Spurs and Thunder Lead the Way, But the 2026-27 NBA Title Race Is Far From Decided
Scott Morris | June 15, 2026
The New York Knicks had barely finished celebrating their first championship in more than five decades when sportsbooks turned the page to next season.
Oddsmakers wasted little time installing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as co-favorites for the 2026-27 NBA title. At first glance, that might seem strange considering the Knicks are the defending champions. Then again, the deeper you look, the easier it is to understand why bookmakers are so bullish on both Western Conference powers.
The Future Has Arrived in San Antonio
The scary part about the Spurs isn’t that they reached the NBA Finals. It’s how young they remain. Victor Wembanyama is only 22. Stephen Castle is 21. Dylan Harper is 20. Julian Champagnie is 24. Most teams spend years trying to build a foundation like that. San Antonio already has one and nearly won a championship with it.
The Spurs entered this season hoping to take another step forward. Instead, they found themselves three wins away from a title. Experience usually matters in June. Now this young core has it. That’s a frightening thought for the rest of the league.
Don’t Forget About Oklahoma City
It’s easy to overlook Oklahoma City after its Western Conference Finals loss because the Thunder didn’t make the Finals, but that would be a mistake.
The Thunder are still built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, one of the best young trios in basketball. Injuries also played a role in their playoff exit. A healthier Oklahoma City roster could easily have been the team facing New York instead of San Antonio.
The Thunder also continue to appear in Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors. Whether anything actually happens remains to be seen, but the fact that Oklahoma City has enough assets to enter those conversations says a lot about where the franchise stands.
The Knicks Have Earned More Respect Than They’re Getting
History says repeating is difficult. That’s one reason sportsbooks have New York behind both San Antonio and Oklahoma City, despite the Knicks just winning the championship. The NBA has now crowned eight different champions in eight seasons.
Still, dismissing the Knicks is dangerous. Jalen Brunson just delivered one of the best postseason runs in franchise history and proved he can be the best player on a championship team. That alone keeps New York firmly in the conversation.
Boston Remains the Biggest Wild Card
No contender enters the offseason facing more questions than Boston. The Celtics are still among the favorites despite ongoing speculation involving Jaylen Brown and potential roster changes. That’s a reflection of how much talent remains on the roster. If Boston keeps its core together, the Celtics should contend. If they make a major move, their odds could change dramatically.
One Move Could Change Everything
That’s what makes these early championship odds interesting.
The NBA offseason hasn’t truly started yet. Free agency is still ahead. The draft hasn’t happened. Most importantly, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future remains unresolved. One blockbuster trade could completely reshape the board.
For now, sportsbooks believe the road to the 2027 NBA title runs through San Antonio and Oklahoma City. Given the talent, youth, and upside both teams possess, it’s hard to argue with that, but if recent NBA seasons have proven anything, it’s that today’s favorite doesn’t always become tomorrow’s champion.
