An elite starting five can be the difference between a playoff team and a championship contender. Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, there is a group of teams that have some special lineups — on paper, if stars stay healthy. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best of the best with our rundown of the top 10 NBA starting lineups in the new season.
10. Philadelphia 76ers
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The Philadelphia 76ers were an absolute mess last season. They lived up to nightmare expectations as both Joel Embiid and Paul George were bitten again by the injury bug and did not play much last season. Could that happen again in the 2025-26 season? Sure. But they could also end up getting lucky and staying healthy. If the pair does, they are still top 50 players in the game. That, combined with young star Tyrese Maxey, gives Philly a lineup that can be a problem for a lot of teams.
9. San Antonio Spurs
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Victor Wembanyama is back healthy following his blood clot scare, and that is bad news for the Western Conference. He is still only 21 and already among the most impactful players on the court. He should be an All-Star again in 2025, but now he has an even better group around him with Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox in the backcourt. The San Antonio Spurs have one of the best starting lineups no one is talking about.
8. Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the league last season. Under the guidance of Ime Udoka, they were an elite team in the West. Alperen Sengun evolved into an All-Star, and Amen Thompson looks like another star on the rise. The loss of Fred VanVleet to injury will be a big blow, but in the summer, they got the one thing they most lacked last season, an elite go-to scorer. Assuming he can stay healthy at 37, Kevin Durant is a huge piece to a potential NBA Finals puzzle for H-Town.
7. Los Angeles Lakers
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You have to know the Los Angeles Lakers would be in our top 10. They were a lock with a still very good LeBron James and a top-five talent in Luka Doncic. They showed how good they can be together under JJ Redick last season and will get an entire training camp this year. Plus, you have Austin Reaves — a really strong role player — and the addition of Deandre Ayton to give the starting five the meaningful center they lacked last season. The Lakers’ lineup could be among the top three by the end of the 2025-26 NBA season.
6. Denver Nuggets
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When you have, arguably, the best player on the planet, that is always a good start for an elite starting five. They reached the playoffs for a seventh straight year last season, and many of the key players from 2024-25 are back. However, there are two major changes. David Adelman gets a whole training camp with the team to implement his coaching strategies, and Cam Johnson replaces Michael Porter in the starting five. The Denver Nuggets starting five could potentially be better this season than they have been in recent seasons.
5. Golden State Warriors
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It seemed like the dynasty was done, and Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were on the downside of their careers. Then Jimmy Butler showed up. Late in the season, the Golden State Warriors became one of the scariest starting fives in the NBA because of the three legendary greybeards. That should be the case again in 2025-26 after getting a full camp to work together. The biggest hindrance to their success this season will be if the future Hall of Famers can stay healthy.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Minnesota Timberwolves will bring back the same roster that got them to the Western Conference Finals last season, and they could potentially go back for a third straight year next spring. While it took some time, the roster really got rolling in the second half as Julius Randle finally found his niche alongside superstar Anthony Edwards. They have a top-five player and scorer, and play strong defense. They are a tough out for every team in the league.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have one player viewed as a legit star in Donovan Mitchell. However, they proved last year that their starting five is one of the most efficient and effective in the league. They play good defense, but elevated their scoring attack under head coach Kenny Atkinson. They don’t get the national attention of other units, but the Cavs are a favorite to reach the Finals this season because of how good their starting lineup is.
2. New York Knicks
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It is never easy adding an All-Star-level player to a starting lineup. However, last season, the New York Knicks added a pair in Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. With a season now under their belts, and Mitchell Robinson likely being added to the starting unit, New York has the makings of a group that could be very tough to deal with on both sides of the court, and in crunch time because of the brilliance of Jalen Brunson late in games.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
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The Oklahoma City Thunder proved last season that you can be young and experienced. Their talented starting five, featuring MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Jalen Williams, has been a growing force the last two years. However, the additions of a healthy Chet Holmgren and the grit of big man Isaiah Hartenstein helped to round out and complete what is now the best NBA starting five heading into the 2025-26 season.
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After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos