Get ready, basketball fans, because the 2026-27 NBA season is officially here, and the San Antonio Spurs, a team that last year would’ve considered simply qualifying for a playoff spot a massive success, are now kicking things off as the undisputed number one in the league’s initial power rankings. This is a wild turn, showing just how much things can change in one offseason, and honestly, the rest of the league needs to pay attention.
San Antonio’s Shocking Leap to the Top
Last year, the Spurs were just finding their footing, but they pulled off a legit rabbit out of the hat against OKC in the Conference Finals. Honestly, the Thunder felt like the better team for most of that series, but San Antonio got it done. Now, moving forward, we’re talking about an even better version of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and especially Dylan Harper, who truly broke out in the playoffs. De’Aaron Fox, for all the talk of trading him, is apparently a luxury they can afford with Castle, Harper, and Wembanyama all still on their rookie contracts. This team not only beat OKC in a Game 7 on the road, but they also held the lead against the Knicks in the Finals for over 72% of the minutes played. That’s huge! Last year was just a preview; this year, the real story for the Spurs begins.
The Thunder’s Challenge and the East’s New King
Right behind the Spurs at number two are the Oklahoma City Thunder, and if you still think they’re the best team in the West, or even the whole league, you won’t get an argument from me. It feels like the Spurs’ top players are about to make another big leap, while OKC already made theirs. The losses of Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins (even if he was out of the playoff rotation), and Lu Dort are very real hits, even if Cason Wallace is better than all of them. Chet Holmgren is the X-factor here. He had a great season, becoming a better self-creator, and he’s still arguably the best rim protector in the game, with only Wemby as his nemesis. If Holmgren can somehow close that gap on Wembanyama in a head-to-head series, it could swing everything back to OKC. That matchup, if it happens again, will be the single biggest storyline of the postseason.
Over in the East, the Knicks slide in at number three, and come playoff time, they’re obviously the team to beat. But don’t expect them to light up the regular season scoreboard. They only won 53 games last year, and with how loaded the Eastern Conference is, some are predicting even less for them this year. All that contract stuff with KAT and other players? That’s just extra weight for a Knicks team trying to navigate a seriously tough conference.
This season is set to be one of the wildest in history, with no less than 14 teams legitimately believing they can snag the title. It’s going to be a fun one to watch as these teams start hitting the court and we see if these early rankings hold up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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