Before the 2025/26 NBA season got underway, we polled Hoops Rumors readers on the win totals for each of the league’s 30 teams, using over/unders from major betting sites. From the Thunder (62.5 wins) to the Jazz (18.5 wins), our readers made their picks for whether each team’s win total would land over or under the projected figures.
This is the ninth year we’ve run these polls. Our voters finished below .500 in the first three years, went above .500 for the next four, and then dropped to 13-17 a year ago. Was 2025/26 a bounce-back season? Let’s check in on the results and find out…
Eastern Conference
New York Knicks (over 53.5 wins): ❌ (53-29)- Boston Celtics (over 42.5 wins): ✅ (56-26)
- Philadelphia 76ers (under 42.5 wins): ❌ (45-37)
- Toronto Raptors (over 37.5 wins): ✅ (46-36)
- Brooklyn Nets (over 20.5 wins): ❌ (20-62)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (over 56.5 wins): ❌ (52-30)
- Detroit Pistons (over 46.5 wins): ✅ (60-22)
- Milwaukee Bucks (over 42.5 wins): ❌ (32-50)
- Indiana Pacers (over 37.5 wins): ❌ (19-63)
- Chicago Bulls (over 32.5 wins): ❌ (31-51)
- Orlando Magic (over 51.5 wins): ❌ (45-37)
- Atlanta Hawks (over 47.5 wins): ❌ (46-36)
- Miami Heat (over 37.5 wins): ✅ (43-39)
- Charlotte Hornets (over 27.5 wins): ✅ (44-38)
- Washington Wizards (under 21.5 wins): ✅ (17-65)
Eastern Conference record: 6-9
Our voters were burned for the most part here by their overconfidence in the Central Division, where we took the “over” on all five teams. Only the Pistons came through, while the Cavaliers and Bulls fell a little short of their projections and the Bucks and Pacers fell way short, enduring forgettable seasons.
Some bad luck in the Atlantic, where the Knicks and Nets each missed out on their “over” by a single win, helped solidify a losing record in the East.
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (over 62.5 wins): ✅ (64-18)- Denver Nuggets (over 53.5 wins): ✅ (54-28)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (over 49.5 wins): ❌ (49-33)
- Portland Trail Blazers (over 34.5 wins): ✅ (42-40)
- Utah Jazz (over 18.5 wins): ✅ (22-60)
- Los Angeles Clippers (under 48.5 wins): ✅ (42-40)
- Los Angeles Lakers (under 48.5 wins): ❌ (53-29)
- Golden State Warriors (over 46.5 wins): ❌ (37-45)
- Sacramento Kings (over 34.5 wins): ❌ (22-60)
- Phoenix Suns (under 31.5 wins): ❌ (45-37)
- Houston Rockets (over 52.5 wins): ❌ (52-30)
- San Antonio Spurs (over 44.5 wins): ✅ (62-20)
- Dallas Mavericks (over 41.5 wins): ❌ (26-56)
- Memphis Grizzlies (under 39.5 wins): ✅ (25-57)
- New Orleans Pelicans (under 30.5 wins): ✅ (26-56)
Western Conference record: 8-7
Unlike in the Central, our voters’ bullishness on the Northwest’s teams was rewarded. We came a single Timberwolves win away from going five-for-five by taking the over on every single team in the division.
That success in the Northwest helped our voters stay over .500 in the West despite a 1-4 mark in the Pacific, where the Lakers and Suns overachieved and the Warriors and Kings went in the other direction.
Overall record: 14-16
It was a slight improvement on last season’s results, but our voters finished just below .500 for a second consecutive season. On the plus side, we were on top of several of this season’s breakout or surprise teams, having taken the “over” on the Pistons, Celtics, Hornets, and Spurs.
Looking back at the preseason projections, along with your predictions, which team surprised or disappointed you the most? Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
SAS!
Suns surprised being good enough to be a 7th with new coach and style.
Pelicans surprised being bad, they have accumulation of talent. They weren’t tanking because they don’t own pick, they just sucked. Zion played most games, pretty sure Murphy and Jones who get labeled untouchable in trades played.