As NBA Summer League action continues to heat up and the offseason progresses, fans across the league are buzzing with anticipation for the 2025–26 season. Though I’ve been on vacation the past couple of weeks and haven’t been able to put together a Washington Wizards-specific fan survey this time around, I’ve still kept a close eye on what other fanbases are thinking—and feeling—heading into the new year.
Digging into some fan surveys from our team sites, it’s clear that hope is alive and well in many NBA cities, even after a whirlwind free agency period and plenty of unexpected roster changes. Let’s break down a few insights that stood out.
Over at Mavs Moneyball, our Dallas Mavericks site, optimism is clearly running high. According to a recent poll, a whopping 84 percent of Mavs fans believe their team will make the playoffs this upcoming season. That’s a major vote of confidence—especially considering that Dallas was bounced from the play-in tournament in the 2024–25 campaign.
So what’s fueling all the enthusiasm? The Mavericks have been making serious moves. The addition of phenom Cooper Flagg, who’s expected to bring a rare combination of length, skill, and two-way upside, is front and center in the excitement. Flagg joins a team that already includes Anthony Davis, who is expected to anchor the defense, and D’Angelo Russell, a recent acquisition that could add valuable scoring and veteran presence in the backcourt. For Dallas fans, the pieces are finally coming together, and they believe this could be the start of a new chapter—one that extends well beyond the play-in tournament.
Meanwhile, over at Fear the Sword, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ fanbase is less focused on internal developments and more attuned to what their Eastern Conference rivals are up to. One of the most telling questions in their survey asked Cavs fans which Eastern Conference team worries them the most in the upcoming season.
The New York Knicks dominated the responses with 54 percent of the vote. That’s hardly a shock given New York’s recent upward trajectory and aggressive moves to stay competitive. But the results also highlight two other rising threats in the East: the Orlando Magic, who garnered 27 percent of the vote, and the Atlanta Hawks at 9 percent.
Interestingly, the Indiana Pacers didn’t make much of a splash in the responses—perhaps due to the unfortunate injury to Tyrese Haliburton, who is expected to miss the upcoming season. Still, I wouldn’t count them out entirely. Indiana has a track record of developing talent and staying competitive even in the face of adversity. While they may not be seen as a major threat, they certainly shouldn’t be dismissed as a bottom-feeder either.
Overall, the picture from around the league is one of cautious optimism mixed with regional rivalries and high expectations. Fans know that things can change quickly in the NBA—but for now, they’re dreaming big.