We’re solely a handful of days faraway from the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Finals, however that makes it the right time to dive into some way-too-early predictions for what the 2026-27 NBA season could have in retailer for us after one of the memorable postseasons within the sport’s latest historical past.
Will the San Antonio Spurs discover their means again to the NBA Finals after their devastating bottling of the NBA Finals? Will the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder bounce again from their unlucky harm luck to develop into the multi-time champions they’ve all the time been anticipated to develop into? Or like this yr, will the New York Knicks steal the present (and the trophy) from each of them as soon as once more?
By way of particular person honors, it does really feel like this can be the yr that somebody, specifically the large fella in San Antonio, may eclipse Shai Gilgeous-Alexander within the MVP voting for the primary time since 2024. May this lastly be the season a participant like Luka Doncic will get over the hump by way of successful the game’s most prestigious particular person honor, or will somebody like Cade Cunningham emerge as the subsequent younger guard to earn the award?
With out additional ado, let’s see what the Ballislife crystal ball is saying for 2026-27.
NBA Finals: OKC Thunder defeat New York Knicks in 7
Quiet as saved, I do imagine the vitriol towards the Thunder towards the top of their playoff run made lots of people (media included) low cost simply how beat up this workforce was and simply how a lot they had been lacking with Jalen Williams being out nearly all of the common season and playoffs, along with Ajay Mitchell’s absence on the finish of the postseason. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a participant who can carry a workforce by extra than simply about anybody in at this time’s NBA, however he wants his second and third offensive choices to beat a workforce like San Antonio and particularly to beat a workforce like New York.
Assuming they’ve a greater time with their well being this season, I count on the Thunder to avenge their 2026 Western Convention Finals loss to the Spurs to maneuver onto the NBA Finals for the second time in three years, the place they are going to once more achieve success in 7 video games towards the Japanese Convention champion New York Knicks.
Wait… the Knicks? Sure, the Knicks. The Japanese Convention presently has precisely zero groups that encourage sufficient religion in me to select them over the model of the New York Knicks we noticed the final two months. Now that New York has that have and championship mojo, it should actually be laborious to guess towards them towards any workforce within the East in a playoff sequence. Possibly if the Celtics are in a position to land Giannis Antetokounmpo, that would complicate issues. However all indicators are presently pointing towards Giannis wanting to move to Miami, and I don’t assume that’s a transfer that immediately makes the Warmth a contender within the convention.
2026-2027 #NBA Championship Odds (DraftKings)
Spurs +250Thunder +260Celtics +600Knicks +650Nuggets +2500Pacers +2800Timberwolves +3000Lakers +3000Pistons +3000Cavaliers +3500Heat +400076ers +5500Rockets +6000Warriors +6000Magic +8000Clippers +8000Hornets +9000… pic.twitter.com/oqkRqBYum7
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) June 16, 2026
MVP: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
SGA prevented the voter fatigue this season, however a 3rd straight MVP is one thing that I simply can’t see the media bestowing upon him. That doesn’t imply he’ll definitively by no means win one other MVP, however subsequent season feels just like the yr Victor Wembanyama will emerge as sufficient of a power on the offensive finish that, along with his world-class protection, it should make it primarily unimaginable to disclaim his standing because the league’s literal most beneficial participant.
I do know Wembanyama’s inventory is down after his disappointing efficiency and conduct within the NBA Finals, however it will be silly to assume that this man’s trajectory has been meaningfully altered by the truth that he misplaced within the NBA Finals at 22 years outdated. Is it a mark on his resume? Completely, however I additionally imagine it’s the mark on his resume that he wanted to actually dial in and take himself to the subsequent stage on the court docket. Possibly as an alternative of a monk retreat this offseason, he’ll be engaged on sharpening his offensive recreation. Assuming he does, the MVP trophy has his identify on it.
Rookie of the 12 months: Darius Acuff Jr., Brooklyn Nets
what, why not? No one would have anticipated Kon Knueppel to get as near stealing Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the 12 months award as he did (I truly assume Kon deserved it), however Acuff going to Brooklyn would immediately make him an offensive centerpiece of one of many worst groups within the NBA. A.J. Dybantsa goes to be headed to a Washington workforce that has veteran management in place with Trae Younger and Anthony Davis, so I don’t count on he’d get the identical alternatives to manage the circulation of issues offensively the best way Acuff would in Brooklyn. Darryn Peterson must be a significant contender ought to he stay wholesome, however his pre-draft shenanigans make it laborious to actually decide the place his head and the way he’d reply if the Jazz go towards his needs and draft him.
Most Improved Participant: Scoot Henderson, Portland Path Blazers
It’s protected to say Scoot Henderson’s NBA profession didn’t begin the best way many in Portland envisioned, however this workforce confirmed a number of promise this previous season and Scoot appeared to considerably flip a nook along with his play for them late within the season. Scoot even posted a 31-point outing towards the Spurs within the Blazers’ lone playoff win. If Portland continues to emerge as a workforce that would contend for a prime 4 of 5 seed within the West and Henderson boosts his scoring to up round 18 factors per recreation from his profession excessive of 14.2 this previous season, he could possibly be an actual contender for the Most Improved Participant award.
Coach of the 12 months: Charles Lee, Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets already posted a 25-win enchancment from 2024-25 to 2025-26, the tear this group went on through the second half of the season had them trying like a workforce that would quickly develop into an issue within the Japanese Convention. I count on one other big-time win complete enchancment contemplating how decisive Charlotte’s level differential was within the video games they did win this yr. I believe they the Hornets even win a playoff sequence or at the least get into the playoffs with favorable seed as an alternative of being at mercy of the play-in match like they had been this previous season.
