[From ESPN]

ESPN's 2025 Summer Forecast has answered some of the league's biggest questions heading into the NBA's 80th season and gave its predictions for the league's biggest questions and awards, as well as the East and West standings. They will now round out the forecast with conference champion and Finals winners.

This season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will look to become the first back-to-back champions since 2018 and break the streak of seven straight different champions, but there will be plenty of challengers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, after boasting the second-best regular-season record last season, only behind the Thunder, will be battling in an injury-riddled Eastern Conference. However, the New York Knicks, after hiring Mike Brown as their new coach this offseason, also have plenty of postseason experience to push even further.

We asked our experts to rank their top choices for the East and West -- and the eventual NBA champion -- with a first-place vote receiving five points, a second-place vote receiving three and a third-place vote receiving one.

Read more of ESPN's story HERE