Fifty-three years of waiting ended in five games. The New York Knicks are NBA champions, finally hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy after a grueling postseason run. The confetti has been swept away, the parades are over, and the league is already shifting its focus to the 2026-27 campaign.

But the crown doesn't guarantee the top spot in the polls. Despite New York’s historic triumph, our panel of NBA insiders has placed the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 1 in the initial power rankings for next season. It is a bold stance. It is also the only logical one.

Why Oklahoma City Still Holds the Edge

Oklahoma City finished the 2025-26 regular season with a league-best 64 wins. They were the team to beat all year. Then, they ran into a buzzsaw in the Western Conference finals. Even with Jalen Williams sidelined for much of that series, they pushed the San Antonio Spurs to the brink.

Now, the bill comes due. Williams and Chet Holmgren are entering extensions that will push the team’s salary cap toward the $250 million mark. They are diving deep into the second apron. It is expensive. It is risky. But general manager Sam Presti has been building toward this specific moment for years. They aren't just a contender; they are a juggernaut in waiting.

The Spurs and the Knicks: A New Rivalry

San Antonio sits at No. 2, and for good reason. They were a play-in projection last summer. They ended up in the NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and he is only getting better. With a massive rookie extension on the horizon, the Spurs are locked in. They have the talent. They have the experience. They are ready to take the final step.

Then there are the champions. The Knicks sit at No. 3. They proved they could win when it mattered most, but the math is unforgiving. They are already pressed against the luxury tax threshold. Decisions on Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride will define their summer. Can they keep the band together? It will be tight. It will be difficult.

The Rest of the Contenders

Boston rounds out the top four, but the mood in New England is far from celebratory. A first-round exit is a failure for a team of that caliber. Brad Stevens has been blunt: the roster needs an upgrade. They struggled against the league's elite all season. Now, they have to decide if Neemias Queta is the answer at center or if they need to look elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons sit at No. 5 after a 60-win season. They are no longer a surprise. They are a force. The league is changing. The balance of power is shifting.

Key Takeaways

  • The Thunder are the favorites: Despite a conference finals exit, the core remains intact and hungry for a title.
  • The salary cap is the real opponent: Teams like the Knicks and Thunder face massive financial hurdles that will dictate their roster depth.
  • Wembanyama is the anchor: The Spurs' rapid ascent to the Finals confirms that the league's future revolves around San Antonio's defensive star.

What Comes Next

The draft is weeks away. Free agency follows shortly after. The Knicks have a title to defend, but the rest of the league is already plotting their downfall. The 2026-27 season doesn't start for months. The arms race, however, has already begun.