In the modern NBA, offense is more important than ever. The best teams have perfected utilizing their players to space the floor and find the most efficient shot attempts possible on each possession.
The average points per game for teams has been rising almost every season since 2012. In the 2011-12 season, teams only averaged 96.3 PPG in the regular season. In comparison, teams averaged 113.8 in this previous 2024-25 season, a staggering 17.5 PPG increase in only 13 years.
Surprisingly, this trend took a dip this last season when the 2023-24 league average of 114.2 PPG declined to 133.8 PPG in the 2024-25 season. Last season also had the lowest average player FG% since 2022 at 46.7%.
Despite the slight decrease, offense will still remain the most important factor in creating a winning team next season. Here are the top 10 offenses we think will find the most success next season.
10. Detroit Pistons
Dec 26, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) and guard Cade Cunningham (2) celebrate after the win against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Last Season: 115.0 ORTG (16th in NBA)
Prediction: 116.4 ORTG (10th in NBA)
The Detroit Pistons are on an upward trajectory after going from the worst team in the league in the 2023-24 season to the 6th seed in the East in the 2024-25 season.
It looks like the Pistons won't have any significant roster changes by the time the season starts. They finished with the 16th-best offensive rating in the NBA last season, but we can expect that to improve into the top 10 next season. Their young players will continue to develop, and other elite offensive teams from last season have substantial injuries or traded away important offensive pieces that will likely make room for Detroit to generate a top 10 offense.
Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are Detroit's two main offensive weapons, and both players are only 23 years old. Assuming they take another offensive leap, Detroit's backcourt could emerge as one of the best young duos in the league.
9. Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Ja Morant (12) get back on defense during the first half against the Orlando Magic at FedExForum.
Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Last Season: 117.7 ORTG (7th in NBA)
Prediction: 116.6 ORTG (9th in NBA)
The Grizzlies had the 7th best offense in the NBA last season, but they lost a valuable offensive piece in June, as they traded away their shooting guard Desmond Bane to the Magic for multiple first-round picks and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
This trade was clearly a move that was more for long-term success than short-term. Losing Bane will likely hurt Memphis' offense, as Bane's 19.2 PPG last season was third on the team, only behind Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
This move may not be as hurtful to the Grizzlies' offense as you may think. The Grizzlies actually had a higher offensive rating (123.2) in the 13 games that Bane missed last season than when they played with him (117.6). This is partly because they were on a hot streak when he got injured near the beginning of the season, but still, the Grizzlies proved they could maintain a good offense without him.
In addition, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is still a quality '3 and D' player who will likely start at shooting guard for the Grizzlies. If they stay healthy for the majority of the season, it's probable that this Grizzlies team will produce a top 10 offense in the NBA.
8. Los Angeles Clippers
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and guard James Harden (1) talk during their game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half at Crypto.com Arena.
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Last Season: 115.1 ORTG (14th in NBA)
Prediction: 116.6 ORTG (8th in NBA)
The Clippers are one of the NBA's most intriguing teams headed into next season. Their roster consists of old, injury-prone stars, combined with a couple of young players with offensive potential.
On the positive side, they signed a veteran Chris Paul, a good offensive player in Bradley Beal, and traded for a reliable power forward, John Collins. The negative is that they're the oldest team in the NBA and are only getting older.
James Harden will likely remain the leader of LA's offensive system. With the ball in his hands, Harden can score efficiently as well as set up his teammates. John Collins and Ivica Zubac will be good passing options for Harden off of pick-and-rolls, and for alley-oop opportunities as well.
The Clippers will also rely heavily on isolation scoring. Harden, Beal, and Kawhi Leonard are all elite isolation scorers capable of creating their own shots. Harden averaged 6.3 isolation points per game last season, and Leonard averaged 3.6 isolation points, which were both among the best in the league.
With this next season being their best shot to win together, this team will be very motivated to win.
7. Los Angeles Lakers
Feb 10, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward LeBron James (23) on the court in the first half against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Last Season: 115.9 ORTG (12th in NBA)
Prediction: 116.7 ORTG (7th in NBA)
With a full season of Luka Doncic and finally getting a true center in DeAndre Ayton, the Lakers should improve by a good amount on the offensive end.
Luka Doncic has led top 10 offenses multiple seasons with the Mavericks, and with a Laker roster that fits better around him this season, he has the tools to do the same in Los Angeles.
Doncic loves using the pick-and-roll with his big men, and he wasn't able to do that consistently last season due to the Lakers' lack of quality centers. With DeAndre Ayton, a similar offensive lob threat to Luka's former centers Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford, LA's pick-and-roll will be Luka's go-to offensive set.
