US media’s bold 10 predictions for 2026: LeBron announces retirement decision, Celtics reach finals, Nuggets win championship

On January 2nd Beijing time, Bleacher Report previewed 2026 with 10 bold forecasts, as follows—

Prediction 1: Giannis will be traded

Although trade rumors around Giannis have eased in recent weeks, each Bucks defeat fuels the gossip even more.

For years, both through his own statements and those from his camp, Giannis has subtly (sometimes not so subtly) hinted at possibly leaving. Meanwhile, Bucks management has been using all future assets in an effort to retain their star player.

At present, aside from Giannis himself, the Bucks have almost no valuable trade assets left, and the team is very likely to finish this season below a .500 winning percentage. For the next four seasons after this one, due to splitting Lillard’s contract, the Bucks will carry a $22.5 million salary cap hit annually.

Without trading Giannis, it will be difficult for the Bucks to find a clear path back to championship contention in the coming years.

Prediction 2: The Thunder will finish the 2025-26 season with 70 wins

Despite the Thunder’s recent slowdown, mainly due to three losses against the Spurs, they will still maintain an astonishing winning percentage and become the third team in NBA history to reach 70 wins in a single season, after the 2015-16 Warriors and the 1995-96 Bulls.

On one hand, the Thunder only have two remaining games this season against their biggest nemesis—the Spurs. The young Thunder players will surely approach these matchups with a strong desire for revenge.

More importantly, despite Jalen Williams missing 19 games and not being fully recovered upon return, the Thunder have still posted such impressive results.

Even with their second-leading scorer absent for so many games, the Thunder outscore opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions when Alexander is off the court, which is simply incredible.

This also fully demonstrates the team’s depth. With such roster strength, the Thunder will continue to dominate most opponents and march confidently toward the regular season’s conclusion in April.

Prediction 3: LeBron will officially announce his retirement decision

As one of the greatest two or three players in NBA history, LeBron would never leave the game without a retirement tour, especially considering how meticulously he has managed his personal brand and career so far.

It is expected that he will announce his retirement at some point in 2026 (most likely this summer), making every game of the 2026-27 season a major event, especially the away games. Countless fans hope to witness his farewell performance in person.

Although he can no longer dominate games like in his prime, LeBron will continue to set records for NBA players over 40 years old.

Undeniably, his performance has declined somewhat in recent seasons, but since turning 40, he still averages 23.7 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Prediction 4: Alexander will repeat as regular season MVP

After news broke that Jokic hyperextended his knee and might miss over four weeks, this prediction no longer seems so “bold”—Alexander will secure back-to-back regular season MVP awards.

In just a few months, we can add SGA’s name to this illustrious list: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jokic.

This list is nearly a condensed history of the NBA, and Alexander will shine as part of a 70-win team, averaging 32 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds per game, becoming a brilliant chapter in that history.

Prediction 5: The Celtics will reach the NBA Finals

Despite losing Tatum and seeing Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Horford depart, the Celtics still rank third in the Eastern Conference at the start of 2026.

Notably, three of the team’s top four scorers (White, Pritchard, and Anfernee Simons) are shooting below their career average from three this season, yet the Celtics remain stubbornly in the East’s top three.

Any of these players could catch fire at any moment. Coupled with Jayson Brown’s superstar-level performance (averaging 29.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists), the Celtics are capable of competing against any Eastern team in the playoffs.

However, the Celtics’ best chance to return to the Finals hinges on Tatum’s potential comeback. Speculation about his return date is heating up, with at least one local reporter predicting his season debut in February.

Tatum’s return will create more valuable catch-and-shoot opportunities for shooters like Simons, White, and Pritchard, boost the team’s rebounding, and relieve offensive pressure on Jayson Brown.

In short, the Celtics would effectively add a perennial All-NBA forward to a team projected to win 50+ games. Such roster depth is enough to support their return to the NBA Finals stage.

Prediction 6: The Nuggets will win the 2025-26 NBA championship

Now, here is a truly bold prediction.

