The month of March 2026 has been one of the most exciting stretches of the NBA season, especially because of how many games have come down to the final seconds. There have been multiple nights where the standings literally changed because of one shot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had several clutch takeovers for the Oklahoma City Thunder, including games where he scored the final 6–8 points in the last two minutes and hit contested mid-range shots to seal wins. This has solidified the Thunder as serious contenders to go back-to-back NBA Finals champions. Another serious outstanding player in the Western Conference has been Victor Wembenyama. This young star has been going nuclear, and fans raise the question: Could Wembenyama be the MVP this season?
In the East, the Detroit Pistons have been winning close games, including overtime battles in which they have locked in defensively and received key stops in the final possessions. However, their star point guard, Cade Cunningham, has been sidelined due to a collapsed lung. This is especially difficult for the Pistons, as Cade has been absolutely incredible this season and has helped them reach the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Hopefully, Cade can be back for the start of the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how players like Jalen Duren and Dannis Jenkins step up during Cade’s absence. The Los Angeles Lakers have also been one of the notable teams balling out as of late. The duo of Luka and Lebron has been absolutely incredible. The most notable game in March has been their game in South Beach, Miami, against the Heat. On a day when the Lakers arrived in Miami at 2 a.m. on a night of a back-to-back, the Lakers showed up ready to play. Luka impressively posted 60 points, and Lebron posted a triple-double in his return to Miami, the team to which he brought two championships.
“I think Luka will win MVP. He has been so dominant and is very deserving of the award this year,” Sean Ghulamali ‘29 said.
Lastly, the Hawks have surprisingly been climbing up the Eastern Conference standings after trading away Trae Young. To many people’s surprise, Jonathan Kuminga has been playing excellently for them. Jonathan was acquired from the Warriors near the trade deadline and has totally turned it around this season with the Hawks. Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels have also been phenomenal as of late for the Hawks.
Off the court, March has also brought major discussions about the future of the
League, especially expansion. The NBA has continued to explore adding new teams, with cities such as Las Vegas and Seattle being the most talked-about options. Seattle, which previously had the SuperSonics, has a strong basketball history and a fan base ready for a team again, while Las Vegas has quickly become a major sports city with successful events and new franchises. Expansion could completely change the League’s structure, adding more competition and possibly even shifting divisions and conferences. As the League grows in popularity, March has been about not only the playoff race but also what the NBA’s future could look like.
