Over the past five years, four different teams have won the NBA Eastern Conference Championship: Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. The Celtics are the only team to win the East twice during that span (2022 and 2024). In 2024, Boston also claimed the NBA Championship, the first Eastern Conference team to do so since the Bucks in 2021. The Pacers won the Eastern Conference in 2024, but fell short in the Finals, losing a seven-game series to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
If the early betting odds are any indication, none of the aforementioned clubs will be in the running to win the 2025-26 NBA Eastern Conference Championship. The teams who are the early betting favorites are the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and the Orlando Magic.
| To Win 2025-26 NBA Eastern Conference |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +275 | +250 | +265 |
| New York Knicks | +325 | +300 | +275 |
| Orlando Magic | +450 | +500 | +600 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +750 | +750 | +900 |
| Detroit Pistons | +1200 | +1200 | +1400 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1200 | +1100 | +1000 |
| Boston Celtics | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Indiana Pacers | +1800 | +2000 | +2800 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +2000 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Miami Heat | +5000 | +4500 | +4000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +7000 | +5500 | +6000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +25000 | +30000 | +50000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +25000 | +25000 | +25000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 |
| Washington Wizards | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 |
The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers won the Eastern Conference was in 2018. That year marked the team’s fourth consecutive Eastern Conference championship. During the run between 2015 and 2018, Cleveland faced the Golden State Warriors four times in the finals, winning once in 2016. LeBron James took home the Finals MVP that year.
The Cavaliers had the best record in the East last year at 64-18 for a .780 winning percentage. The team advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they were defeated by Indiana in five games.
Cleveland is bringing back most of the roster from last season. If the club can remain healthy, the East is theirs to lose.
The New York Knicks finished last year with the third-best record in the East (51-31). The club then made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Pacers in six games. Most teams would have been happy with that outcome, but New York management was not. After the season, the Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau after five seasons. With the 2025-26 NBA season approaching, the club named recent Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown as their bench boss.
In addition to a new head coach, the Knicks added Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson in free agency. One thing to watch with the Knicks is the contract status of Mikal Bridges. There has been talk that Bridges could be traded.
The Orlando Magic finished last year with a 41-41 record. The team then lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner suffered torn obliques. Banchero, who averaged 25.9 points per game, was limited to 46 outings, while Wagner, who averaged 24.2 PPG, played 60 games. The duo of Banchero and Wagner were the top two scorers in points per game for the Magic.
The team reacted to its .500 record by trading five first-round picks for Desmond Bane. The club also added Tyus Jones at point guard. Those moves indicate that Magic management expects an improved record and a deep playoff run in 2025-26.
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