Sports · Basketball · 17 hrs ago
Knicks begin title defense as Thunder and Spurs lead NBA contenders
The New York Knicks start the season as defending NBA champions after winning a title that ended a 53-year wait.
Their victory made them the league’s eighth different champion in eight straight years, a first in NBA history.
The Knicks now face a crowded field of challengers, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Oklahoma City is considered the favorite, with much of its championship-winning core still together and new players added.
San Antonio is led by Victor Wembanyama, whose team lost to the Knicks in last season’s finals.
The season opens Tuesday, with the Thunder facing the Spurs and the Knicks playing the Philadelphia 76ers, who now have LeBron James and former Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
The New York Knicks begin the 2026-27 NBA season as defending champions after ending a 53-year title drought.
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the season as the favorite, while the San Antonio Spurs are among the leading contenders.
The season tips off Tuesday with games including the Thunder against the Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers against the Knicks.
The Knicks are seeking to become the first team in years to win back-to-back NBA titles.
The league has had eight different champions in eight consecutive years, a first in its 80-year history.
- Who
- The New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and other NBA teams.
- What
- The 2026-27 NBA season begins, with the Knicks defending their title and the Thunder and Spurs among the leading contenders.
- When
- Tuesday, at the start of the 2026-27 season.
- Where
- In the NBA; specific venues are not stated.
- Why
- Teams are competing for the 2026-27 NBA championship.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA championship.
The San Antonio Spurs lost to the New York Knicks in five games.
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off, including a game between the Thunder and Spurs.
- Defending champions
- New York Knicks
- Title drought ended
- 53 years
- Thunder's status
- Favorites entering the season
- Thunder-Spurs game
- Scheduled for opening night
- Champions streak
- Eight different NBA champions in eight consecutive years