Live Roundups Editor's Desk Insights Executive Ops Weather About 🔍
Home › Sport › The NBA returns! Expert picks for the East, West and NBA champs
Sport

The NBA returns! Expert picks for the East, West and NBA champs

ESPN Monday 19 October 2026, 12:37 UTC By ESPN staff 3 min read
Key Points

The NBA returns with three high-profile games on Tuesday. The New York Knicks are back to defend their first championship in 53 years with an opener against the new look Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET, NBC). LeBron James and Jaylen Brown headed to Philadelphia this offseason to join forces with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Co., as the franchise tries to end a title drought of its own.

The NBA returns with three high-profile games on Tuesday. The New York Knicks are back to defend their first championship in 53 years with an opener against the new look Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET, NBC). LeBron James and Jaylen Brown headed to Philadelphia this offseason to join forces with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Co., as the franchise tries to end a title drought of its own. In the West, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs look to build on their run to the Finals last season, while the rival Oklahoma City Thunder hope to regain their conference superiority and head to their second Finals in three seasons. The two teams meet Tuesday night to kick off their seasons (9:30 p.m. ET, NBC). The Thunder will once again be led by Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, who is chasing his third straight MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander will have his work cut out for him, as Wembanyama continues his ascension in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo hits Miami and Jalen Brunson is fresh off a Finals MVP performance. Before the players hit the court, our NBA insiders cast their ballots for the winners of each conference, the NBA champion and who will be the 2026-27 Most Valuable player. Checkout which teams and players to keep an eye on this season ahead of the action! MORE: 30-team preview | NBA Rank 100-51 | 50-11 | 10-1 Eastern Conference champion Jamal Collier: Indiana Pacers Ben Golliver: Boston Celtics Vincent Goodwill: Philadelphia 76ers Danny Green: New York Knicks Zach Kram: Toronto Raptors Tim MacMahon: New York Knicks Bobby Marks: New York Knicks Dave McMenamin: New York Knicks Dean Oliver: Boston Celtics Jorge Sedano: Philadelphia 76ers Ramona Shelburne: Philadelphia 76ers Anthony Slater: New York Knicks Marc. J Spears: Philadelphia 76ers Jeremy Woo: Boston Celtics Michael C. Wright: Philadelphia 76ers Final tally: Knicks 5, 76ers 5, Celtics 3, Pacers 1, Raptors 1 Western Conference champion Jamal Collier: Oklahoma City Thunder Ben Golliver: Oklahoma City Thunder Vincent Goodwill: Oklahoma City Thunder Danny Green: San Antonio Spurs Zach Kram: San Antonio Spurs Tim MacMahon: Oklahoma City Thunder Bobby Marks: Oklahoma City Thunder Dave McMenamin: Oklahoma City Thunder Dean Oliver: Oklahoma City Thunder Jorge Sedano: Oklahoma City Thunder Ramona Shelburne: San Antonio Spurs Anthony Slater: Oklahoma City Thunder Marc. J Spears: San Antonio Spurs Jeremy Woo: Oklahoma City Thunder Michael C. Wright: San Antonio Spurs Final tally: Thunder 10, Spurs 5 NBA Finals picks Jamal Collier: Thunder over Pacers Ben Golliver: Thunder over Celtics Vincent Goodwill: Thunder over 76ers Danny Green: Spurs over Knicks Zach Kram: Spurs over Raptors Tim MacMahon: Thunder over Knicks Bobby Marks: Thunder over Knicks Dave McMenamin: Thunder over Knicks Dean Oliver: Thunder over Celtics Jorge Sedano: Thunder over Knicks Ramona Shelburne: Spurs over 76ers Anthony Slater: Thunder over Knicks Marc. J Spears: Spurs over 76ers Jeremy Woo: Thunder over Celtics Michael C. Wright: Spurs over 76ers Final tally: Thunder 10, Spurs 5 Bonus! Most Valuable Player picks Jamal Collier: Anthony Edwards Ben Golliver: Victor Wembanyama Vincent Goodwill: Victor Wembanyama Danny Green: Victor Wembanyama Zach Kram: Victor Wembanyama Tim MacMahon: Victor Wembanyama Bobby Marks: Jalen Brunson Dave McMenamin: Luka Doncic Dean Oliver: Giannis Antetokounmpo Jorge Sedano: Victor Wembanyama Ramona Shelburne: Luka Doncic Anthony Slater: Luka Doncic Marc. J Spears: Victor Wembanyama Jeremy Woo: Victor Wembanyama Michael C. Wright: Victor Wembanyama Final tally: Wembanyama 9, Doncic 3, Antetokounmpo 1, Brunson 1, Edwards 1
NBA (ORG) East (LOCATION) West (LOCATION) The New York Knicks (ORG) Philadelphia (LOCATION) NBC (ORG) LeBron James (PERSON) Jaylen Brown (PERSON) Joel Embiid (PERSON) Tyrese Maxey (PERSON) Victor Wembanyama (PERSON) San Antonio Spurs (LOCATION) Oklahoma City Thunder (ORG) Thunder (ORG) Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (PERSON)
Originally published by ESPN Read original →

Related Stories

From superteam to 2-4 disappointment? Barnwell on what has gone wrong for the Rams

It was one thing when the Rams could explain away their losses to good teams with excuses. They lost to the 49ers in Melbourne to start the 2026 season because they tried to reimagine jet lag. They lost to the Broncos in Denver in a close Week 3 game that turned on a pick-six.

ESPN just now

Week 7 Power Rankings: Miami takes over at the top; two teams join the top 25

Call it Shakeup Saturday or a pithy phrase of your choosing, but Week 7 reordered the college football world. Five of the seven teams in the AP top 25 poll went down -- the most among that cohort in AP poll history (1936). Tommy Carr, who began the day as Michigan's backup quarterback, helped the Wolverines to a season-saving win against Penn State, and his older brother, CJ Carr, couldn't get it done for Notre Dame at BYU.

ESPN just now

Bears CB Kyler Gordon returns with vengeance, answers critics

The ink was barely dry on the Chicago Bears' initial 53-man roster when general manager Ryan Poles cast doubt on whether nickel corner Kyler Gordon would ever play another down of football in Chicago. "I don't know," Poles said on Sept. 1, before adding he still had hope. Those three words spoke loudest about a frustrating situation inside Halas Hall.

ESPN just now

Yamal vs. Mbappé: Which Clásico star has the stronger claim to win the Ballon d'Or?

In the tightest contest for the men's Ballon d'Or that we've seen in years, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé are among the clutch of players who have been campaigning for soccer's top individual prize. LaLiga's top two players have been working hard to rally the votes required to win their first Ballon d'Or for the 2025-26 season, which ended with France striker Mbappé becoming the FIFA World Cup's all-time top scorer and Yamal lifting the trophy with Spain. That sums...

ESPN just now