John Hollinger Weighs Thunder Title Odds and Knicks Finals Repeat for 2026-27 Season

NBA Cup play opens Oct. 30 before Dec. 11 final at Hinkle

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Will the Thunder reclaim the crown? Could the Knicks make it back to the Finals? And is the East finally better than the Via @TheAthletic on X

What happened: The Athletic's John Hollinger outlined his 2026-27 NBA season outlook, centering on whether the Oklahoma City Thunder can reclaim the championship and whether the New York Knicks can return to the NBA Finals. The preseason assessment also examines the shifting competitive balance between the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Why it matters: New York enters the 2026-27 campaign looking to build on the Knicks' 2026 Finals appearance against San Antonio while managing second-apron roster constraints ahead of Opening Night. Oklahoma City remains a central Western Conference benchmark as both conferences retool.

What to watch: Regular-season roster decisions finalize ahead of Opening Night, while the 2026 NBA Cup tips off Oct. 30 and concludes Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Sources

@TheAthletic 2026-10-17T17:48:19.245531+00:00

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