NBA Tipoff: Title Favourites, Blockbuster Moves and MVP Race
by Joseph King
2026-27 NBA season: who's winning it all?
Coming into the 2026-27 NBA season, there are two clear frontrunners to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy: the OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, who enter the campaign as co-favourites. Beneath them, a group of teams such as the defending champion Knicks, the new-look 76ers and the ever-present Boston Celtics are considered the top contenders to the Thunder and Spurs. Let's take a look at the top four favourites as things currently stand.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2025-26 record: 64-18 (1st in West)
- Playoff result: eliminated in WCF by Spurs
- Star: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
It's hard to bet against the Thunder. They were utterly dominant in 2024-25 and the 2025-26 regular season (finishing with 68 and 64 wins, respectively), and have topped the West standings for the last three consecutive years. With perennial MVP favourite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way and elite depth with the likes of Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort and Ajay Mitchell, it’s clear why OKC head into the new season as the co-favourites.
San Antonio Spurs
- 2025-26 record: 62-20 (2nd in West)
- Playoff result: eliminated in NBA Finals by NYK
- Star: Victor Wembanyama
2025-26 was the coming out party for San Antonio as Victor Wembanyama made the leap to superstar. He proved the previous two seasons that he could deliver on a statistical level, but 2025-26 showed that Wemby has truly arrived as one of the league’s most dominant forces that can carry the team on his back.
They were ultimately unable to win the title, but the Association has shown us time and time again that teams often need to ‘earn’ their playoff success with a few near-misses first.
One thing’s for sure, the Spurs will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
New York Knicks
- 2025-26 record: 53-29 (3rd in East)
- Playoff result: champions
- Star: Jalen Brunson
What a season it was for Knicks fans as they celebrated their first NBA championship since 1973, after beating the Spurs 4-1. Jalen Brunson immortalized himself in New York folklore thanks to the incredible 32.6 PTS, 4.6 AST, 4.2 REB line that he averaged in the Finals, leading the Knickerbockers to the promised land and doing what so many previous greats couldn’t. The good news is that they kept their entire championship-winning starting five intact, giving them every reason to believe they can go back-to-back.
Philadelphia 76ers
- 2025-26 record: 45-37 (7th in East)
- Playoff result: eliminated in second round by NYK
- Star: Joel Embiid
Last year was another frustrating season for Sixers fans. When healthy, they possess the talent to be real contenders, but that’s rarely been the case in recent seasons. Joel Embiid is fast turning into one of the league’s greatest ‘what-if’ stories as the former MVP continues to have problems with staying healthy for a prolonged period. On the bright side, Philly made some genuinely impressive additions in the offseason, pulling Jaylen Brown from Boston in a trade for Paul George, and landing the legendary LeBron James in free agency.
Biggest offseason moves
This summer saw a wave of star movement, headlined by a major shake-up in the Eastern Conference pecking order. Here's a look at the biggest names who switched teams.
| Player | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | LA Lakers | PHI 76ers |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL Bucks | MIA Heat |
| Jaylen Brown | BOS Celtics | PHI 76ers |
| Paul George | PHI 76ers | BOS Celtics |
| Lamelo Ball | CHA Hornets | MIN Timberwolves |
| Kawhi Leonard | LA Clippers | TOR Raptors |
| Ja Morant | MEM Grizzlies | POR Trail Blazers |
The NBA MVP race
- Victor Wembanyama - MVP odds: 3.00
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Wemby finished third in the 2025-26 MVP voting and many anticipate that the Frenchman's fourth season will result in him lifting the Michael Jordan trophy for the first time.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - MVP odds: 4.50
Winner of the last two MVP awards, SGA is at the top of his game at 28 years of age and now entering his ninth season in the league.
- Nikola Jokic - MVP odds: 6.50
You can never count out three-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic, who has put up some absolutely ridiculous stat lines over the last few years. Now at 31 years of age, Jokic is still producing at an all-around offensive level that we’ve never before seen.
- Luka Doncic - MVP odds: 7.00
Led the league in scoring in two of the last three seasons and remains one of basketball's most dazzling talents, but his MVP window may already be closing. With SGA and Wembanyama dominating the conversation now, Jokic still very much in the mix, and the Lakers not expected to be a top-contending team, Doncic finds himself in no man’s land.
Odds found on bet365
H3. Dark horse team to watch
The Detroit Pistons will be a fascinating watch in the 2026-27 NBA season.
They pulled off a remarkable turnaround, going from a 14-win team just two seasons ago to a 60-win team last year, as all of the pieces finally fell into place for a team that had been in rebuild mode for so long.
Detroit was eliminated by the Cavaliers in a grueling seven-game series in the second round of the playoffs, something that this young core is sure to learn from going forward. Detroit kept its nucleus intact and boasts one of the league's fiercest defenses. If they can continue to grow as a team and lean on the brilliant Cade Cunningham, then the sky is the limit in the Motor City.
