NBA Power Rankings After New York Knicks Win 2026 NBA Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs
The 2025-26 campaign is in the books.
The New York Knicks, for the first time since 1973, are NBA champions. And that means it's officially time to start looking ahead to the 2026-27 campaign.
We'll do that today with a way-to-soon version of the power rankings, one that's subject to dramatic changes over the next several weeks and months.
Trades, free agency and the draft are going to shake up every team in the league, but we can build that into the forecast.
With those considerations and our typical criteria (team and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances and plenty of good, old-fashioned subjectivity), this is how the entire NBA shakes out right now.
30. Sacramento Kings (22-60)
1 of 30
Previous Rank: 26
Net Rating: -9.7
2026-27 Finals Odds: +100000
The Sacramento Kings' roster doesn't offer much reason for optimism.
Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis are mid-prime, but both were underwhelming, at best, in 2025-26. DeMar DeRozan is well past his.
And while Keegan Murray and Maxime Raynaud both look like they could be contributors for a while, it's hard to see real star potential with either.
Pair that with the fact that the Kings fell to No. 7 in the lottery and it feels safe to assume that Sacramento could be in for at least one more year with a lot of losing.
29. Brooklyn Nets (20-62)
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Previous Rank: 29
Net Rating: -10.0
2026-27 Finals Odds: +100000
There are already rumors floating around about the Brooklyn Nets' interest in Austin Reaves. And adding him to Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton would certainly give the Nets a shot at competitiveness out East.
But it still feels like Reaves will return to the Los Angeles Lakers, who could fully embrace a top two with him and Luka Dončić (and without LeBron James) and leave the Nets scrambling for other options.
That likelihood and the fact that Brooklyn fell to the No. 6 pick in the lottery makes it hard to see a whole lot more wins than it had in 2025-26.
28. Milwaukee Bucks (32-50)
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Previous Rank: 24
Net Rating: -6.1
2026-27 Finals Odds: +17500
After months (maybe even years) of rumors, we may have already seen the end of the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo era.
At this point, several reporters, including Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer are forecasting a pre-draft deal that sends the all-time great elsewhere.
And most of the rumored packages that are out there suggest the Bucks will be moving quickly and fully into a rebuild.
Milwaukee will be bad, for at least 2026-27. But a teardown and patient build back up, even with the adjusted lottery odds, is the right call.
27. Chicago Bulls (31-51)
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Previous Rank: 23
Net Rating: -5.3
2026-27 Finals Odds: +100000
The Chicago Bulls barely missed out on a top-three pick in a draft that's widely believed to have three players with the potential to go first overall. That might seem like a real bummer.
But they also moved up five spots in the lottery and have a chance to draft a big man oozing with upside (and one who might be a top pick in other years).
Adding the ridiculous athleticism of Caleb Wilson to a frontcourt that already includes Matas Buzelis gives Chicago one of the league's more dynamic young cores.
That won't mean much winning in the short term, but the Bulls at least have something to look forward to.
26. Memphis Grizzlies (25-57)
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Previous Rank: 25
Net Rating: -6.0
2026-27 Finals Odds: +75000
Assuming the Memphis Grizzlies get anything of value in a Ja Morant trade (which feels like a near-inevitability this summer), they should have one of the better and more exciting young cores in the NBA in 2026-27.
There's already reason for longterm hope with Cedric Coward, Zach Edey and Cam Spencer. Even Santi Aldama is only 25.
And now, the Grizzlies will add the third overall pick (likely Boozer) and have a potential superstar for that supporting cast to revolve around.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (26-56)
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Previous Rank: 22
Net Rating: -4.4
2026-27 Finals Odds: +50000
The New Orleans Pelicans' draft-night trade for Derik Queen in 2025 seemed bonkers at the time and it certainly remains so now.
Despite winning fewer than 30 games, they don't have a lottery pick to show for it, because that selection went to the Atlanta Hawks in the Queen deal.
And while the young big man had his moments as a rookie, he doesn't look like the kind of player to warrant trading multiple firsts (at least not yet).
So instead of being able to add to the core with a pick from a loaded draft, New Orleans may spend this offseason contemplating trades of Trey Murphy or Zion Williamson to add more assets to a rebuild.
24. Washington Wizards (17-65)
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Previous Rank: 30
Net Rating: -11.8
2026-27 Finals Odds: +20000
Beyond the fact that the Washington Wizards will have their pick of three potential superstars with the No. 1 pick this month, they now boast Trae Young and Anthony Davis (though the latter doesn't seem thrilled to be there).
