Eight months of high-stakes, high-drama, high-octane basketball is set to unfold as the Racing Post's Steve Davies looks forward to what promises to be a thrilling new NBA season.
The New York Knicks have the target on their back following their stunning triumph last season in the NBA.
Led by All-Star Jalen Brunson, the Knicks went on an extraordinary 13-0 run through the play-offs as they took the championship banner to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 53 years.
They were simply superb but a new season brings new challenges with a rejuvenated Boston Celtics and a 76ers' group reinforced by the arrival of legend LeBron James representing the biggest dangers in the Eastern Conference.
Over in the West expect big showings from last season's flopping favourites Oklahoma City Thunder plus Victor Wembanya's San Antonio Spurs, who were thumped 4-1 by New York in June's finals.
NBA season 2026/27 Tips Summary
Best Bet - New York Knicks to Win NBA Championship @ 9/1
Alternative Bet - LA Clippers to Win Pacific Division @ 30/1
Alternative Bet - Washington Wizards Under 34.5 Wins @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - Minnesota Timberwolves Over 47.5 Wins @ 20/23
NBA season 2026/27 Prediction
Best Bet: New York Knicks to Win NBA @ 9/1
You have to go back nine years for the last repeat but there is every reason to believe the Knicks can back up last season's glorious triumph in '26/27.
Mike Brown's irrepressible Knicks went from good to great to invincible in the space of a few short months last season, culminating in the most extraordinary decimation of the league's finest in the play-offs.
And the reality is they may not yet have peaked - and that is seriously scary for the rest.
Jalen Brunson was the team's leader, averaging 28.4 points per game through the play-offs where he peaked with 32.6ppg in the 4-1 rout of the Spurs.
But there were significant field-goal improvements from the likes of OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges over the course of a campaign in which this team became electrifying to watch.
The East looks top heavy (certainly in contrast to a stacked West) and the Knicks have the tools to fend off both Philly and the Celtics to land No.1 seed honours.
And if they attack the play-offs the way they did last season then they would have too much for the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets or whoever else emerges from the West.
Alternative Bet: LA Clippers to win Pacific Division @ 30/1
The Clippers finished third in the Pacific Division last time, just three games behind second-placed Phoenix.
Their 42-40 record earned them a Play-In spot and they could be huge improvers in '26/27. Could, is the operative word, but 30/1 to pip the Lakers, Suns, Warriors and Kings for the division is quite the price.
The Lakers minus LeBron James certainly make unappetising favourites but it's the comings and goings at the Clippers that demand closer inspection.
They have basically overhauled their roster with Kawhi Leonard and plenty of others following James Harden out of the door.
Headlining the new arrivals are All-Stars Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram which means the Clippers will not be short of dynamic creativity and shot-making.
Rui Hachimura is one of a batch of eye-catching additions to a roster already featuring class acts like Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal. If they gel they become a fascinating prospect who can outrun 30/1 odds in a division which could be far tighter than many envisage.
Alternative Bet: Washington Wizards Under 34.5 Wins @ 10/11
With 15, 18 and 17 wins in the past three seasons and constantly being accused of tanking, the Wizards at last look like they are primed to play.
The vets are certainly in place with DeAndre Ayton and Khris Middleton joining Trae Young and Anthony Davis and top draft pick AJ Dybantsa comes with bags of potential.
But this looks transitional and a long way from becoming a play-off contender. They went 17-65 last term and the prices say they double their W tally. That looks a huge ask and common sense says they fall short.
Alternative Bet: Minnesota Timberwolves Over 47.5 Wins @ 20/23
Minnesota finished sixth in the West last term with a 49-33 record and can improve on that.
The irrepressible Anthony Edwards has been joined by LaMelo Ball to form - on paper, anyway - one of the most excited back courts in the league.
Rudy Gobert continues to prove he is more than just one of the very best rim protectors and 'Wolves' legend Kevin Garnett isn't the only man tipping Jaden McDaniels for a breakthrough season.
Key Tournament Stats
- New York Knicks are the defending champions, after their 4-1 series win over San Antonio Spurs in June's Finals
- None of the previous seven NBA champions went on to successfully defend their crown; indeed none of the previous seven champs even reached the following season's Finals
- Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18) boasted the best regular-season record last year; Detroit (60-22) were the best in the East
- Luka Doncic of the LA Lakers topped the scoring average in the league last season with 33.5 points per game; Jalen Brunson (NYK) led the way in the play-offs with 28.4
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) is the reigning MVP, becoming the 14th player in NBA history to win the award twice in succession
- AJ Dybantsa, a 19-year-old small forward and MVP at the 2025 Under-19 World Cup, was selected by Washington Wizards as the No.1 pick in the draft
- Notable trades heading into this season included LeBron James (LA Lakers to Philadelphia 76ers), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks to Miami Heat), Mitchell Robinson (New York Knicks to Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers to Toronto Raptors) and Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies to Portland Trail Blazers)
Read more basketball betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
