3. San Antonio Spurs
Don't come after me. The first, second, and third spots on this list are borderline interchangeable. This isn't a statement that the Spurs aren't competitive going into 2026-2027, just that they're a young team with work to do. Everyone saw that in the 2026 NBA Finals.
There's no doubt that San Antonio is loaded with talent from Victor Wembanyama all the way to the bottom of the roster. How they handled the bright lights of the finals left a lot to be desired. Again, that's the folly of youth, something that will fade away with time and experience.
Signing veteran Tobias Harris in free agency will help with that. His guidance will be important since the Spurs picked up four more rookies in the 2026 draft. That includes a powerhouse center in Jayden Quaintance, who will be an excellent backup for Wemby once he's up to NBA speed.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Getting knocked out of the Western Conference Finals by the Spurs may have lit a fire under Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his crew. Expect them to show up in 2026-2027 with a chip on their shoulders and a deep-rooted desire to prove they are not one-hit wonders.
So far, they've only lost Andrew Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, which is easily absorbed by their deep roster. The Thunder have also exercised the team option on Lu Dort and given Isaiah Hartenstein a three-year extension. That keeps their core together, which is a big deal.
The 2026 draft was really good to them, as well. They picked up three rookies, including Aday Mara. This Spanish center just won a national championship with the Michigan Wolverines and has the size and skill to stand up to Wemby. You can bet he will too, unlike a certain guy named Chet.
1. New York Knicks
No NBA franchise has won back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. If any team is going to make it happen, it will be this Knicks roster. New York waited 53 years for another NBA championship, and you can bet they're not letting it go at one.
The Knicks have made no significant changes to their roster, other than Mitchell Robinson leaving for the Celtics in free agency. New York has kept their championship starting five together, as well as retaining the services of key benchers Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado.
Their only issue is finding a new backup center. In addition to Robinson, Ariel Hukporti also left New York, but he went to Philly. The Knicks are going to need to find someone at a bargain as the owner is unwilling to go into the second apron for the payroll. Other than that, they are set for a repeat.
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