The 2026-27 NBA season is here, and our experts are throwing down their championship predictions, but what’s really wild is how many of them are putting their faith in the New York Knicks. Seriously, multiple writers are locking in the Knicks to win the East, despite some chatter about off-court distractions and the team logging a ton of miles over the last two seasons.
The East Is Stacked, But These Experts Love New York
Kelly Iko has a “gut feeling” about the Knicks, acknowledging the “very public, very unfortunate and very off-court stuff” that could be a distraction. But he’s still all-in because the team hasn’t changed much and has the “wherewithal to go the distance.” Iko says there’s “not a true hole” on their roster or coaching staff, which he sees as key, especially when other challengers like the Raptors, Pacers, 76ers, Celtics, Pistons, and Cavs all have “too many questions.” Dan Devine is also picking the Knicks, admitting he “can’t believe we’ve arrived at a place where I trust the Knicks more than any other team.” He knows “how high a level the Knicks can hit,” and for him, that’s enough to pick them even with the mileage and the trend of conference champions not repeating. Steve Jones is on the same page, giving the Knicks a nod for building on their “championship formula.” He knows the East is going to get serious respect this season, with stacked competition, and mentioned how he’s not changing his pick this year after Cleveland “got funny” last time.
Not everyone is buying the Knicks hype, though. Tom Haberstroh is going with the Philadelphia 76ers, even though he admits you could probably talk him into “something like six different teams.” He’s riding with the Sixers because LeBron James and Joel Embiid are healthy, and they’ve got “four All-NBA guys, a championship-winning head coach and sneaky depth.” Nekias Duncan, on the other hand, is rolling with the Boston Celtics. He’s a “huge believer” in what Boston has built, highlighting Jayson Tatum as an MVP-caliber talent “primed for a huge year.” Plus, they’re the defending champs and only lost “one (1) player from their top-10 playoff rotation.” They shoot, rebound, defend, and don’t turn the ball over.
The West: Thunder’s Chip vs. Spurs’ Rise
Out West, the picks are just as spicy, and it looks like a battle of rising stars. Nekias Duncan is calling the Oklahoma City Thunder for the championship. He’s still buzzing about how they “dealt with as many injuries as they did and still managed to flirt with 70 wins and go seven in the Western Conference finals against an alien.” Not only that, they had a fourth-quarter lead in that WCF! Duncan sees “top-end talent,” “internal development,” “elite coaching,” and believes they’ll have a serious “chip on their shoulder” after how last season ended.
But Tom Haberstroh and Steve Jones are both riding with the San Antonio Spurs. Haberstroh can’t shake how “inconsequential Chet Holmgren looked against Wemby” last May, suggesting a healthy Jalen Williams might have changed things for OKC. He’s going with the “still-rising Spurs.” Steve Jones just says the Spurs are “going to have to deal with a different level o” and that’s all we got before the thought cuts off, but the pick is clear.
As the season kicks off, it’s going to be wild watching if these bold predictions from the experts hit. Will the Knicks’ “championship formula” actually hold up? Can the 76ers’ health carry them, or will the Celtics defend their title? And out West, is it the Thunder’s time to cash in on all that talent, or are the Spurs truly the team everyone needs to watch as they keep rising? This year is shaping up to be a must-see!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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