The NBA is back, and what an offseason we’ve had.
LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76er. Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing for the Miami Heat. LaMelo Ball has joined Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto.
And somehow, after all those blockbuster moves, the team sitting at the top of our inaugural EST Elite NBA rankings is the one that just won the championship.
The New York Knicks.
Welcome to the first edition of EST Elite NBA, where we’ll rank the ten best teams in basketball throughout the 2026–27 season.
These aren’t simply predictions of who will finish with the best regular-season record. We’re considering championship potential, roster strength, offseason improvements, coaching, and what teams accomplished last season.
Let’s get into it.
#10 — Detroit Pistons
Detroit rounds out our preseason Top 10, and there’s still plenty to like about this team.
Cade Cunningham continues to establish himself as a franchise cornerstone, while Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson give the Pistons an exciting young foundation.
Detroit also made some meaningful offseason additions.
John Collins arrives to provide another scoring option in the frontcourt, while Isaiah Joe brings valuable perimeter shooting after joining from Oklahoma City. Taurean Prince adds experience and versatility.
Those moves matter because Detroit needed more reliable options around Cunningham.
The Pistons have athleticism, young talent, and a roster that should continue improving.
But Cleveland eliminated Detroit in last season’s playoffs, and until the Pistons prove they can get past teams like the Cavaliers when it matters most, we can’t justify placing them any higher.
Detroit has earned its place in our opening Top 10.
#9 — Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland enters at number nine, one spot ahead of the Detroit team it eliminated in last season’s playoffs.
Donovan Mitchell remains one of the NBA’s premier scorers, while James Harden gives the Cavaliers another experienced offensive creator.
Cleveland also made an interesting offseason move by acquiring Peyton Watson from Denver. Watson brings athleticism, defensive versatility, and the ability to guard some of the league’s most dangerous wings.
The Cavaliers have enough talent to compete with almost anyone on a good night.
But we’ve seen talented Cleveland teams enter seasons with enormous expectations before.
At some point, the Cavaliers need to turn their regular-season talent into a genuinely threatening championship contender.
For now, ninth feels appropriate.
#8 — Toronto Raptors
Welcome back to Toronto, Kawhi Leonard.
Seven years after delivering the Raptors their first NBA championship, Leonard has returned to the franchise where he enjoyed one of the greatest playoff runs in recent memory.
And that changes things.
Toronto acquired Leonard in a blockbuster trade that sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and draft assets to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Raptors also added veteran Kyle Anderson, giving them another experienced and versatile player.
The biggest question is obvious.
How much does Kawhi Leonard have left?
When healthy, Leonard can still influence games on both ends of the floor. His ability to create shots, defend, and remain composed in important moments is exactly what Toronto needs.
But availability has been a concern throughout his career.
If Leonard stays healthy, Toronto could become a very uncomfortable playoff opponent.
For now, we’re placing the Raptors eighth.
#7 — Denver Nuggets
Any team with Nikola Jokić deserves respect.
The three-time MVP remains one of the most complete offensive players basketball has ever seen. His passing, scoring, rebounding, and ability to control the tempo make Denver dangerous every single night.
But the Nuggets have some questions to answer.
Minnesota eliminated Denver in six games during the first round of last season’s playoffs. For a team with championship ambitions, that’s a disappointing result.
Denver responded by bringing in DeMar DeRozan, adding another experienced scorer who can create his own shot.
Marvin Bagley III also joins the roster, providing additional frontcourt depth.
DeRozan is an interesting fit alongside Jokić. Denver now has another player capable of generating offense when possessions slow down.
However, adding talent doesn’t automatically solve everything.
The Nuggets need to improve defensively, develop consistent contributions beyond Jokić, and prove they can handle the Western Conference’s increasingly difficult competition.
Denver remains dangerous.
But after last season’s playoff exit, we’re starting them at number seven.
#6 — Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota comes in one spot ahead of Denver, and there’s a good reason for that.
The Timberwolves eliminated the Nuggets from last season’s playoffs.
They earned the higher ranking.
And Minnesota didn’t spend the offseason standing still.
The Timberwolves made one of the biggest moves of the summer by acquiring LaMelo Ball, giving Anthony Edwards an extremely talented offensive partner.
Think about the possibilities.
Edwards is already one of the NBA’s most explosive scorers. LaMelo brings outstanding passing ability, creativity, and another player who can generate offense without needing Edwards to do everything.
Minnesota also added Jonathan Kuminga, whose athleticism and scoring potential give the Timberwolves another interesting weapon.
However, these additions came at a cost.
Julius Randle and Naz Reid departed, meaning Minnesota will need to adjust its frontcourt rotation and find new ways to replace their production.
The talent is undeniable.
The question is how quickly everything comes together.
If Edwards and LaMelo develop strong chemistry, Minnesota could be one of the most entertaining teams in basketball.
And potentially one of the most dangerous.
#5 — Miami Heat
The Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Let that sink in.
One of the greatest players of his generation is now playing in Miami under Erik Spoelstra.
The Heat made an enormous commitment to acquire the former MVP, sending Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, and significant draft compensation to Milwaukee.
Miami also received Bobby Portis in the deal.
And the Heat weren’t finished.
They added Klay Thompson, bringing championship experience and perimeter shooting to a roster that desperately needs spacing around Giannis.
The fit between Giannis and Bam Adebayo is fascinating.
Defensively, the possibilities are ridiculous. Both players can protect the paint, switch assignments, and make life miserable for opposing offenses.
Offensively, however, there are questions.