If those two are healthy, Washington could conceivably double its paltry win total from 2025-26. Much more improvement than that, and they might be competing for a play-in spot.
There will still be growing pains. The rest of the supporting cast (which includes Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George, to name a few) is real young. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer will be a rookie.
But Young and Davis (assuming he isn't traded) bring tons of experience, playmaking, scoring and rim protection between them.
23. Utah Jazz (22-60)
8 of 30
Previous Rank: 28
Net Rating: -8.2
2026-27 Finals Odds: +22500
Like Washington, the Utah Jazz should be able to make a quick pivot to competitiveness after landing a top pick in this draft.
They'll get one of the prized trio of prospects, add him to Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George and presumably Walker Kessler (who's a restricted free agent) and be a lot more likely to win games than they have been at any other point in this post-Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert era.
They didn't get the top pick, but this is as good a draft as any to end up second. And making a win-now move (the JJJ trade) in the lead-up to it suggests Utah is done chasing losses.
22. Phoenix Suns (45-37)
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Previous Rank: 18
Net Rating: 1.4
2026-27 Finals Odds: +12500
The Phoenix Suns were one of the best stories of the 2025-26 campaign.
They smashed overall expectations and got big campaigns from Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker.
And though they need to re-sign Gillespie and Mark Williams, Brooks and Booker are under contract. If they get better health from Williams and Jalen Green, Phoenix could be one of the pluckier teams in the West again.
21. Dallas Mavericks (26-56)
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Previous Rank: 21
Net Rating: -5.2
2026-27 Finals Odds: +10000
If we assume the Dallas Mavericks don't trade Kyrie Irving, it's not hard to imagine a pretty dramatic wins improvement for 2026-27.
After averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a rookie, a superstar trajectory seems obvious for Cooper Flagg.
If he takes even a small step forward in his second season, Irving is 90-95 percent of the player he was pre-injury and Dereck Lively can stay healthy, the Mavs will be a significantly tougher night-to-night out than they were in 2025-26.
20. Golden State Warriors (37-45)
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Previous Rank: 20
Net Rating: -0.5
2026-27 Finals Odds: +6500
It's hard to know how to assess the Golden State Warriors at this point in the offseason.
There's a chance they play things slow, keep the 11th overall pick and start thinking more seriously about the post-Stephen Curry future.
In that scenario, there's a real chance they miss the playoffs again.
Or, they could pair that pick with other assets and maybe the expiring contract of the injured Jimmy Butler to land another star (or near-star).
That scenario certainly ups the likelihood of postseason play, but with Curry in his age-38 season and Draymond Green post-prime, it's hard to imagine the Warriors catching up to the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (42-40)
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Previous Rank: 17
Net Rating: -0.4
2026-27 Finals Odds: +12500
The Portland Trail Blazers are among the teams that have been mentioned as a possibility for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they're about as far from Greece as an NBA team can get. And Giannis has already tried the Damian Lillard partnership.
Giannis staying in the East feels more likely, and the Blazers should probably be fine with that.
Just staying the course makes plenty of sense for Portland, who'll add Lillard's shooting to an emerging core that already includes Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.
18. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37)
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Previous Rank: 16
Net Rating: -0.1
2026-27 Finals Odds: +5500
The Philadelphia 76ers finally topped their longtime nemesis when they beat the Boston Celtics in the first round, but they were quickly dispatched by the New York Knicks after that.
And though Embiid still has moments when he looks like the kind of player who can contend for MVPs and be the No. 1 option on a contender, his health remains one of the biggest question marks in the league.
There may not be any teams willing to assume that question from Philadelphia, but the 76ers have to seriously consider moving Embiid and moving into an era solidly built around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
17. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
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Previous Rank: 14
Net Rating: 1.1
2026-27 Finals Odds: +7000
The big question mark for the Los Angeles Clippers is what, if anything, will happen to them as a result of the league's investigation into their and Kawhi Leonard's connection to Aspiration.
If the NBA determines they circumvented the salary cap, penalties could make this offseason a crippler. If they don't, L.A. has a shot to play spoiler in the West.
The Clippers have the No. 5 pick, will get a full season from Darius Garland and still have Kawhi for at least one more year.
In 2025-26, when Leonard was on the floor, L.A. had a point differential around that of a 59-win team.
16. Toronto Raptors (46-36)
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Previous Rank: 12
Net Rating: 2.9
2026-27 Finals Odds: +10000
All of the Toronto Raptors' most important players will be back for the 2026-27 campaign, but none of them (with the possible exception of soon-to-be-25-year-old Scottie Barnes) are the key to short- or long-term improvement.