Choosing the Thunder to win the title seems a bit far-fetched. Currently, the Nuggets are facing a serious personnel crisis.

This week, Jokic hyperextended his knee in a game against the Heat and will be sidelined for at least four weeks. The Nuggets already have four starters out (Aaron Gordon, Braun, and Cameron Johnson are also injured), and Valanciunas will miss about a month, likely causing the team’s ranking to drop significantly.

But it’s only January. Jokic and the other key players can return in time for the playoffs. If the roster is healthy then, they have the strength to compete with the Thunder.

Almost no team in the league can truly contain Jokic, and the Thunder’s relatively weak interior (at least compared to Jokic) will be at a clear disadvantage against the nearly 300-pound Nuggets star. Moreover, after adding Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown, the Nuggets’ roster depth far exceeds last season’s team that lost to the Thunder in a Game 7.

With Jamal Murray playing at a 2023 playoff level, there is every reason to believe this team can overcome the historically great Thunder and pull off a championship upset.

Prediction 7: Dibangsa will become the number one overall pick in the draft

Currently, three players are top contenders for the 2026 draft’s first pick: Cameron Boozer, Peterson, and Dibangsa.

As freshmen, all three have performed exceptionally well. Their talent gap, if any, is minimal, and who becomes the number one pick will largely depend on which team wins the lottery.

If a team needs a power forward, Boozer would be the top choice; teams seeking a dynamic guard might pick Peterson. But Dibangsa combines the strengths of both and plays a forward position, which is often the easiest to build a team around.

If Dibangsa continues his hot streak over the next divisional games (averaging 27.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 steals over the past six games), he will enter the offseason with strong momentum, solidifying his status as the top pick.

Prediction 8: At least one of Trae Young or Morant will be traded

This trade might not happen until summer, but the Hawks and Grizzlies share very similar situations regarding their long-term core players.

For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson has developed into a true star, and Trae Young’s defensive weaknesses have become increasingly apparent, making it easy for the team to envision a future without Young.

The Grizzlies’ situation is somewhat different; they haven’t clearly identified their next core star, but Morant’s inconsistent form and frequent absences have opened the door for his departure.

Although both players currently have relatively low trade value (the Hawks are 2-8 in games Young has played this season; Morant’s shooting percentage is only 40.2%), their past brilliance will still attract some teams’ interest.

Prediction 9: The NBA will announce expansion plans

For years, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has wavered between hinting at expansion and avoiding the topic.

However, during last December’s NBA Cup, he clearly expressed intentions to push for expansion.

“It’s no secret we’re exploring the Las Vegas market and also keeping an eye on Seattle,” Silver told reporters. “... I think we’re currently talking with teams, gauging their interest, learning more about the economic conditions in those areas, and the financial forecasts for new teams. We’ll make a final decision sometime in 2026.”

Economic factors are obviously the most critical consideration, but the global pool of basketball talent is more than sufficient to support adding two more teams. Expansion would also give the league a chance to realign divisions—after dominating the Western Conference for nearly a quarter-century, a reshuffle is overdue. Additionally, a 32-team league would make events like the NBA Cup more reasonable and exciting with a single-elimination format.

In other words, all signs point to the league’s final “decision” likely being the addition of two new teams.

Prediction 10: Wembanyama will be the leading MVP favorite for the 2026-27 season

For the second consecutive year, Wembanyama appears likely to miss the 65-game minimum required to qualify for awards consideration.

If his slender frame hasn’t raised durability concerns, then two straight seasons of injury issues might change your perspective.

But whenever Wembanyama is healthy, his performance fully justifies the sky-high expectations. His ability to protect the rim and contest mid-range shots was the key reason the Spurs swept the Thunder 3-0 this season.

Although the Spurs might miss out on the championship in 2026, Wembanyama will shine brilliantly in the spring and summer games, becoming the top MVP candidate for next season.

Which of these 10 bold predictions from the US media do you think will come true? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.