Neither Giannis nor Bam is known for being an elite perimeter shooter. Miami will need to surround them with enough shooting to prevent defenses from crowding the paint.
That’s where Klay becomes particularly important.
If Spoelstra can make this roster work, Miami could be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.
We’re starting them fifth, but don’t be surprised if the Heat climb quickly.
#4 — Philadelphia 76ers
This might be the most fascinating team in the entire NBA.
LeBron James. Joel Embiid. Jaylen Brown. Tyrese Maxey.
Read those names again.
Philadelphia completely transformed its championship outlook during the offseason.
First, the 76ers acquired Jaylen Brown from Boston in a trade that sent Paul George and draft compensation to the Celtics.
Then came the move nobody could have imagined a few years ago.
LeBron James left Los Angeles and joined Philadelphia.
The 76ers also added Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, giving the roster additional offensive options and valuable experience.
On paper, this team is absolutely loaded.
LeBron remains one of the greatest playmakers in basketball history. Embiid is a dominant center when healthy. Brown is an established two-way star, and Maxey is one of the most exciting guards in the league.
But basketball isn’t played on paper.
How will Philadelphia distribute touches between four major offensive stars?
Can Embiid stay healthy throughout the season?
And can the 76ers develop enough chemistry to challenge teams that have spent years playing together?
Those are legitimate questions.
Still, the talent is simply too impressive to ignore.
Philadelphia starts at number four, and anything short of a deep playoff run would be disappointing.
#3 — Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City remains one of the most dangerous teams in basketball.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads an outstanding young core that already knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren give Oklahoma City two more talented players capable of influencing games on both ends of the floor.
But the Thunder experienced some significant roster changes during the offseason.
Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins departed for Atlanta, while Isaiah Joe was traded to Detroit.
Those are meaningful losses.
Dort’s perimeter defense was an important part of Oklahoma City’s identity, while Wiggins and Joe provided valuable contributions to the rotation.
The Thunder retained Isaiah Hartenstein and added rookie Bennett Stirtz through the draft, but replacing experienced contributors won’t necessarily be easy.
The good news?
Oklahoma City still has Shai.
And as long as he’s leading the offense, the Thunder will remain extremely difficult to beat.
Their young stars should continue developing, and the team’s overall talent remains among the league’s best.
We have them third entering the season.
Don’t be surprised if they’re fighting for number one before long.
#2 — San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs were four quarters away from forcing a Game 6 in the NBA Finals last season.
Instead, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks completed another comeback, defeating San Antonio in five games to capture the championship.
It was a painful ending.
But for the Spurs, it also proved something important.
They are ready to compete for championships.
Victor Wembanyama is already one of the most extraordinary talents the NBA has ever seen.
His combination of height, shooting, mobility, defensive instincts, and offensive versatility is almost impossible to replicate.
And he’s still developing.
San Antonio also has an exciting young backcourt featuring De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, giving the Spurs plenty of speed, scoring, and creativity around their superstar center.
During the offseason, San Antonio added Tobias Harris, providing another experienced scoring option and additional depth.
The Spurs also secured Wembanyama’s future with a five-year contract extension.
That’s a pretty good summer.
San Antonio now has something it didn’t possess entering last season.
NBA Finals experience.
They know what it takes to reach the championship stage, and they know exactly how painful it is to fall short.
The Spurs start second in our rankings.
But with Wembanyama leading the way, nobody should be surprised if they finish the season on top.
#1 — New York Knicks
Who else?
The New York Knicks are the defending NBA champions.
And until somebody takes that championship away from them, they deserve to begin the season at number one.
New York didn’t just win the championship last season.
The Knicks dominated the playoffs, finishing with an incredible 16-3 record.
They defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games during the NBA Finals, completing a historic run that brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to New York for the first time since 1973.
Jalen Brunson was sensational.
His 45-point performance in Game 5 against San Antonio was the perfect ending to a championship run filled with extraordinary moments.
But what makes the Knicks particularly dangerous entering this season is their continuity.
Brunson is back.
Karl-Anthony Towns is back.
Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart are back.
New York has retained the core that just delivered a championship, and that chemistry matters.
While other contenders spent the summer making enormous trades and figuring out how their new stars will fit together, the Knicks already know how to win.
They also made some smaller moves to strengthen their rotation.
Andre Drummond arrives to provide rebounding and interior depth, while the team retained Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet.
New York did lose Mitchell Robinson, but the foundation of its championship team remains intact.
And that’s why they’re number one.
The Knicks don’t have to prove they can win a championship.
They already did it.
Now the challenge is defending it.
Every opponent will be coming for them. Every road game will feel bigger. Every contender will want to measure itself against the reigning champions.
But that’s what comes with wearing the crown.
Until somebody knocks New York off its throne, the Knicks remain the team to beat.
Final Thoughts
This might be one of the most exciting NBA seasons in recent memory.
Philadelphia has assembled an unbelievable collection of stars. Miami has Giannis. Minnesota has paired Anthony Edwards with LaMelo Ball. Toronto has brought Kawhi Leonard home.
Meanwhile, San Antonio and Oklahoma City are looking to establish themselves as the dominant forces in the Western Conference.
And standing above everyone?
The defending champion New York Knicks.
But these are only preseason rankings.
Once the games begin, reputations won’t matter nearly as much as results.
Teams will rise. Teams will fall. And some of our predictions will undoubtedly look ridiculous a few weeks from now.
That’s the fun of it.
Welcome to EST Elite NBA.
Ten teams. One crown. Let the season begin.
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