Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets — these are the teams everyone expects to start their 2025-26 NBA campaigns strong as they aim to compete for the title once again. However, these aren’t the only teams to keep an eye on as the new season kicks off. In this article, we look at four underrated teams that could surprise everyone and make some early noise.
Orlando Magic
The Magic started the last season strong. Then, unfortunately, injuries started to take their toll, and they ended the season with a first-round Playoff exit. Despite all this, their defense was the second-best in the league, and there was definitely something to build on. That’s exactly what the Magic did in the offseason by loading up on offense to go with their lockdown defense. They traded for Desmond Bane and added more playmaking with Tyus Jones. Most importantly, they added more offense without trading in their defense. Everything suggests they’re poised for another strong campaign, with bookmakers having them in their top 10 title favorites. Some fans are already heading to the best Bitcoin betting sites to back the Magic’s title hopes for this season.
Detroit Pistons
With a huge 30-win lead last year, the Pistons finally moved from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to the Playoffs. They’re still an extremely young team, which would usually create some doubt, but with the East weakened, everything’s ready for them to shock the league again this year. Losing Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasily may hurt the team, but Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson look like they could fit into the team easily and help the team start the new campaign strong. While it might be a reach to think the Pistons could be a shock contender this year, they could improve on last year and pick up some major wins along the way. On top of that they have easier matchups against the Jazz and the Wizards in the first few weeks of the season.
Los Angeles Clippers
If they had their current roster a few seasons ago, the Clippers would be a legitimate title contender. While they could still make a run for the Championships, they feel more like a heist movie with veterans teaming up for one last job. The Clippers made the Playoffs last year and should be able to do the same again this season. They brought back Chris Paul and signed Bradley Beal, who should play a big role on the team. Other major signings include veteran Brook Lopez, who’ll back up Ivica Zubac, and John Collins, who brings much-needed athleticism. This means the Clippers have one of the deepest rosters in the league. So, even if they face some injuries, it shouldn’t stop them from performing. If they enter the season well, it could reignite their hopes of winning it all.
Atlanta Hawks
The only non-Playoff team on our list is the Atlanta Hawks, who, like the Magic, made a good start last year, but were derailed by injuries. Before they lost Jalen Johnson to a torn labrum, they were in the fight for the sixth seed in the East. In the end, they finished in the Play-In tournament, where they eventually fell to Orlando. The team definitely has a lot of talent, with Dyson Daniels having led the league in steals last year and Onyeka Okongwu posting career-high numbers. Add to that Zaccharie Risacher, who made the All-Rookie first team and an MVP sleeper pick in Trae Young, and everything suggests the Hawks could make noise as early as the season starts.
