NBA Executives Pick Front-Runners to Advance to 2025 NBA Finals in Anonymous Poll

Here's who basketball's power brokers think will lift the trophy in '25.

The Celtics' Jayson Tatum drives on the Thunder's Aaron Wiggins in April 2024. / Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

After a long offseason, basketball is almost back. Two weeks separate basketball fans around the world from the start of the NBA regular season, which will take place Oct. 22.

Another surefire sign of basketball season: NBA general managers giving anonymous opinions. On Tuesday, the NBA published its annual survey of the league's top executives—asking who they believed would win the championship, the MVP award, and various other hardware in 2025.

When asked to pick a championship favorite, the general managers came up with a resounding consensus answer. Eight-three percent chose the Boston Celtics, who won their second title of this century in 2024.

Two other squads received votes: the Oklahoma City Thunder with 13% and the Dallas Mavericks with 3%.

The Celtics were also picked to win the Eastern Conference in a poll asking the GMs to select their top four teams in each conference. They were followed by the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Orlando Magic and the Indiana Pacers.

In the Western Conference, the Thunder were picked to capture the crown—followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors.

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