With the 2025-26 NBA season sneaking up on us like Jason Vorhees stalking a gang of unsuspecting teenagers, the Atlantic Division is the scariest in the Eastern Conference. Three teams (Boston, New York, and Philly) could easily make long playoff runs, another (Toronto) is young and hungry… and then there’s the Nets, the slasher victims of the Atlantic Division.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are heading into a season of regrouping. Notice that I didn’t say rebuild… they have all the tools to build another championship squad, but some of the tools are broken. Boston lost superstar forward Jayson Tatum, likely for the season, to a torn Achilles.
But the Celtics have one massive advantage over other teams: their second option might be as good as their first. Alongside Tatum, Jaylen Brown has proven to be a superstar in his own right. In 2023, the team signed him to a 5-year, $286.2 million Supermax contract, and now it is his team and time to prove that he is worth the investment.
The C’s front court will look much different this season. Center Kristaps Porzingis was shipped off to the Hawks, and backup fan-favorite, Luke Kornet, inked a massive deal with the Spurs. Luka Garza was brought in from Minnesota to fill the vacancy in the middle.
The team also signed veteran forward Chris Boucher, who will add interior defense and rebounding. Beloved anchor, Al Horford, joined Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Leaving Portuguese 7-footer Neemias Queta with first crack at the pivot. He is unproven, but he showed intensity and ability on both ends of the court. Forward Sam Hauser will see significant minutes off the bench.
Brown and Derrick White form the best backcourt in the Atlantic and one of the best in the NBA. The 6’6″ Brown is a versatile swingman; he will log minutes at the two and the three when they play small ball. White has made his name as a Swiss Army knife, for his ability to adapt to any situation, score in bunches when needed, and lock down his opponents’ best offensive guard.
With the loss of Jrue Holiday through trade, Reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Peyton Pritchard, steps into a larger role as the first option off the bench. Anfernee Simons, who comes to Bean Town from Portland in the Holiday trade, is a natural scorer but lacks the defensive prowess of Holiday.
Without Tatum, the Celtics are the second-best team in the Atlantic Division. However, Boston has the weaponry to make a playoff run; their fans should prepare themselves for a season of player evaluation as they prepare for next year. Boston fans can be brutal. Hopefully, they can accept whatever coach Joe Mazzula can pull out of his tool belt to salvage their season and maybe win the Atlantic.
Brooklyn Nets
Where should I start? The Brooklyn Nets roster is a who’s who of “Who is that…?” Outside of disgruntled 2024-25 leading scorer Cam Thomas, who has one foot out the door, and Center Nic Claxton and newly acquired Forward Michael Porter Jr., this team is a ragtag group of unknowns, including five rookies, all trying to make a name for themselves, with a lot to prove. Luckily, the Nets are not in winning mode; they are playing for a top lottery pick, so expectations are low.
Though unproven, there is some talent here. 26-year-old Claxton is a nightly double-double talent who is on the brink of breaking out… or being traded. Porter Jr., a 6-year veteran who came over from the Denver Nuggets, will be counted on to lead this young team with his scoring. In Denver, he was the third scoring option on most nights.
Small Forward Zaire Williams was acquired from Memphis mid-season, showed enough potential for the Nets to count on him as a shooter, averaging about 10 points per game. The team is hoping he will develop into a 3-and-D player. Rookie Power Forward Danny Wolf will get some chances to shine coming off the bench.
The biggest question mark for Brooklyn is their backcourt… Cam Thomas re-signed with the team in September to run it back on a one-year deal. Outside of Thomas, the Nets’ guard situation is greatly inexperienced and young.
To play alongside Thomas, the team will run a rotation of 19-year-olds; Egor Demin is getting the first crack at the point, with Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf also getting plenty of time on the court, and second-year guard, Kobe Bufkin, who came over from Atlanta… Yikes. Rounding out the backcourt is veteran swingman Terance Mann, who will get minutes at both guard positions and small forward.
Overall, the Nets have a lot of untapped potential. Potential talent, potential trade assets, potential last-place finish, and potential lottery picks in 2026. If their young talent clicks and they flip Thomas or Claxton, for some veteran pieces they can build around, they potentially could surprise some people. They will finish last in the Atlantic Division, no surprise there… They aren’t even playing to win.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are the kings of New York. They are the most well-rounded and deepest team in the Atlantic Division. Last season, they added key pieces like Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, and after slaying the reigning champion Boston Celtics, they appeared to be the kings of the East.
But they were outplayed and outpaced by the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals. This off-season, the Knicks have revamped their roster by firing Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and adding some veteran help in guards Jordan Clarkson and Malcom Brogdon in hopes of claiming the NBA crown.
