With the 2026-27 NBA season tipping off Oct. 20, theScore's Joseph Casciaro, Michael Chandler, Chicco Nacion, Eric Patterson, and Jonathan Soveta boldly predict which teams will be left standing and who'll be in line for individual hardware after the campaign.
The additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have vaulted the Philadelphia 76ers into the top echelon of the East, and the New York Knicks return largely the same roster that ended the franchise's 53-year title drought. Kawhi Leonard stands to propel the Toronto Raptors, while the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Detroit Pistons have their doubters.
Not much variance here, and for good reason: The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs both have expected win totals exceeding 60 games, and every other team in the Western Conference has a mark below 50. Assuming these two run away from the pack and claim the top two seeds, they're a good bet to meet in the conference finals for the second year running.
The Eastern Conference elites may have retooled with marquee moves, but the NBA's upper crust remains out West, where the Spurs and Thunder are tipped by our editors to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Despite losing Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins in the offseason, Oklahoma City still boasts a stacked roster capable of winning its second title in three years.
New anti-tanking measures and a relatively underwhelming 2027 draft class could ensure a more competitive season. Still, someone has to finish last. The post-Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings are in various rebuilding stages and are widely expected to end up near the bottom of their respective conferences.
Cam Boozer's ceiling may not be as high as that of AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, but he could have the advantage of playing a bigger role on his team. Scarcity creates value for a Grizzlies team in teardown mode, and Boozer's polished game and high usage might give him a leg up over Peterson, who's expected to lead all rookies in scoring.
Five bench bosses blessed with retooled rosters make our list, with Nick Nurse being the only one who's previously won this award (in 2019-20 with the Raptors). Nurse's replacement in Toronto, Darko Rajakovic, is another popular choice who's at the helm of one of the Association's top defensive units, anchored by Leonard and Scottie Barnes.
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey is the presumed favorite for Executive of the Year after orchestrating the additions of James and Brown. But his biggest coup may have been jettisoning Paul George's $54-million salary and $56.6-million player option for 2027-28. Gansey's acquisitions of Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have stacked Philly's bench as well.
There's a lot of variety in this category, and a good case can be made for any of the five players. Brandon Miller's in line to become the Charlotte Hornets' offensive focal point following the departures of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. He averaged 20.2 points on 43.5% shooting last year, so it could take a significant statistical leap to sway voters.
The Spurs are committed to De'Aaron Fox as their starting point guard despite his poor postseason this spring, meaning star-in-the-making Dylan Harper is likely to come off the bench. The fact that Fox is entering the first season of a massive four-year, $229-million deal might have something to do with that. Ajay Mitchell, our most popular pick, enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign in which he established himself as a reliable scorer for the Thunder.
This one is obvious. Victor Wembanyama is coming off the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year selection in the award's 24-year history after leading the league in blocks (3.1), defensive win shares (5), defensive rating (101), and defensive rebounding percentage (33.9). The only thing standing in the way of back-to-back DPOY honors is a significant injury.
Wemby's claim to "best player on the planet" is a matter of when, not if. His offense is a work in progress, yet last season he became the first player to average 25-plus points in fewer than 30 minutes a night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's numbers also have room for growth; he posted 31.1 points in 31.1 minutes last year and led all players in points per 36 minutes (33.7) - a mark that would've topped the league in scoring.
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