morant had another quiet campaign, while injuries plagued key players.

• Orlando Magic — 45-37. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 50-32.

  Orlando traded four first-round picks to Memphis for Desmond Bane. The move aimed to elevate the team into contender status. The Magic remained a below-average offensive group.

• Milwaukee Bucks — 32-50. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 46-36.

  Milwaukee endured an injury-plagued season that led to coach Doc Rivers stepping down. The Giannis Antetokounmpo saga continued. Massive organizational changes are expected.

• New Orleans Pelicans — 26-56. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 26-56.

  The Pelicans’s draft-night trade with Atlanta drew criticism. Their final pick would have been higher without leaguewide tanking. The season largely met pre-season lows.

• Sacramento Kings — 22-60. Filmogaz.com Forecast: 37-45.

  The Kings faced a tanking investigation and were cleared. The franchise argued a coaching decision explained the results. Sacramento finished among the league’s weakest teams.

Final notes

The 2025-26 regular season delivered surprises, trades, and wrenching injuries. These NBA team grades reflect how teams met, exceeded, or fell short of expectations.

Filmogaz.com will track how these teams perform in the playoffs and next offseason. The league’s landscape feels poised for major change.