That honor might belong to Collin Murray-Boyles, who averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes as a rookie.
At 6'7", he's certainly undersized at center, but combining Boyles' versatility with Barnes' for more minutes next season could give the Raptors one of the more dynamic defenses in the NBA.
15. Orlando Magic (45-37)
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Previous Rank: 13
Net Rating: 0.6
2026-27 Finals Odds: +6000
The two biggest stories of the last two years of Orlando Magic basketball are the overwhelming number of injuries they've dealt with and the struggle for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to coexist.
There's been some buzz about a potential Paolo-for-Giannis Antetokounmpo swap, but most recent signs are pointing to the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat as likelier Giannis landing spots.
And breaking up that duo in Orlando is far from critical. Both are still years away from their primes. And if they can stay relatively healthy, the questions about their fit together might be easier to answer.
The probable path for the Magic this offseason, especially nearly eliminating the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, is holding the core together and seeing what it can do under new head coach Sean Sweeney.
14. Atlanta Hawks (46-36)
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Previous Rank: 11
Net Rating: 2.2
2026-27 Finals Odds: +6500
Even if the Atlanta Hawks are unable to re-sign CJ McCollum (the best player they got in return for Trae Young), they should enter 2026-27 as one of the more exciting young teams in the NBA.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is just entering his prime, but Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and Jonathan Kuminga are all still years shy of theirs.
And the Hawks have two first-round picks in this summer's draft that they can either use to add to the young core or go after a veteran in a trade.
13. Indiana Pacers (19-63)
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Previous Rank: 27
Net Rating: -7.8
2026-27 Finals Odds: +4500
We don't know exactly what Tyrese Haliburton will look like during the 2026-27 season, but even if he's 90 percent of the player he was pre-Achilles tear, the Indiana Pacers have the potential to triple their 2025-26 win total.
Not having a lottery pick after this gap year felt like a disaster on lottery night, but a starting five with Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac could be one of the East's best.
They certainly aren't guaranteed to get right back to title contention, especially with a handful of other East teams also on the rise, but a return to the playoffs feels like a safe bet.
12. Miami Heat (43-39)
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Previous Rank: 19
Net Rating: 2.1
2026-27 Finals Odds: +3500
The Miami Heat might be the leader in the clubhouse for a Giannis trade, and the widely rumored package for him would leave Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell there.
The resulting rotation could be dangerously light on shooting and floor spacing, but a defense led by Adebayo and Antetokounmpo could be dominant.
And though there would be an adjustment period, if Giannis stayed fully healthy, the Heat could be a dark horse contender in the East as early as next year.
11. Houston Rockets (52-30)
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Previous Rank: 9
Net Rating: 5.4
2026-27 Finals Odds: +3500
The Houston Rockets' offense was far too reliant on offensive rebounding and it hit the skids when Steven Adams went down mid-season.
After a hot start, Houston's campaign ended with a disappointing first-round loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now, the Rockets have to at least think about trading Kevin Durant (who missed all but one game in the playoffs) and reorienting back toward youth.
They may be worse in the short term, but more developmental minutes, especially on the ball, for Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard and Alperen Şengün would do much more long-term good than another year as a fringe contender.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29)
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Previous Rank: 15
Net Rating: 1.5
2026-27 Finals Odds: +3000
The Los Angeles Lakers winning a series without Luka Dončić was solid evidence that LeBron James is still a major difference-maker at 41 years, but we may have seen the last of him in purple and gold if he's unwilling to take a pay cut to stay there (which is reportedly the case).
Ultimately, the Lakers need to start building for a Luka-centric future anyway. That means they need a good secondary creator (that box is checked if they re-sign Austin Reaves), some good rim runners (something Deandre Ayton looked more willing to do in 2025-26) and plenty of perimeter defense.
At his age and with his skill set, there's a decent chance LeBron just doesn't fit the mold as a role player around Luka.
9. Charlotte Hornets (44-38)
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Previous Rank: 7
Net Rating: 4.9
2026-27 Finals Odds: +8000
The Charlotte Hornets' unbelievable second-half surge fell just shy of the playoffs, but there's no doubt they'll return as one of the 2026-27's most exciting teams.
LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Moussa Diabaté are all under contract for next season. And that lineup was an absurd plus-27.4 points per 100 possessions in 2025-26.
There's reason to believe Ball, Miller and Knueppel could all make meaningful improvements next season, and that should have the rest of the East worried.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30)
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Previous Rank: 6
Net Rating: 4.1
2026-27 Finals Odds: +3500
The Cleveland Cavaliers may have some decisions to make this offseason.
