Few offseasons have reshaped the championship picture as dramatically as this one. Here’s how the genuine title contenders stack up heading into 2026/27.
## New York Knicks
The defending champions enter with the most continuity of any true contender, having beaten San Antonio in five games behind Finals MVP Jalen Brunson last June. Repeating is always difficult, especially with the East suddenly stronger, but our NBA standings tracker shows why New York still deserves top billing.
## Philadelphia 76ers
Few teams have transformed as quickly as the Sixers, adding both Jaylen Brown via trade and LeBron James in free agency to a core already featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. The ceiling here is enormous, though depth behind that star-studded top five remains an open question worth monitoring all season.
## Miami Heat
Acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo instantly makes Miami a contender again, pairing him with Bam Adebayo in a frontcourt combination few teams can match physically. Our free agency and trade roundup breaks down exactly what Milwaukee received in return and why the Bucks were willing to move on.
## Oklahoma City Thunder
Back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a Thunder squad that posted the league’s best regular-season record a year ago. Our MVP race breakdown explains why betting against Gilgeous-Alexander individually, or Oklahoma City collectively, rarely pays off.
## San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama’s continued development, backed by a 62-win season and a Finals appearance, keeps San Antonio firmly in the championship conversation heading into the new year.
## Why This Season Feels Different
The current collective bargaining agreement makes sustained dynasties nearly impossible, which helps explain why so many stars changed addresses this summer. For the fuller picture on how these moves came together, our free agency roundup covers every major transaction.
## The Bottom Line
With genuine contenders in both conferences and several rosters still needing time to gel, this looks like one of the most unpredictable title races in recent NBA history.