The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: NBA Eastern Conference Preview: The Top 5 Contenders

Date: October 17, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, James Edwards, Esfandiar "ES" Baraheni

Overview

This episode dives deep into the evolving landscape of the NBA’s Eastern Conference, focusing on the five top contenders for the 2025-26 season. The hosts discuss the impact of key injuries, rank the best players in the East, debate potential breakout athletes and teams, and share their predictions for playoff positioning and which team is poised to emerge as the Eastern Conference Champion. The tone is fun, opinionated, and occasionally irreverent, reflecting the hosts’ chemistry and breadth of NBA knowledge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

State of the Eastern Conference

• Parody and Uncertainty:
  The hosts agree: the East feels wide open but less star-laden than in recent years, partly due to significant injuries, e.g. to Jason Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.
  “Is this the year that maybe we don’t trash talk the East? ... It’s going to be competitive, at least within itself.” — Dave, 02:41

• Surprise Potential:
  Multiple teams (Orlando, Detroit, Atlanta) could outperform expectations simply because no one expects much from them.
  “We’re going to talk ourselves into Orlando, Detroit, and Atlanta. Because we don’t expect much.” — James, 03:13

Ranking the Top 5 Players in the East (Current)

Injury caveats played a significant role in determining these rankings.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

• “It’s pretty obvious Giannis is the best player in the east, at least as of today.” — Dave, 04:33

2. Jalen Brunson

• “It’s pretty safe to say he’s the number two player in the East.” — James, 05:37

• Brunson’s efficiency and ability to generate offense under heavy defensive pressure sets him apart.

• Both hosts debate if Brunson has "another level" but agree he's already elite.

• “He plays basketball like Floyd Mayweather—trying to go every minute, just wears people down.” — Dave, 07:06

3. Donovan Mitchell

• “He is what will take [the Cavaliers] to the next level... he’s the head of the snake.” — ES, 09:11
• Noted for playoff performance, scoring consistency, but in need of better playmaking, particularly in the postseason spotlight.

4. Cade Cunningham

• “This is a guy that can be the best player in any playoff series.” — Dave, 13:21
• Recognition that his ranking now is a product of last year’s leap and belief in further growth.

5. Divergent Picks:

Each host chose a different name for the fifth spot, citing team context, versatility, or upside.

• ES: Pascal Siakam (Indiana) — Appreciated for two-way play and impact metrics. “I just think Pascal should probably get love here as one of the five best players in the conference.” — ES, 19:19
• James: Karl-Anthony Towns — Offensive skillset and track record, despite defensive shortcomings. “You can make the case he’s the greatest shooting big man of all time.” — James, 21:09
• Dave: Evan Mobley — For his defense and all-around impact on the Cavs. “This is also part of why I think the Cavs are under a lot of pressure this season.” — Dave, 23:02

Joel Embiid’s health questions kept him out of consensus top-5.

Wild Card/Breakout Players

• James: Brandon Miller (Charlotte) — May “become the best player on that team.”

• Honorable mentions: Brandon Ingram (for being perennially underrated); “I love the 6’6”-6’8” smooth wings.” — James, 28:24

• ES: Franz Wagner (Orlando) — Could take a leap as a driver of offense and defense. “That’s the caliber of player that he can be.” — ES, 30:55

• Dave: Ausar Thompson (Detroit) — Impact defender, could help Detroit take another leap. “Just sign him up now for an all-NBA defensive spot.” — Dave, 33:58

• Additional Pistons Shoutouts: Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren named as young talents who could elevate Detroit’s floor.

Teams Likely to Miss the Play-In

Consensus:

• Wizards and Nets: Not competing by design.
• Charlotte Hornets: Lack of defense, injury concerns, and no reliable center. “You can be a great horse jockey, but if your horse has two broken legs, you’re not winning a lot of races.” — Dave, 41:11
• Chicago Bulls: Bereft of shot creators following the loss of Zach LaVine. “Who on this team are you afraid of to score the basketball?” — James, 42:44

Debate:

• James: Miami Heat — Uninspiring roster, counting on questionable depth; BAM Adebayo is the lone bright spot.
• ES: Boston Celtics — Predicts they’ll pivot to a soft tank as the season progresses due to injury woes and tax concerns. “A very easy way to lose games in the NBA is not having a good center.” — ES, 47:54

Top 5 Eastern Conference Teams (Regular Season)

General agreement on top 4, but order and 5th spot varied:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

• Expected regular season win-getters due to depth. But hosts emphasize need to experiment, not just pile up wins.
• “They need to figure out what are our other tricks. What else can we do come playoff time?” — Dave, 51:03

2. New York Knicks

• Tipped to be stronger in the playoffs.
• “If it clicks... I think the upside is higher [than Cleveland] because they have more versatility.” — James, 58:27

3. Orlando Magic or Atlanta Hawks

• James and ES: Favor Orlando for their defense and internal growth.
• Dave: Atlanta Hawks—predicts firepower and depth will translate to regular season wins.
• “Their defense is what puts them over the edge for me.” — ES, 52:48

4. Atlanta Hawks or Orlando Magic

• Consensus: Both should be solidly in the top 4.