They closed 2025-26 strong and made it all the way to the conference finals, but the New York Knicks swept them there. James Harden had a disastrous last series. And Evan Mobley still hasn't developed the perimeter skills to really make his partnership with Jarrett Allen pop.
Cleveland has to at least think about breaking that frontcourt duo up with a trade. Or, if it senses a lack of longterm commitment from its best player, it might even canvass the league for potential Donovan Mitchell deals.
The Cavs could run it back and probably be one of the better teams in the East again. There's even a chance they advance a little further than they did in 2026. But there's also a very real possibility that this core has already reached its ceiling.
7. Detroit Pistons (60-22)
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Previous Rank: 5
Net Rating: 8.4
2026-27 Finals Odds: +2200
The Detroit Pistons may have been knocked out in the second round, but it's still incredible that this team went from 14 wins in 2023-24 to the East's first overall seed in 2025-26.
And given the ages of Cade Cunningham (24), Ausar Thompson (23) and Jalen Duren (22), it's fair to expect plenty of upward movement for this group.
Duren has to be re-signed in restricted free agency, but this trio now has playoff experience and the sting of a playoff loss. Adversity could absolutely make them better.
6. Denver Nuggets (54-28)
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Previous Rank: 4
Net Rating: 5.2
2026-27 Finals Odds: +2200
The Denver Nuggets face a lot of questions after a first-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. That loss coming on the heels of back-to-back second-round exits makes it even worse.
Since they won the title in 2023, the Nuggets really haven't come close to securing another.
And given the gap in aggression and athleticism between the current Nuggets roster and those of the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, it's easy to wonder if Denver might make drastic moves this offseason.
Could Aaron Gordon or Jamal Murray be traded? Will they hang onto Peyton Watson in restricted free agency. Everything but a Nikola Jokić trade appears to be on the table.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
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Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: 3.1
2026-27 Finals Odds: +3000
The Minnesota Timberwolves clearly have the Denver Nuggets' number, but there appears to be a gap between them and the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
So, it probably shouldn't be all that surprising that their name has once again surfaced as a potential landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
They probably don't have a good enough package to beat whatever the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat might offer, but it's fair to assume the front office is at least thinking about changes.
It has to maximize Anthony Edwards' chances at contention, and the core with him, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle may have already reached its ceiling.
4. Boston Celtics (56-26)
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Previous Rank: 3
Net Rating: 8.3
2026-27 Finals Odds: +650
The rumor mill has been churning an awful lot of "Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics" stories, reports and speculation lately.
And if that happens, it's not hard to imagine a Giannis-Jayson Tatum combo getting the Celtics back to the mountaintop.
But even if the Celtics mostly run it back, they should be a title contender with a healthier Tatum and the supporting cast that smashed expectations without him.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18)
28 of 30
Previous Rank: 1
Net Rating: 11.1
2026-27 Finals Odds: +250
Is this the summer Sam Presti makes a big swing on the trade market?
After losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the conference finals, and with the Oklahoma City Thunder armed with two picks in the top 17 of this draft (and several more in future drafts), Presti could make some very compelling offers to bring a different star to play alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He could also do something a little less dramatic and simply use some of those picks to move up in this loaded draft.
Or, he could very reasonably believe that his team's earlier-than-expected exit was mostly the product of injuries. There aren't a lot of teams that could survive the loss of their second and third most important shot creators.
And although this roster is set to be one of the most expensive in the league, if healthy, it's good enough to win another title.
2. San Antonio Spurs (62-20)
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Previous Rank: 2
Net Rating: 8.4
2026-27 Finals Odds: +250
The Spurs' ahead-of-schedule run ended in heartbreak, but it should come as no surprise that they're already tied for the shortest odds to win the 2026-27 title.
Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are all on their rookie contracts. Development is really just starting. There's no reason to believe they can't be better next season.
That doesn't mean they're guaranteed to get back to the point they hit this year. Everyone assumed the 2011-12 Oklahoma City Thunder would be back, and they never were.
But we've rarely seen young cores with as much potential as this one. Regardless of what the Spurs do this offseason, they should be in the mix for a title next season.
1. New York Knicks (53-29)
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Previous Rank: 8
Net Rating: 6.4
2026-27 Finals Odds: +800
The Knicks had to overcome double-digit deficits in each of their four Finals wins, but their determination, perhaps above all else, is what set this team apart from the rest of the league.
And it's hard to imagine that going away over the offseason.
Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart will all be back. And New York will absolutely have a shot to end the NBA's nearly decade-long streak without a repeat champion.
