📈 First look at next season's NBA Power Ranks

First look at next season's NBA Power Rankings: Knicks, Thunder or Spurs at No. 1?Atlanta Hawks17hESPNGet ready for a wild NBA offseason: 10 teams to watch, and how each could shake up thingsMilwaukee Bucks3dTim Bontemps and Bobby MarksVictor Wembanyama's time is coming -- it just wasn't nowSan Antonio Spurs9hBen Golliver'Every team has to go through a little chaos': How these Knicks attained legendary statusNew York Knicks17hVincent GoodwillGo New York Go: After a 53-year wait, the NBA title belongs to the KnicksNew York Knicks16hTim Bontemps'BING BONG': Bad Bunny, Dirk Nowitztki top reactions to Knicks' first NBA title since 1973New York Knicks16hESPNGo N.

Y., Go N.Y.

, Go: Life 19,392 days ago when the Knicks won their last NBA titleNew York Knicks17hAnthony Gharib and Kalan HooksSix trades to transform the NBA draft: We deal eight of the top 10 picksMilwaukee Bucks2dNBA insidersGrading bold preseason predictions for all 30 NBA teamsSan Antonio Spurs5dZach KramDarius Acuff Jr. wants to be the next Jalen Brunson: A star with more heart than heightArkansas Razorbacks3dMyron MedcalfESPNMultiple AuthorsJun 13, 2026, 11:00 PM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe New York Knicks are your 2025-26 NBA champions after they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to claim the franchise's first title in 53 years.With the Larry O'Brien Trophy officially hoisted, the end of the campaign is here after a drama-filled season.

The Spurs knocked out their budding rival, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, before running into the Knicks in the Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took home his second straight MVP award, and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo decided it might be best to take his talents elsewhere this offseason.It's now time to look ahead to the 2026-27 season and what could be in store. Our NBA Insiders projected where all 30 NBA teams rank heading into next season and discuss whether their futures are bright, dim or ultimately forgettable.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Vincent Goodwill, Anthony Slater, Ben Golliver and Zach Kram) think teams belong after the 2026-27 NBA season.Jump to a team: ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS1.

Oklahoma City Thunder2025-26 record: 64-18Previous ranking: 1Result: Eliminated in the Western Conference finals2026 draft picks: No. 12 (via LAC), No. 17 (via PHI), No.

37 (via DAL)This roster gets even more expensive next season.Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren step into extensions that push the team's overall salary cap number from $186.7 million, just below the luxury tax, toward the $250 million range, which is deep into the second apron.

There are subtle ways to shave down that money, but Thunder general manager Sam Presti has planned and prepped this perennial contender for this next stage of luxury tax living.Expect them to bring back a majority of the nucleus that won 64 games and stretched the Spurs to the brink in the conference finals despite missing Williams, their second-best player, for a majority of the season and that San Antonio series. -- Anthony Slater2.

San Antonio Spurs2025-26 record: 62-20Previous ranking: 2Result: Lost in the NBA Finals2026 draft picks: No. 20 (via ATL), No. 35 (via UTAH), No.

42 (via POR), No. 44 (via MIA)The team projected to compete for a spot in the play-in tournament in 2025-26 smashed the gas on its ascension to championship contention and should be even better next season having gained valuable experience from a tough run in the NBA Finals.The young core of Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper will continue to improve along with veterans De'Aaron Fox, Julian Champagnie, and Devin Vassell.

Wembanyama is now able to negotiate a five-year, $251 million rookie extension, which would be the largest in franchise history.San Antonio will also look to add depth in the frontcourt through the draft and free agency. Rookie Carter Bryant was a revelation in his first season and is well-positioned next season to take on a more significant role.

-- Michael C. Wright3. New York Knicks2025-26 record: 53-29Previous ranking: 6Result: NBA Finals champions2026 draft picks: No.

24, No. 31 (via WAS), No. 55An expensive roster will become more expensive and the Knicks have some decisions to make with free agents off the bench.

Mitchell Robinson will draw interest from suitors after proving he could play a decent amount of games (60). He could stand to make more than the $12 million he's earning this year, along with Miles McBride, who could be a little trickier to peg. Following core surgery, he only played 41 games but shot a career high from 3-point range.

The Knicks were already right up against the punitive luxury tax threshold, ju