The Knicks’ front line is anchored by Karl-Anthony Towns, who came into town last season from exile in Minnesota. He is a fantastic post player who also possesses an offensive presence with 3-point shooting that stretches the floor. What he lacks on defense, Mitchell Robinson more than makes up for. Robinson is a powerful rebounder and shot blocker. Defense is the Knicks’ calling card; OG Anunoby is an excellent perimeter defender with a knack for hitting threes, especially against teams in the Atlantic.
The NBA Clutch Player of the Year, Jalen Brunson, leads New York’s backcourt. He is one of the best isolation scorers in the league. Playing with KAT allows him to thrive in pick-and-roll situations. As seen throughout the season and deep into the playoffs, Brunson isn’t afraid to take the big shots.
Bridges looks to bounce back from an off year as the Knicks’ top 3-and-D player. Brunson and Bridges’ college teammate, Josh Hart, joins them in the back court again this season after a career year, posting career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists. Joining Hart off the bench is veteran Jordan Clarkson. He will bolster New York’s second unit scoring.
If I could describe the Knicks in two words, I would say versatile and hungry. After falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Pacers, they are coming into this season with a monkey on their backs and a lot to prove.
New Head Coach Mike Brown brings high hopes and a championship-caliber resume to a team with championship-caliber talent. The Knicks are, in my opinion, not only the best team in the Atlantic Division, but the best team in the entire Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia 76ers
The City of Brotherly Love needs some love. Last season, the 76ers were a disappointment. From top to bottom, they have a great mix of youth and talent. Injuries hampered their chances of being competitive on a nightly basis, especially in the Atlantic. If they can avoid the injury bug, they will be a playoff team.
Injuries held former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid to just 19 games last season. The Haitian big man had knee surgery in April and should be ready to go when the season tips off. The Sixers will closely monitor Embiid and proceed with caution while he returns to action.
Second-year Center Adem Bona and veteran Andre Drummond will spell Embiid. Paul George returns from knee surgery of his own. Will he return to the All-Star player he once was, or be a shell of the player that Philly signed last off-season? Small Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. averaged 15 points per game last season on an impressive 47% shooting from the floor.
Point Guard Tyrese Maxey has gotten better every year of his career. Last year, he scored over 26 points per game, so if this trend continues, the Sixers should benefit tremendously. 19-year veteran Kyle Lowry is no longer the All-Star point guard he once was but is a solid bench presence with some gas left in the tank.
Shooting Guard Quentin Grimes broke out offensively in 2024-25, averaging nearly 22 ppg after joining the team mid-season. Jared McCain had a solid rookie year until a meniscus tear ended his season. Philly drafted 6’5″ V.J. Edgecombe with the third pick. His defense will get him minutes at Shooting Guard as he develops as a pro.
I fully expect Philly to find the love that they were lacking last season. With Maxey, Grimes, and Oubre Jr. scoring at will and healthy Embiid and George taking the court, there is no doubt that the Liberty Bell will be ringing in more wins this season. The 76ers will finish third in the Atlantic. Don’t expect a finish better than a 7 or 8 seed in the playoffs.
Toronto Raptors
Remember when the Raptors won the NBA title way back in the Jurassic period… Okay, 2019 wasn’t that long ago, but it seems like forever ago. The Raptors’ championship hopes have been extinct ever since. Archaeologists have spent the last five years excavating the skeletal remains of their championship team and reconstructing it. They have assembled the broken bones and should be competitive this year in an interesting Atlantic Division.
Toronto has a young team, built around Power Forward Scottie Barnes, who had an off-year last season, caused by a nagging hand injury. Swingman Brandon Ingram came north from N’Awlins mid-season but didn’t log a single minute for the Raps due to injury.
He will bring much-needed scoring and keep defenses on their heels, while finding the open man in isolation. Veteran Center Jakob Poeltl isn’t going to fill the stat sheets every night, but he will find a way to impact the game night after night. His averages improved in every category last season.
Veteran Shooting Guard R.J. Barrett leads the Raptors’ backcourt. He posted career highs in scoring, rebounds, and assists. Point Guard Immanuel Quickley was ineffective last season. He averaged 17 ppg, but he couldn’t stay healthy. He looks to come back in one piece and prove that last year was a fluke.
Second-year swingman Gradey Dick looked like a star in the making before a knee injury ended his rookie campaign. Dick grew two inches over the summer (insert joke here), now standing at 6’8″. He is an effective scorer but needs to improve from beyond the arc.
Head Coach Darko Rajakovic has made defense his trademark. His players have bought into his aggressive defensive game plan. In a league where defense is dead, the young Raptors have brought it back from extinction. There’s an old adage that states, “defense wins championships…” I guess we will see if the defense gives new life to a forgotten franchise. The Atlantic Division is alive again with the rebirth of the Raptors.
Atlantic Division Projected Standings
- New York Knicks
- Boston Celtics
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
- Brooklyn Nets
