Thunder Reign at the Top as Offseason Reshapes the NBA
SB Nation’s early 2026-27 NBA power rankings place the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 1, with the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks in a high-tier club, as the league adapts to new anti-tanking rules and a relegation-style lottery that dulls the appeal of “free wins.” The bottom of the league looks unsettled, with Sacramento, Milwaukee, and Chicago projected to struggle, while a flurry of moves could come after LeBron James’ free-agent decision. The piece walks through all 30 teams, weighing rookie impacts, fit around star players, potential trades, and which teams could surge or slide as the season approaches.
