Why You Care: Sports media loves nothing more than a βway too earlyβ headline. Just this morning, I saw a βway too earlyβ power rankings list for the 2026 NHL season. The Carolina Hurricanes havenβt been champions for double-digit hours yet.
Similarly, talk of the Knicks' chances of repeating as champs is already kicking into gear. To choose one example, the sportsbook DraftKings released its odds to win the 2027 NBA title and the Knicks land just fourth on that list. Ahead of the already champs are the Spurs, currently the betting favorite, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Boston Celtics.
The case for the Knicks repeating isn't terribly hard to make β the starting five are all under contract for next season, and there is a path to retain most key contributors as well. Mitchell Robinson is most likely the biggest piece of this title-winning team that won't be back next season, assuming he finds a bigger payday in free agency than New York is willing to offer. Landry Shamet isn't going to command mega bucks, so a reunion there seems likely. Jose Alvarado might be good taking a hometown discount to stick around, but Mike Brown is also probably ready to give those minutes to developing reserve Tyler Kolek if Alvarado finds a stronger market for his services.
But Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby arenβt going anywhere. So why place three teams ahead of the reigning champs so soon? Despite just falling to these Knicks in five games, the Spurs arenβt going anywhere. Victor Wembanyama has emerged as a franchise superstar, and San Antonio boasts a young team around him, with De'Aaron Fox serving as the graybeard of the team. With Wemby to build around, this team will be a threat for the next decade.
The Thunder have back-to-back reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams all locked into multi-year contracts and won a title just a year ago with this core. The question surrounding the Thunder's offseason is the same one that hangs over Boston's β will these teams make a play for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Rumors have swirled that the Thunder were spooked by Holmgren's performance in the Western Conference finals and his ability to compete against Wembanyama for the next decade. The Celtics could decide to move on from a seemingly disgruntled Jaylen Brown and go all-in for the Greek Freak to pair with Jayson Tatum.
The Giannis situation looms over the entire NBA. We know he wonβt be a New York Knick though. The champs are content to take another swing with their core intact. |
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