Every NBA season comes with a few teams that make you think, “Are they actually good enough to win it all?” Maybe they added some serious talent in the offseason or perhaps they simply look the part on paper, but that doesn’t necessarily make them a true contender.
There’s no shortage of NBA teams with championship ambitions heading into the 2026-27 season. Some will prove they belong in the conversation, while others might have us wondering why we ever bought into the hype.
That leaves one big question: which teams are for real and which ones are getting a little too much credit? Let’s take a closer look and deliver our verdict: contender or pretender.
New York Knicks
The Knicks have a pretty simple argument: they just won the championship. Their roster remains largely intact from that title run, led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. But repeating is never easy, especially in a loaded Eastern Conference. New York will need to prove last season wasn’t lightning in a bottle, while Brunson and company face more pressure than ever before as the defending NBA champions.
Verdict: Contender
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs won 62 games last season, going from playoff hopefuls to Western Conference champions before eventually falling to the Knicks in the finals. DPOY winner Victor Wembanyama led the way, with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle helping form a young core that dominate for years. This team is only getting better, adding veteran forward Tobias Harris over the summer to give its young roster some much-needed experience. After getting so close to winning it all, the Spurs have already shown they can compete with the NBA’s best.
Verdict: Contender
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are an intriguing dark horse after bringing Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto. Leonard joins a squad led by Scottie Barnes, giving the Raptors a proven superstar alongside a rising young talent. Toronto is coming off a surprise playoff appearance, but repeating that success could be a different story. Leonard’s health remains a major concern at 35, while Toronto’s younger players still have to earn their stripes against the league’s top teams.
Verdict: Pretender
Philadelphia 76ers
On paper, the 76ers might have the NBA’s most star-studded roster. Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey give them serious firepower, but how well can all those pieces fit together? Health is another major question, particularly when it comes to Embiid and James. If they stay healthy and the stars find the right balance, Philadelphia has the talent to make a deep playoff run. If not, all that star power could quickly become a problem in the City of Brotherly Love.
Verdict: Contender
Miami Heat
The Heat made one of the offseason’s biggest moves by bringing Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Beach and pairing him with Bam Adebayo to form the league’s most intimidating frontcourt. That alone gives them significant upside. But Miami gave up considerable depth to make the deal, and the Giannis-Bam pairing still raises concerns about spacing. The Heat could make some noise if everything clicks, but there are too many question marks to call them a true title threat just yet.
Verdict: Pretender
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have something to prove after a disappointing end to last season. Despite a 64-win campaign and a deep playoff run, Oklahoma City fell to the Spurs in an intense seven-game series. This team still has its championship DNA and the firepower to make another run, but the Spurs stand in their way once again. The Thunder are unquestionably contenders, but whether they can get revenge on San Antonio and make it back to the Finals remains to be seen.
Verdict: Contender
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic gives Denver a chance every season, but the Nuggets rely too heavily on their superstar centre. Denver tried to address that issue this summer, adding DeMar DeRozan as another proven scoring option alongside Jokic and Jamal Murray. The bigger concern is the supporting cast; the Nuggets already struggled without Jokic on the floor, and now they’re without Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas. DeRozan should help, but the depth concerns remain.
Verdict: Pretender
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves made a major gamble this offseason, swapping Julius Randle and Naz Reid for LaMelo Ball. Ball gives Anthony Edwards the elite playmaking partner he’s never really had in Minnesota, potentially taking some pressure off the T-Wolves’ biggest star. Minnesota lost two important frontcourt pieces to make the trade happen, but this team still has Rudy Gobert anchoring the paint. If Ball and Edwards click, this could push the Timberwolves over the top.
Verdict: Contender
Boston Celtics
The Celtics still have Jayson Tatum and the championship pedigree, but this is a very different team from the one that won it all in 2024. Jaylen Brown is gone, while Tatum is returning from his Achilles injury and Paul George arrives at 36 after an injury-plagued year. Boston will need Tatum to look like himself and George to stay healthy, while the rest of the roster steps up in a loaded Eastern Conference. That’s a lot of boxes to check.
Verdict: Pretender
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers finally broke through to the Eastern Conference Finals, but getting swept by the Knicks showed that this team still has a ways to go. Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen give the Cavs plenty of talent, but Cleveland needs them to step up when it matters most. With Harden entering the season at 37 and the Eastern Conference only getting stronger, Cleveland could struggle to take that next step.
Verdict: Pretender