2026-27 NBA Preseason Power Rankings: Thunder and Spurs Lead a Radically Reshaped League

The 2026-27 NBA season tips off in just one month, and the league looks entirely unrecognizable. The superstar musical chairs of the summer have settled, leaving a radically reshaped hierarchy in their wake. Across the industry's preseason power rankings, one thing is abundantly clear: the old guard has scattered, and a new era of contenders has officially arrived.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs stand alone at the summit. Across major polls, these two youth-driven juggernauts are the consensus championship favorites. San Antonio's timeline has been completely accelerated by Victor Wembanyama's rapid ascent to superstardom, transforming them from a rebuilding project into a terrifying reality for the rest of the Western Conference.[1]

Oklahoma City counters with unmatched depth and cohesion. They remain arguably the most unified roster in basketball, sitting comfortably at the No. 1 spot in multiple preseason evaluations. Their blend of elite youth and growing experience makes them the team everyone else is chasing as training camps open.[1]

Then there is the sheer chaos in California. The Los Angeles Lakers check in at No. 9 in The Ringer's rankings, armed with a brand new franchise cornerstone. Luka Doncic is now a Laker, a generational floor-raiser who single-handedly guarantees elite offense and is perfectly positioned to chase his first MVP award in purple and gold.[1]

Up north, the Toronto Raptors pulled off the unthinkable by reuniting with Kawhi Leonard. CBS Sports confirmed the finalized trade agreement with the Clippers earlier this month. The ripple effects are already being felt in training camp, with franchise forward Scottie Barnes raving about the mentorship, noting that learning from Leonard is "going to take me a long way as a player."[3][6]

The Brooklyn Nets are attempting to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement with their own newly acquired duo. Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. arrived via surprise trades over the last 15 months. Randle, who Hoopshype recently ranked as the NBA's No. 11 power forward, is expected to see a massive bump in usage and playmaking responsibilities as the focal point of Brooklyn's offense.[5]

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The Phoenix Suns find themselves in the polarizing middle of the pack. Yahoo Sports slotted them at No. 20 in their preseason poll, acknowledging their offseason reshuffling. Phoenix added Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard while parting ways with Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale.[2]

The real swing factor for the Suns, however, is second-year center Khaman Maluach. With Mark Williams sidelined for months due to shoulder surgery, Maluach will be thrust into the spotlight after dominating Summer League with averages of 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from deep.[2]

The Atlanta Hawks are positioned as a dangerous dark horse, landing at No. 14 in The Ringer's rankings. Coming off a strong 20-6 record following last season's All-Star break, head coach Quin Snyder has finally implemented the up-tempo, pass-heavy offensive system that maximizes Trae Young's presence.[1]

The Minnesota Timberwolves are proving to be one of the most polarizing teams in the Western Conference landscape. After salary-dumping Randle to Brooklyn, Minnesota is relying heavily on Anthony Edwards to carry an even larger offensive burden in a highly competitive division.[4][5]

On the other end of the spectrum, former contenders are in freefall. The Milwaukee Bucks sit at No. 29 in The Ringer's poll, struggling to establish an identity with a random collection of cast-offs and veterans originally acquired to complement a "superstar who is no longer there."[1]

The Sacramento Kings occupy the absolute bottom at No. 30. Despite employing Domantas Sabonis and a rookie point guard in Darius Acuff Jr., the roster construction has analysts baffled, with The Ringer calling it one of the worst defenses ever assembled.[1]

The upcoming season is defined by its lack of a singular, aging dynasty. With the salary cap forcing hard choices and generational talents relocating, the race for the Larry O'Brien trophy is the most wide-open and high-stakes it has been in a decade. The deciding factor will be which of these newly formed cores can build chemistry before the playoffs arrive.