NBA 2025 Eastern Conference Contenders & Pretenders

There’s nothing better than being in the Eastern Conference this NBA season. 

The Western Conference is completely more challenging, top to bottom, so I wanted to rank which teams in the East I think are actually contenders. 

Most of these teams are realistically pretenders, but a few teams in the East are still very much the real deal.

#1 Detroit Pistons: Pretenders

This Detroit team is a great watch; however, I find it hard to believe that anyone really thinks this roster is ready to contend in the playoffs. Cade Cunningham is one of the best players in the sport, and Jalen Duren has taken a significant leap, playing at an All-Star level. That doesn’t change that this roster is poorly constructed for postseason success.

Cunningham shoots it at just 31% from the outside, and Duren’s style of play won’t be exceedingly successful in the playoffs. Then, on the other end of the court, since you desperately need spacing, Duncan Robinson will need to get significant playoff minutes, and if he’s not a flamethrower on offense, having defenses pick him apart might not make it worth it even to play him.

I hope Detroit tries to add another superstar to this lineup to elevate it to the next level. I know he won’t help with spacing issues, but if you could find a cheap way to take on Ja Morant from a desperate Grizzlies front office, I would be open to believing you are actually contenders.

#2 Chicago Bulls: Pretenders

The Bulls aren’t pretenders in the same way as the Pistons are. Actually, I think this Bulls team is better than people give it credit for. Billy Donovan is once again showing why he’s one of the best coaches in the league.

That doesn’t mean the Bulls also don’t have a chance in hell of making it anywhere close to the finals. Between Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu, and Matas Buzelis, the Bulls honestly have an interesting core. This team plays at a great pace and can surprise good teams with their hyper offensive threat.

However, if they run into a team with any inside threat on defense, I think they’ll really be slowed down on offense. Additionally, I’d be interested in seeing how their offense would translate into the playoffs, where the pace of the game typically slows down.

#3 Cleveland Cavaliers: Contenders

The main argument against this Cavaliers team has been their inability to translate regular-season success into postseason success—that, of course, and their dual small guard and big man lineups.

However, if you’ve watched this team since Kenny Atkinson took over, I’m not sure how you couldn’t believe in them at least a little bit. When the whole team is healthy, their offense can reach historic levels.

That has cost them a little bit on the other end, but I’m not as concerned about that due to Evan Mobley’s game-altering presence on defense. Outside of Victor Wembenyama, there’s no one more impactful on the defensive end in the league. I believe the injuries this team has dealt with in the playoffs over the last few seasons are fluky, and this is the year they at least make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

#4 Milwaukee Bucks: Contenders

It’s as simple as this. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is on your basketball team, it’s likely he’s the best player on the floor, especially in the Eastern Conference.

The team around him, unfortunately, isn’t great, but I still think Giannis has at least one more historic playoff run while he’s still guaranteed to be in Milwaukee.

The positive is that I believe this year’s supporting cast is more ready to compete than the last few years. The loss of Brook Lopez is an addition by subtraction. People love to hate on Myles Turner, but he’s a no-doubt upgrade over Lopez from last season.

Ryan Rollins is currently taking an absolutely shocking leap this year, and might give Giannis at least one other player he can lean on to get a basket without the offense set for them. Giannis is one of those very few guys in the league you can rely on at any moment to take over an entire game, and even a series.

#5 New York Knicks: Pretenders

This Knicks team can obviously win a series, but I think there’s just something off with this Knicks team this year. Outside of Jalen Brunson turning into an animal in the playoffs, what’s going to be the identity of this New York team?

I just can’t trust Karl-Anthony Towns to play smart enough defense in the playoffs to consistently avoid foul trouble, which would allow me to think this team can make the finals.

I also don’t love the other pieces they have. If Mike Brown can find a way to get someone else to hit shots consistently in the playoffs, I’ll believe in New York. For now, I still feel as though Tibs was able to just get a little more out of this roster. This prediction is more of a hot take, as I’m not much of a Mike Brown believer. He’s never been able to fully fix a team at any point in his career, and I don’t think this roster is talented enough to do it for him.

#6 Philadelphia 76ers: Contenders

This pick is the inverse of my Knicks prediction. It also revolves around Joel Embiid's health and finding a way to return to a player who closely resembles the one who won the MVP in 2023.

This team is already looking so much better than the one we saw fizzle out due to injuries last year. Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes are playing at a career-best level, V.J. Edgecomb has already shown NBA readiness in just eight games, and they have (potentially) solid reinforcements on the way in Jared McCain and Paul George.

But let’s call it like it is. Joel Embiid has to be significantly better. This team goes as Embiid goes. I think he’s able to return to at least an All-Star level, and will hopefully be able to rely on what could be a deep core around him to shake things up in the East.