The only remaining issue is the Lakers' depth. In Game 4 of their 2025 playoffs matchup versus the Timberwolves, Lakers coach J.J. Redick played the starting lineup the entire second half of the game due to a lack of depth.
This problem wasn't resolved this offseason, so the Lakers bench will need to step up to be a more reliable supporting cast this year. Staggering LeBron and Luka's minutes will also help provide good offensive options for the majority of the game.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
May 26, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and center Rudy Gobert (27) talk against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game four of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Last Season: 116.6 ORTG (8th in NBA)
Prediction: 117.0 ORTG (6th in NBA)
After their second straight Western Conference Finals appearance, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be bringing back the same core as last season.
Without any major moves or adjustments, the Wolves will likely return to being a top 10 offensive team in the league again. As Anthony Edwards continues to improve his skills, he could possibly raise their offense slightly higher than last season.
5. Houston Rockets
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) rebounds against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first quarter at Toyota Center.
Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Last Season: 115.3 ORTG (13th in NBA)
Prediction: 117.2 ORTG (5th in NBA)
The Houston Rockets' offense was mediocre last season, but that should change with the major addition of Kevin Durant. At 36 years old, Durant remains one of the best scorers in the NBA and is a great addition to help push the Rockets to one of the best offenses in the league.
Furthermore, Alperen Sengun is emerging as a potential offensive star. Last season, Sengun averaged 19.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 4.9 APG. As Sengun continues to develop, those numbers will only increase.
Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. are also players to watch to improve their offensive skills. If Thompson improves his outside shooting and Smith Jr. improves his ball-handling and shot creation, these two young players would make the Rockets' offensive attack even more balanced and harder to stop.
4. New York Knicks
May 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and teammates warm up before the start of game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Last Season: 118.5 ORTG (5th in NBA)
Prediction: 118.5 ORTG (4th in NBA)
The New York Knicks didn't make any big offseason additions, and they really didn't need to, either, after accomplishing a top 5 offense in the NBA and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
They did sign Jordan Clarkson after he received a buyout from the Utah Jazz, where he was a longtime Sixth Man of the Year winner. The acquisition addresses the Knicks' need for a microwave scorer off the bench that will be a good addition to the Knicks' offense.
Hiring a new head coach, Mike Brown, after they fired Tom Thibodeau, may also turn out to be a good move as Brown is known for a more balanced coaching style than Thibodeau.
Overall, the Knicks' offense should be similar to last season's offense, and they'll be one of the toughest teams to defend in the East.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) celebrates after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center.
Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Last Season: 120.3 ORTG (3rd in NBA)
Prediction: 120.0 ORTG (3rd in NBA)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a perfect representation of a modern NBA team.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team as a score-first point guard. Jalen Williams is an excellent second scoring option, and they have an abundance of good shooters such as Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso, and their big men can shoot too.
The Thunder fit seamlessly with each other, and they have no glaring offensive weaknesses. Assuming they stay healthy again next season, they'll be one of the league's top offenses.
2. Denver Nuggets
Apr 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Ball Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Last Season: 119.9 ORTG (4th in NBA)
Prediction: 120.3 ORTG (2nd in NBA)
The Denver Nuggets offense is led by one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history, Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets have had a top 8 offense in the league each season since 2017, the season that Jokic first entered their starting lineup.
After an underwhelming 2024-2025 season, the Nuggets made a few great offseason moves to create a perfect supporting cast around Jokic. Some of their most notable additions are Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown, and Tim Hardaway Jr. All three players provide plenty of outside shooting for Denver, who needs shooting after finishing 28th in the league in threes made last season.
Having teammates who are reliable shooters is key for Jokic to thrive since he's terrific at finding open shooters. This current Nuggets squad is very similar to the 2023 Nuggets team that won the finals, and it's likely they'll have one of the best offenses once again.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Last Season: 121.7 ORTG (1st in NBA)
Prediction: 121.8 ORTG (1st in NBA)
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a very well-rounded offense that possesses the most effective scoring attack in the league. They'll be bringing back the same offensive core, so there's no reason to believe they won't be the best offense again for this next season.
What makes their offense elite is their balanced scoring abilities. Donovan Mitchell led the team in points per game last season with 24.0 PPG, but Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen all provided multiple different scoring options on each possession as well.
The aspect where they fit well together is Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell's passing ability, combined with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen's height and athleticism in the paint. This combination made them one of the best teams at tossing and finishing alley-oops in the league last season.
The Cavs capitalized on this strength, as they led the league in pick-and-roll frequency and were also first in pick-and-roll points per game. This blend of elite playmaking and athletic finishing not only makes their offense versatile but also keeps defenses constantly on their heels.
In a weak Eastern Conference due to injuries and trades, all signs are pointing to another elite offensive season for the Cavaliers if they stay healthy.