5. Milwaukee Bucks / Detroit Pistons

• James: Bucks—reluctantly, because of Giannis, but warns about fragility and lack of upside beyond their star.
• Dave/ES: Prefer Detroit—their youth and depth bode well for the regular season.
• “Youth and depth are important in the regular season. This is a team that got their first taste of winning last year.” — Dave, 56:53

Notable Bubble Teams:

Pacers (potential to disrupt the top 5 if things break right), with breakouts from Andrew Nembhard or continued growth from Halliburton/Siakam.

Who Wins the East? (Finals Prediction)

All three hosts ultimately chose the New York Knicks as their pick to reach the NBA Finals, but not without caveats.

• Reasoning:

  • The Cavs are in a “prove-it” year—historically flamed out in playoffs.
  • The Knicks are healthy, have the most balanced roster, and their stars (especially Brunson) are proven playoff performers.
  • “If it clicks and they end up shooting more threes, figuring out stuff defensively, I think the upside is higher [for the Knicks] because they have a better team than Cleveland…” — James, 58:27
  • “That’s why I think the Knicks should go to the NBA Finals. And by the way, it’s part of just like banking on Jalen Brunson in the playoffs.” — ES, 62:07

• Caveats:
  Health. Both Cleveland and New York were unusually healthy last year—regression or injuries could upend the hierarchy.
  “Odds of being as healthy again—very slim…that could add another wrinkle to the already wrinkled Eastern Conference.” — James, 62:15

• Wild-Card Upside:
  Detroit’s blend of youth, defense, and star power could allow them to leap into contention if their young core coalesces, though the hosts see them as one year away.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Jalen Brunson as the new East MVP Candidate:
  “If the Knicks make the Finals, does that mean Jalen Brunson had an MVP type season to get them to that point?” — Dave, 64:13

• On the East’s Depth and Chaos:
  “You could talk me into four teams. You could talk me out of four teams.” — James, 58:27

• On Evan Mobley’s Defensive Potential:
  “Mobley came in with tremendous instincts. It’s only going to get better and scarier as his body continues to fill out.” — James, 26:18

• On Pascal Siakam’s Hall of Fame Candidacy: “Who’s had a better career: Pascal or Carmelo? …I think Pascal, because of the postseason success, if there’s a world where he gets in…” — James, 20:04

• On What Could Sink the Top Teams:
  Injuries are the “great equalizer” for teams like New York and Cleveland.

• On The Changing Center Position:
  “A very easy way to lose games in the NBA is not having a good center.” — ES, 47:54

• On The Pessimism in Milwaukee:
  “Everything went right for Detroit last year. I’m very nervous about the Bucks this year because of the chatter about Giannis.” — Dave, 55:28

Segment Timestamps (approximate)

• 02:35–04:00: Setting up the East preview, initial observations on parity, injuries
• 04:30–12:15: Top players debate (Giannis, Brunson, etc.)
• 13:20–19:50: Cade Cunningham's leap, team context, 5th-best player debate
• 23:00–26:33: Mobley's place among elite, Cleveland's pressure
• 27:19–36:45: Breakout players (Brandon Miller, Franz Wagner, Asar Thompson)
• 40:05–46:42: Teams missing play-in (Hornets, Bulls, Heat/Celtics), supporting arguments
• 50:48–57:06: Ranking the top 5-6 teams, deep dives on Pistons/Bucks, Hawks/Magic
• 58:14–63:15: Finals predictions, pressure on Cavs/Knicks, keys to postseason success

Conclusion

While the Eastern Conference lacks the high-end star power and certainty of years past, it makes up for it in parity, up-and-coming teams, and unpredictable breakouts. Consensus or near-consensus among hosts is that—unless injuries upend their season—a deeper, healthier, more versatile New York Knicks are best positioned to take the East, with Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Detroit, and Milwaukee close behind in the mix. The season will hinge on how new acquisitions, young talent, and injury returns shape the landscape, with several “prove it” years looming for both franchises and individual stars.