From division winners to the MVP to who hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy next June, our panel of experts from NBA TV and NBA.com reveal their predictions for the 2016-17 season.
Eastern Conference division winners
| Expert | Atlantic | Central | Southeast |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Aldridge (Turner Sports) | Celtics | Cavs | Hornets |
| Greg Anthony (Turner Sports) | Celtics | Cavs | Hornets |
| Steve Aschburner (NBA.com) | Celtics | Cavs | Wizards |
| Fran Blinebury (NBA.com) | Raptors | Cavs | Hawks |
| Rick Fox (Turner Sports) | Raptors | Cavs | Hornets |
| Scott Howard-Cooper (NBA.com) | Raptors | Cavaliers | Hawks |
| Stu Jackson (Turner Sports) | Raptors | Cavs | Hornets |
| Reggie Miller (Turner Sports) | Celtics | Cavs | Hawks |
| Shaun Powell (NBA.com) | Celtics | Cavs | Hawks |
| John Schuhmann (NBA.com) | Celtics | Cavs | Hornets |
| Sekou Smith (NBA.com) | Raptors | Cavs | Hawks |
| Steve Smith (Turner Sports) | Raptors | Cavs | Hawks |
| Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports) | Raptors | Cavs | Hawks |
| Ian Thomsen (NBA.com) | Raptors | Cavs | Hawks |
| Lang Whitaker (NBA.com) | Raptors | Cavs | Hawks |
Western Conference division winners
| Expert | Northwest | Southwest | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Aldridge (Turner Sports) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| Greg Anthony (Turner Sports) | Thunder | Spurs | Warriors |
| Steve Aschburner (NBA.com) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| Fran Blinebury (NBA.com) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| Rick Fox (Turner Sports) | Thunder | Spurs | Warriors |
| Scott Howard-Cooper | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| Stu Jackson (Turner Sports) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| Reggie Miller (Turner Sports) | Thunder | Spurs | Warriors |
| Shaun Powell (NBA.com) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| John Schuhmann (NBA.com) | Jazz | Spurs | Warriors |
| Sekou Smith (NBA.com) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| Steve Smith (Turner Sports) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
| Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports) | Timberwolves | Spurs | Warriors |
| Ian Thomsen (NBA.com) | Thunder | Spurs | Warriors |
| Lang Whitaker (NBA.com) | Blazers | Spurs | Warriors |
NBA Finals picks & NBA champion
| Expert | Eastern Conf. champion | Western Conf. champion | Finals winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Aldridge (Turner Sports) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Greg Anthony (Turner Sports) | Cavs | Warriors | Cavs |
| Steve Aschburner (NBA.com) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Fran Blinebury (NBA.com) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Rick Fox (Turner Sports) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Scott Howard-Cooper (NBA.com) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Stu Jackson (Turner Sports) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Reggie Miller (Turner Sports) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Shaun Powell (NBA.com) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| John Schuhmann (NBA.com) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Sekou Smith (NBA.com) | Cavs | Warriors | Cavs |
| Steve Smith (Turner Sports) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
| Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports) | Cavs | Spurs | Cavs |
| Ian Thomsen (NBA.com) | Cavs | Clippers | Cavs |
| Lang Whitaker (NBA.com) | Cavs | Warriors | Warriors |
Award picks, Part I
(MVP, Rookie of Year & Defensive Player of Year)
| Expert | MVP | ROY | DPOY |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Aldridge (Turner Sports) | LeBron James | Joel Embiid | DeAndre Jordan |
| Greg Anthony (Turner Sports) | Paul George | Joel Embiid | Kawhi Leonard |
| Steve Aschburner (NBA.com) | Russell Westbrook | Joel Embiid | Rudy Gobert |
| Fran Blinebury (NBA.com) | LeBron James | Joel Embiid | Kawhi Leonard |
| Rick Fox (Turner Sports) | Russell Westbrook | Buddy Hield | DeAndre Jordan |
| Scott Howard-Cooper | Kevin Durant | Buddy Hield | Kawhi Leonard |
| Stu Jackson (Turner Sports) | Russell Westbrook | Kris Dunn | DeAndre Jordan |
| Reggie Miller (Turner Sports) | Russell Westbrook | Kris Dunn | Paul George |
| Shaun Powell (NBA.com) | Russell Westbrook | Joel Embiid | Hassan Whiteside |
| John Schuhmann (NBA.com) | James Harden | Joel Embiid | Rudy Gobert |
| Sekou Smith (NBA.com) | Kevin Durant | Jaylen Brown | Kawhi Leonard |
| Steve Smith (Turner Sports) | LeBron James | Kris Dunn | Draymond Green |
| Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports) | LeBron James | Jaylen Brown | Kawhi Leonard |
| Ian Thomsen (NBA.com) | James Harden | Joel Embiid | DeAndre Jordan |
| Lang Whitaker (NBA.com) | LeBron James | Jamal Murray | Anthony Davis |
Award picks, Part II
(Most Improved Player, Sixth Man & Coach of Year)
| Expert | Most Improved | Sixth Man | Coach of Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Aldridge (Turner Sports) | D'Angelo Russell | Zach Randolph | Tom Thibodeau |
| Greg Anthony (Turner Sports) | Victor Oladipo | Brandon Jennings | Nate McMillan |
| Steve Aschburner (NBA.com) | D'Angelo Russell | Stanley Johnson | Tom Thibodeau |
| Fran Blinebury (NBA.com) | Myles Turner | Andre Iguodala | Steve Kerr |
| Rick Fox (Turner Sports) | Devin Booker | Marcus Smart | Tom Thibodeau |
| Scott Howard-Cooper | Rodney Hood | Andre Iguodala | Brad Stevens |
| Stu Jackson (Turner Sports) | Devin Booker | Brandon Knight | Gregg Popovich |
| Reggie Miller (Turner Sports) | Victor Oladipo | Andre Iguodala | Billy Donovan |
| Shaun Powell (NBA.com) | Bismack Biyombo | Andre Iguodala | Terry Stotts |
| John Schuhmann (NBA.com) | JaMychal Green | Cory Joseph | Brad Stevens |
| Sekou Smith (NBA.com) | Victor Oladipo | Jamal Crawford | Tyronn Lue |
| Steve Smith (Turner Sports) | Jabari Parker | Zach Randolph | Tyronn Lue |
| Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports) | Zach LaVine | Jamal Crawford | Tom Thibodeau |
| Ian Thomsen (NBA.com) | Myles Turner | Jamal Crawford | Tom Thibodeau |
| Lang Whitaker (NBA.com) | Karl-Anthony Towns | Jamal Crawford | Brad Stevens |
