3 Teams Including LeBron James’ 76ers Who Can Take the Knicks’ Crown
A number of teams will be eager to stop the New York Knicks from defending their championship in the upcoming season.
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New York Knicks lifting the championship (Image credits - Yahoo Sports)
The New York Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, will enter the 2026-27 campaign as defending champions. It has been a while since a team went back-to-back, as the Knicks will be looking to become the first team to defend their title since the Golden State Warriors in 2018.
The Knicks had a historic championship run last season. After a scare when they fell behind 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, the Knicks won the next three games to seal the series. However, it was their improved performances in the latter rounds that caught everyone’s eyes.
The Knicks went on to clean sweep the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and Finals, respectively. The consecutive clean sweeps saw them extend their win streak to 11 games heading into the NBA Finals.
Prior to their Finals clash against the San Antonio Spurs, many viewed the New York Knicks as “underdogs”. However, after recording two road wins and going up 2-0, the narrative changed as several doubters were forced to look at them as championship contenders.
They pulled off some memorable and historic comebacks during their title run. In the end, they lifted their first championship in 53 years after beating the Spurs in five games.
The Knicks celebrated for days and weeks after the NBA Finals as the city was united like never before, with millions of fans taking to the streets. As the Knicks rejoiced, a number of teams made some big moves in the summer to bolster their roster.
With teams hunting down the Knicks, these are the three franchises capable of beating them next year.
1. Philadelphia 76ers
Following their disappointing end to their 2025-26 campaign, it was evident that the Philadelphia 76ers needed to make some major changes to their roster if they were to contend for a championship.
They did not waste any time in trading for Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade. It was a move that surprised many, as Brown was coming off his best individual campaign after leading the Celtics to the playoffs last season.
However, the 76ers had one more trick up their sleeve. After weeks of rumors following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James joined the 76ers on a two-year veteran minimum contract.
With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the additions of Brown and James have turned them into the most dominant team in the league. In fact, the announcement of LeBron James to Philly saw many label them as championship contenders even before their first official game together.
Some have even gone as far as to say the upcoming season is “championship or bust” for the 76ers. Considering their talent on paper, the 76ers are expected to be the biggest threat to the Knicks’ championship defense. The fans will get a preview of a potential Conference Finals matchup when the two sides lock horns on Opening Night on October 20.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs may be well ahead of the curve at the moment. After finishing 13th in the Western Conference standings in the 2024-25 campaign, many believed the Spurs would take a few years to be viewed as title contenders.
However, the ascension of Victor Wembanyama has taken the NBA world by storm. In just his third season in the league, he led the Spurs to a second-place finish in the Western Conference standings last season before carrying them to their first NBA Finals appearance in 12 years. He was also the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner and came third in the MVP race.
The Spurs are a young team. While their lack of playoff experience came back to haunt them in the Final, their run to the final was a memorable one. During their playoff run, they took out the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round before eliminating the defending champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, in the Western Conference Finals.
Not many would have anticipated the Spurs to show such growth and maturity last season. In addition to their prodigal talent, their backcourt duo of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have shown immense potential and are expected to be one of the most lethal duos in the coming years.
After their defeat to the Knicks, Wembanyama has stayed away from the media and is locked in for the upcoming season. He signed a five-year contract extension, and according to the latest NBA GM Survey, he was voted as the favorite to win the MVP award, and the Spurs are the favorites to lift their sixth NBA championship next year.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
There is no doubt that the Oklahoma City Thunder will be a force to reckon with next season. As long as they have the reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander within their ranks, they will be championship contenders.
The Thunder were heavy favorites to defend their title last season. Unfortunately, Jalen Williams‘ injury struggles took a toll, and he wasn’t fully fit during the playoffs. They were eventually beaten by the Spurs in seven games. When fit and healthy, the Thunder are arguably the best team in the NBA, and they have shown it in the past two seasons.
They lifted the championship in 2025 and were well on course to break the Warriors’ 73-9 regular season record last season. While they topped the Western Conference standings, injuries to key players caused them to stumble and finish 64-18.
Defense wins championships, and it is the Thunder’s biggest strength. The talent at the top of the roster remains formidable, with Chet Holmgren expected to show growth next season. However, Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins were all traded in the summer, which means they have lost some depth.
Depth and defense have been their strongest weapons over the last two seasons. It will be interesting to see how far they can go next year with SGA leading the way.
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Rishan Rai
(1093 Articles Published)