While the NBA’s Western Conference is considered the stronger of the two conferences historically, the East is also stacked with talent and some very good teams. With the 2025/26 season on the horizon, the next year in basketball is shaping up to be an exciting one and with major injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, the top of the Eastern Conference is going to shift dramatically.
The likes of the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers, who were among the best teams in the league last season, are expected to take a significant step back this year, so with the top of the East anyone’s game right now, we tasked ChatGPT with predicting the final record for every team in the Eastern Conference this season.
Brooklyn Nets – 24 Wins & 58 Losses
The 2024/25 season was a disappointing one for the Brooklyn Nets and, despite adding Michael Porter Jr to their ranks this summer, things are only expected to get worse by AI. The Nets won 26 games last season, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference and they’ve been tipped to win two fewer times this year and drop to last place as a result.
Their brightest spark, Cam Thomas, played just over 20 times last year and struggled with injuries, but despite having him back this time around, ChatGPT still expects them to struggle.
Charlotte Hornets – 27 Wins & 55 Losses
With Lamelo Ball on the court, the Charlotte Hornets always have the chance to be one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the NBA. Unfortunately, that won’t translate to many wins, according to AI. ChatGPT has predicted that the Hornets will finish 14th in the Eastern Conference, winning just 27 games all season in the process.
That’s actually a significant improvement on last season, when they won 19 games. Ball played just over half of the campaign last time out, spending a large portion of the year out injured, but having him back and adding Kon Knueppel in the draft, as well as signing Spencer Dinwiddie should strengthen the team, but only enough for 27 victories.
Washington Wizards – 30 Wins & 52 Losses
After several really disappointing years, the Washington Wizards fans will just be hopeful that their team offers some basketball that hints at some semblance of a promising future. AI doesn’t think that will be the case, though, predicting they’ll win just 30 times all season this year.
To be fair, that will actually be a significant improvement on the 2024/25 campaign, where they won 18 games. It will also see them climb two places in the conference, having finished dead last in 2025. The addition of CJ McCollum and adding Tre Johnson in the draft bolsters their team a little, but it won’t be enough to push for a play-in spot, according to ChatGPT.
Chicago Bulls – 34 Wins & 48 Losses
The Chicago Bulls have finished in the play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons. They’ve also failed to make it to the playoffs in each of those years and have only finished a campaign with more wins than losses once in the last nine years. In short, the franchise is stuck in a difficult situation right now and doesn’t know which direction to move in.
The team isn’t good enough to compete, but with the likes of Nikola Vucevic, Josh Giddey and Coby White still on the books, they won’t be bad enough to finish with a high draft pick either. ChatGPT thinks their consecutive play-in finishes will come to an end this year, though, with the Bulls tipped to win just 34 games and finish 12th.
Toronto Raptors – 35 Wins & 47 Losses
After winning their first ever NBA title in 2019, things have gotten a little messy for the Toronto Raptors. They’ve never made it back to the finals since their triumph and the last few years have seen them spinning their wheels. They’ve not been good enough to compete, but they haven’t been bad enough to earn many high draft picks either. The only real notable name that the franchise has drafted in the last six years is Scottie Barnes. The forward is becoming a cornerstone for the team, but the players around him have been chopped and changed repeatedly in the last few seasons.
They’re not prepared to be terrible, but they don’t have the talent to break into the upper echelon of the East and AI thinks they’ll miss out on the play-in tournament again, winning just 35 games.
Boston Celtics – 40 Wins & 42 Losses
Last season, the Boston Celtics were considered to be one of the favourites to win the NBA championship. They are far from that this time around. The long-term injury sustained by Jayson Tatum has devastated their chances at another title. While they finished with the second best record in the Eastern Conference last time out, with 61 wins in the regular season, AI has predicted that they’ll win just 40 games this time around.
That’s 21 less games than last year and it would be one of the biggest decreases in victories from one season to the next in recent memory. It would just about squeeze them into the play-in tournament, though.
Miami Heat – 41 Wins & 41 Losses
Last season saw the Miami Heat move on from Jimmy Butler and it was a disappointing campaign in total for the Florida-based franchise. They won just 37 games, losing 45 and finished 10th in the East, only just making it into the play-in tournament. Shockingly, they became the first team ever to finish that low and progress to the playoffs, where they were swept 4-0 in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
To build on that, they’ve added sharpshooter Norman Powell via trade and moved on from the likes of Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson. It’s a gamble that AI thinks will pay off, though, with ChatGPT predicting they’ll finish bang on .500 this year, winning four more games than last season.
