Power Rankings: How all 30 teams measure up to begin 2026-27 season
The NBA enters the 2026-27 season with high parity, as 13 different franchises have won conference championships over the last eight years. The article provides a brief outlook on team performance and key statistical metrics for the upcoming season.
Why it matters
Understanding league trends and team performance is essential for sports analytics and fan engagement in professional basketball.
Remember when the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors met in the Finals four years in a row?
In the eight years since, there have been eight different Finals matchups. And the 16 conference championships since 2019 have been won by 13 different franchises, almost half the league.
At the start of every season, it’s difficult to pick against the teams that just got to the Finals four months earlier. But every year, new teams emerge.
In last year’s GM Survey, the San Antonio Spurs got just one vote to finish in the top four in the West. Then they won 62 games and beat the defending champs on the road in Game 7 of the conference finals.
The New York Knicks were one of the two favorites in the East, but only one GM thought they’d win their first championship in 53 years.
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