2025-26 NBA Preview: Central Division

The Eastern Conference’s Central Division earned its respect last regular season, as the Cavaliers finished with a conference-high 64 wins. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks earned the No. 3 seed in the conference despite a slow start and the Detroit Pistons emerged as a team that should be a playoff threat for years to come. 

This division is also home to one of the most unfortunate situations in recent NBA history, as the Pacers’ season is already on the fritz due to an Achilles rupture suffered by their superstar in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. And the Chicago Bulls are still the Chicago Bulls, unfortunately.

Central Division Projected Order Of Finish/Record

Cleveland Cavaliers: 58-24

Detroit Pistons: 52-30

Milwaukee Bucks: 50-32

Indiana Pacers: 39-43

Chicago Bulls: 38-44

Cleveland Cavaliers

Last season: 64-18

Predicted 2025-26 record: 58-24

Tier: Title contenders

Write up: The Cleveland Cavaliers put together their most successful regular season since 2008-09, winning 64 games and earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Like that 2008-09 team, however, the Cavaliers met some playoff misfortune and were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in a disappointing second-round shortcoming. 

I expect the Cavaliers to make a deeper playoff run this season, but I believe it will come at the expense of a handful of regular-season wins. One of the primary reasons they lost the series to Indiana was that Darius Garland missed the first two games, while Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley also missed a game. 

I think coach Kenny Atkinson will utilize load management a bit smarter this year and I don’t even think it will cost Cleveland the one seed, given the current complexion of the conference.

Detroit Pistons

Last season: 48-34

Predicted 2025-26 record: 52-30

Tier: Eastern Conference threats

Write up: Last season marked Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons’ arrival as a legitimate playoff team, now this upcoming season will be the year they turn into bona fide threats in the Eastern Conference. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Cunningham elevates himself from an All-NBA third teamer to the second or potentially even first team, and I don’t think we’re too far off from seeing him become a regular MVP candidate. 

Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson have grown into key contributors, each averaging over 16 points per game in their respective appearances last season. Coach JB Bickerstaff has led his teams to three straight playoff berths, but I believe his ninth season as an NBA coach will be the first time he earns a top-three seed in his conference. 

The Malik Beasley situation is tough, but I trust Cunningham’s acumen to lead the Pistons and I believe Thompson will make a leap not unlike the one his twin brother, Amen, made for the Houston Rockets last season. I expect Bickerstaff to navigate this with the poise he’s grown to acquire throughout the last decade, and I predict he’ll be given his first NBA Coach of the Year Award for his efforts.

The Pistons are positioned right in the second tier of Eastern Conference contenders, alongside the Knicks and just below the Cavaliers. Only two teams can make the conference finals, however, and you’ll have to read our playoff preview to find out those picks.

Milwaukee Bucks

Last season: 48-34

Predicted 2025-26 record: 50-32

Tier: Giannis makes anything possible

Write up: In my Way Too Early 2025-26 NBA Predictions article published in the immediate weeks following the NBA Finals, I predicted that Giannis Antetokounmpo would win his third MVP this season by leading a depleted Bucks roster to an improved 50-win record and a competitive playoff seed. Giannis finished third in the award voting last season, but the Bucks’ season ended in the first round for the third consecutive season.

My predicted playoff seeding has the Bucks finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference, which would be one spot worse than the No. 3 seed they earned last season, despite the fact that I actually have them projected to win two additional games. 

The addition of Myles Turner will provide crucial frontcourt reinforcement for the new-look Bucks, and I expect him and Giannis to form a consistent pairing. The Bucks have a good chance to advance past the first round again this season, thanks to the injuries affecting two of their biggest Eastern Conference rivals. However, it will still be a challenging task in a conference with a handful of emerging teams.

Indiana Pacers

Last season: 50-32

Predicted 2025-26 record: 39-43

Tier: Navigating injuries

Write up: The Indiana Pacers are navigating the brutal reality that is the Achilles injury that star point guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered in Game 7 of an all-time classic NBA Finals in June. While many questioned Haliburton’s status as a true superstar throughout the course of the playoffs, probably undeservedly, the fact of the matter is he’s possibly the single most important catalyst for one team’s offensive system in the entire NBA save for the great Stephen Curry. 

The Pacers, as mentioned in the Bucks section, also lost star center Myles Turner to their Milwaukee-based rivals. Not only does Turner’s departure weaken the Pacers in one of their darkest moments, it also strengthens their most hated rival in the league. Regardless, I expect Aaron Nesmith to continue the tear that put him on the map during the NBA playoffs en route to winning the 2025-26 Most Improved Player Award. 

I currently have the Pacers slotted as a play-in team, but who knows how far that squad of underdogs can push a run without their leader.

Chicago Bulls

Last season: 39-43

Predicted 2025-26 record: 38-44

Tier: Middling

Write up: The Chicago Bulls have gotten quite used to finishing as the No. 9 or No. 10 seed in each of the last three seasons. I expect that trend to continue for a fourth, as they’ll finish with one less win than the 39 that they’ve accumulated in each of the last two seasons.

It’s a major plus that the team inked Josh Giddey to a four-year extension that will keep him in town for the next four seasons, but the Bulls roster is still a few pieces away from moving beyond the Purgatory they’ve been occupying throughout the 2020s.

Up Next

Our next preseason NBA preview will feature the Southeast Division. The Atlantic Division preview can be found HERE.

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2025-26 NBA Preview: Atlantic Division