Post-Finals NBA Power Rankings: Stacking 30 teams for 2026-27 season - ESPN

The 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 | WAS

2025-26 record: 64-18

Previous ranking: 1

Result: Eliminated in the Western Conference finals

2026 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