Champion Knicks top NBA starting-five rankings for 2026-27

The reigning champion New York Knicks have been placed first in a ranking of projected NBA starting fives ahead of the 2026-27 season. Oklahoma City are second, followed by Philadelphia, San Antonio and Denver.

New York’s projected unit of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns returns after a title run. The Knicks beat the Spurs in five games in the Finals, securing the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.

Familiar lineups set the pace

The Knicks’ postseason included a six-game first-round win over the Hawks, sweeps of the Sixers and Cavs, and the Finals victory against San Antonio. Brunson was named Finals MVP, while Bridges and Anunoby give New York a strong pairing on the wings.

Oklahoma City’s projected starters are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Gilgeous-Alexander enters the season as the reigning back-to-back MVP, and Wallace is expected to replace Lu Dort, who is now in Atlanta.

Williams missed a substantial part of last season and the playoffs through injury. His availability matters to a Thunder group that also used Holmgren and Hartenstein together in two of its three most-used starting lineups last season.

Questions for Spurs and Sixers

San Antonio’s projected five features De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Tobias Harris and Victor Wembanyama. Fox is expected to start, although Dylan Harper’s performances against the Knicks in the Finals have raised a question about the Spurs’ backcourt plans.

Wembanyama remains central to that lineup after becoming the NBA’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year. Harris joined the Spurs from the Pistons during the offseason, while Julian Champagnie is another option for the final starting place.

Philadelphia’s projected unit of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid looks strong on paper but remains speculative. Brown arrived in a deal involving Paul George, and James signed during the offseason; Embiid played 38 games last season after appearing in 19 the season before.

What the new season will test

Denver complete the top five with Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić. Injuries limited several of those starters last season, but when all five played together, the Nuggets recorded a plus-13.5 net rating.

The ranking concerns starting units, not overall roster depth. New York’s established lineup begins the season on top, while Philadelphia must show how its new group works together and Denver needs its starters to stay available.