Philadelphia 76ers – 42 Wins & 40 Losses
If Joel Embiid is healthy, there are few teams who can compete with the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for the franchise, the centre has struggled to stay fit and on the court recently and that proved to be a huge issue for them last season. Despite adding superstar Paul George to their ranks before the 2024/25 season got underway, the campaign was a disaster for Philadelphia.
Injuries meant they rarely had the chance to play their best players together and AI thinks they’re in for another tough year this time around. They’ve been tipped to finish just above .500, with 42 wins and 40 losses.
Indiana Pacers – 44 Wins & 38 Losses
Seemingly against all odds, the Indiana Pacers made it to the NBA finals last season. They might have fallen short at the final hurdle, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games, but the Pacers are still considered to be one of the most feel-good stories of the year. No one expected them to go as far as they did and a large reason for their success was Tyrese Haliburton.
Unfortunately, the Pacers will be without their talisman for the entirety of the 2025/26 season after he tore his right Achilles tendon in game seven of the NBA finals. That’s a huge loss and ChatGPT believes they’ll finish in the play-in tournament as a result. Still, 44 wins would be very respectable considering the circumstances.
Milwaukee Bucks – 45 Wins & 37 Losses
The Milwaukee Bucks are under a lot of pressure this season. With a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster, they can’t afford another disappointing year like the one they suffered throughout 2024/25. He’s too good and has made it known in the past that he wouldn’t be opposed to moving elsewhere if it gave him a chance of success.
They added Kyle Kuzma late last season, got rid of an injured Damian Lillard and have since added a handful of new names, including Gary Harris. Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but AI is expecting the Bucks will take a step back, winning 45 games this year, which is three less than their total last time out. That would also only be good enough for a place in the play-in tournament. It’s hard to imagine Giannis sticks around for much longer if that’s the case.
Detroit Pistons – 46 Wins & 36 Losses
Last season, the Detroit Pistons were one of the feel-good stories of the NBA. Led by Cade Cunningham, the Pistons played with grit, toughness and a whole lot of heart on their way to 44 wins and a sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. Since then, they’ve lost a bunch of players, including Tim Hardaway Jr and Dennis Schroeder, but they’ve brought in Caris Levert and Duncan Robinson among others.
Those moves are expected to payoff, with AI predicting that the Pistons will win 46 games this year, a two-game improvement on their 2024/25 record. Even better, that would also be enough for them to finish one place higher this time around too.
Atlanta Hawks – 48 Wins & 34 Losses
For a minute, it looked as though the Atlanta Hawks would have to move on from Trae Young and enter a period of rebuilding, but instead, they’ve gone to work in the market and they’ve managed to build a very promising team around the point guard. Trading Kristaps Porzingis this summer and signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker showed the Hawks meant business.
They’re moves that ChatGPT as predicted will pay off, too. AI has tipped Atlanta to win 48 games this year, an eight-game improvement in comparison to last time out. It will just be enough to secure home court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Orlando Magic – 50 Wins & 32 Losses
After a decade of struggles, the Orlando Magic have finally turned a corner and they did so with some excellent work in the draft. Drafting Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and then Paolo Banchero has transformed the franchise’s fortunes. The trio is has a very bright trajectory and after making the playoffs through the play-in tournament last season, they’ve been tipped to take a huge leap this year and secure the third seed with 50 wins.
A lot of that is down to the continue growth of the Magic’s key players like Banchero, but also the impressive acquisitions of Desmond Bane, one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA and veteran point guard, Tyus Jones, who will provide a spark off the bench for the team.
New York Knicks – 55 Wins & 27 Losses
After years of misery, the last few seasons have been very kind to the New York Knicks and AI expects that to continue this season, with a record of 55-27 on their way to finishing as the second seed. Jalen Brunson’s rise to superstardom has been nothing short of miraculous and no one saw it coming, but he’s helped turn the Knicks into one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA.
With Karl Anthony Towns entering his second year in the Big Apple and the addition of proven scorer Jordan Clarkson this summer, the Knicks are going to be a problem and will come close to securing the first seed, but have been predicted to just fall short.
Cleveland Cavaliers – 58 Wins & 24 Losses
While they failed spectacularly in the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Eastern Conference during the regular season and they have been tipped to finish first again this time around. They’re expected to take a significant step back at the same time, though. ChatGPT has predicted that the Cavs will win six less games this year (58) compared to last season (64).
Still, it should be enough to secure the first seed in the East. With Donovan Mitchell operating at an elite level over the last couple of years, another year of growth from Evan Mobley and a solid supporting cast surrounding them, the Cavs will be great again this year and AI thinks they’re a shoo-in for first.