NBA experts predict the New York Knicks will fall short in their championship defense

Nairavoice | Oct 19, 2026 2h ago 224 0 2 min read

287e4cba7fbdb3f25c8bedbfcfc67b3b NBA experts predict the New York Knicks will fall short in their championship defense

NBA experts predict the New York Knicks will fall short in their championship defense originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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When the New York Knicks went on a magical run in the 2026 Playoffs, people were surprised. They did not have the best regular season in the 2025-26 campaign, so people thought the Detroit Pistons or a recharged Boston Celtics would dominate the Eastern Conference side of the Playoffs.

However, the Knicks pulled off the surprise run, as they looked like the best team in the league until they beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals to win their first title in 52 seasons. Now, that has set expectations for the 2026-27 season.

The Knicks are not considered favorites by ESPN’s experts

Ahead of the 2026-27 season, a lot of people still have the Knicks winning the championship. They would become the first team in nearly a decade to repeat as champions, as the Golden State Warriors last did it in 2017 and 2018.

Unfortunately, they will face some stiff competition from the East’s recharged teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat. However, the experts at ESPN are in agreement that a Western Conference team will take the title this year.

MORE: Knicks head coach Mike Brown speaks on what he is looking forward to in the 2026-27 season

Both the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder are seen as the favorites to win the championship. Not one person from ESPN’s 15-person team of experts has picked the Knicks.

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In that group, 10 people picked the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder, while the other five believe the Spurs will get their redemption a year later from their loss in the Finals.

From the same 15-person panel, only five people agree that the Knicks will get back to the Finals. The 76ers got the same number of votes, while the rest of the votes went to the Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and the Toronto Raptors.