As the NBA Season moves toward its most important stage, the championship picture is beginning to take shape.
With the 2026-27 NBA season approaching, basketball fans in the Philippines already have plenty to discuss. The New York Knicks enter the offseason as the defending champions after ending a 53-year title drought, while several contenders have made major moves to challenge them.
For Filipino fans following nba live today, the biggest question is simple: which teams have the strongest chance of becoming the next NBA champion? While preseason rankings are not guaranteed, recent results, roster changes and player performance offer useful clues.
The Defending Champions Still Set the Standard
Knicks Coming Off a Historic Season
The Knicks deserve the top spot in any early championship discussion. New York finished the 2025-26 regular season 53-29 and then produced a remarkable playoff run, winning 13 straight games and recording the best postseason point differential in NBA history at +283.
Jalen Brunson was central to that success. He averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists during the playoffs and was named Finals MVP.
The defining moment came in Game 4 of the Finals, when OG Anunoby's late tip-in completed a 29-point comeback and gave New York a 107-106 victory.
Analysis: The Knicks have earned the benefit of the doubt. Their chemistry, playoff experience and ability to recover from difficult situations make them a logical favorite entering the new season.
The Teams Ready to Challenge New York
Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs
The Western Conference remains loaded. Oklahoma City and San Antonio were among the strongest teams during the 2025-26 campaign, and both remain major championship threats heading into 2026-27. Current preseason projections also place the Thunder and Spurs among the leading contenders.
The Spurs have an especially intriguing foundation around Victor Wembanyama. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City continues to build around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who won the 2025-26 MVP award after averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
Denver Adds Veteran Scoring
Denver also deserves attention after adding six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. The veteran signed a one-year, $3.9 million contract after averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 77 games last season.
Analysis: Adding DeRozan gives Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets another experienced scorer. Whether that translates into another Finals run will depend heavily on defense, health and how the new pieces fit together.
What the Numbers Tell Us
The 2025-26 regular season showed how competitive the league has become. Detroit led the East with a 60-22 record, while Boston finished 56-26. In the West, the eventual title race featured Oklahoma City and San Antonio at the top of the conference.
For fans checking nba scores, those standings are a reminder that regular-season dominance matters—but the playoffs can completely change the picture.
For bettors and fantasy players, preseason expectations can also influence nba picks and parlay discussions. Still, projections should be treated as analysis rather than guarantees, particularly before teams have played meaningful games together.
What Happens Next?
The next major storyline will be how these contenders handle the transition into the 2026-27 season. The Knicks must prove they can defend their championship, while young teams such as Oklahoma City and San Antonio will try to turn promise into sustained postseason success.
Player health, roster chemistry and late-season form could ultimately decide the championship. For Filipino fans, that makes the upcoming NBA season another race worth following closely—not just for the superstars, but also for the unexpected teams that could rise during the playoffs.
FAQs
1. Who won the 2026 NBA championship?
The New York Knicks won the 2025-26 NBA championship, their first title since 1973.
2. Who was the 2026 NBA Finals MVP?
Jalen Brunson of the Knicks was named Finals MVP after averaging 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in the playoffs.
3. Who won the 2025-26 NBA MVP award?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP after averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game.
4. Why are the Spurs considered championship contenders?
San Antonio has built around Victor Wembanyama and emerged as one of the Western Conference's strongest teams, making them a major contender entering the new season.
5. Which team should Filipino fans watch closely?
The Knicks remain the defending champions, but Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Denver are among the teams capable of making the championship race highly competitive.
Original Editorial Author: NBA Live Today PH Editorial Team
Updated: August 24, 2026, 9:54 AM PHT
This page is prepared as original editorial content for NBA Live Today PH readers. It combines the information available in the underlying record with analysis, explanation and navigation intended for basketball fans in the Philippines. Readers should verify rapidly changing scores, schedules, roster decisions and league announcements through official sources.
Image and rights notice: Existing cover photographs, team marks, league marks and other third-party media are retained for editorial identification and reporting. All image rights, trademarks and credits belong to their rightful owners or creators.
