Thunder Lead NBA Power Rankings as Knicks Defend Title

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2026-27 NBA season at the top of the opening power rankings published by Yahoo Sports on October 20, 2026. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City starts the campaign ahead of a field that includes the defending champion New York Knicks and a San Antonio Spurs team positioned as a major challenger. According to Yahoo Sports, the Spurs won 62 games and added Tobias Harris to their roster.

Those results and personnel changes place San Antonio among the leading threats to Oklahoma City's position as the league begins its new season. The Knicks open their title defense against the Philadelphia 76ers, who have strengthened their lineup with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The matchup brings the reigning champions against a Philadelphia team featuring two prominent additions, according to the power rankings report.

Beyond the leading teams, the rankings highlight several major roster developments that could shape the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to Miami, while LaMelo Ball joins Anthony Edwards in Minnesota, creating new team combinations as the league's campaign gets underway.

The report also identifies rebuilding efforts in Memphis, Milwaukee and with the Los Angeles Clippers. These teams enter the season with different personnel situations from the leading contenders, adding another dimension to the league-wide outlook presented by Yahoo Sports. Oklahoma City's first-place position puts the Thunder at the front of the preseason assessment, while San Antonio's 62-win campaign and addition of Harris provide the clearest challenge identified in the report. Meanwhile, the Knicks begin the season as defending champions, with their opening game against Philadelphia featuring a newly reinforced opponent.