As another NBA season tips off, we look back at the playoffs to find a future champion.
Malik Smith of the New York Post shares his championship futures picks for the 2026-27 NBA season, backing the San Antonio Spurs (+270) to win the title and selecting the Indiana Pacers (40-1) as a top longshot bet. Smith expects the Western Conference champion to come from either the Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder, citing San Antonio's defensive anchor and returning core.
In the Eastern Conference, Smith notes questions surrounding the reigning champion New York Knicks after losing Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics in free agency. He highlights the Celtics' upgraded size under head coach Joe Mazzulla, while naming the Pacers an appealing value wager with Tyrese Haliburton orchestrating the offense and Ivica Zubac fortifying the interior defense.
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