NBA Preseason Power Rankings: Spurs, Knicks, Thunder top contenders for 2026-27
Major offseason trades reshape the league as preseason rankings emerge with defending champion Knicks and two Western Conference powers leading predictions.
What to know
- Major offseason trades reshaped rosters: LeBron James joined Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo moved to Miami, and Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto.
- Preseason power rankings show disagreement on top contenders: The Ringer ranks Spurs first with Knicks and Thunder close behind, while Yahoo Sports emphasizes a wider field including the defending champion Knicks.
- Some fans dispute top rankings, arguing young rosters need more development before being ranked as clear favorites.
The dispute Whether young rosters like the Spurs deserve top-tier preseason rankings when they lack championship-level experience. · positions read across 3 posts and comments
Top preseason rankings are premature and not reflective of actual team readiness.
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“We're not number 1. We have potential and Wemby is climbing, youngins are on upward trajectory too, but 1 is absurd.”
jermteam · Reddit ↗
Kevin O'Connor Yahoo Sports NBA analystThe Ringer Sports media outletSan Antonio Spurs NBA franchiseNew York Knicks NBA defending champions
How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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Reddit users contest rankings, with Spurs fans disputing top placement
Reddit commenters began pushing back on the preseason rankings, with a Spurs fan arguing the Spurs should not be ranked number one, citing potential and young player development as incomplete justification for the top spot.
“We're not number 1. We have potential and Wemby is climbing, youngins are on upward trajectory too, but 1 is absurd.”
— jermteam -
Also the cringe that is thinking I will give the slightest crap about what your dumbass opinion defending ringer nonsense in 6mths is painful. The fact you're saving multiple posts for it is so sad
2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
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There are media members who are bad actors like Shelburne. There are media members that are going for clicks like SAS. And then there are media members who are just dumb, like Pina.
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We're not number 1. We have potential and Wemby is climbing, youngins are on upward trajectory too, but 1 is absurd.
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Yahoo Sports releases preseason power rankings with broader title picture
Yahoo Sports published preseason rankings from Kevin O'Connor covering all 30 teams and noting major offseason trades: LeBron James to Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, and Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto. The rankings examine what changed, what's exciting, and what's concerning for each team ahead of the season.
“LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, and Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto. But did any of these moves produce a team better than the defending champion Knicks?”
— Kevin O'Connor -
first by Yahoo Sports, 3d ago
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The Ringer releases preseason power rankings
The Ringer published NBA preseason power rankings tiering teams into categories: Spurs, Knicks, and Thunder as top contenders; Celtics, Rockets, Raptors, Pistons, and Nuggets as title contenders with a puncher's chance; and Lakers, 76ers, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Pacers, and Hawks in a paper-thin margin tier.
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1 outlet first by The Ringer, 3d ago · read ↗
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