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Taking A Look At The NBA’s Top 3 Eastern Conference Contenders

The Eastern Conference has historically been the stronger of the NBA's two conferences, holding a 42-38 title advantage over the Western Conference. While the Western Conference is now generally seen as the more competitive conference, the East this coming year…

Published: Friday, 25 September 2026 at 2:00 PM
Taking A Look At The NBA’s Top 3 Eastern Conference Contenders
Key Things to Know
  • The New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA championship with a 16-3 playoff record.
  • The Philadelphia 76ers traded for Jaylen Brown and added 41-year-old LeBron James.
  • The Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo via trade.
The Story in 60 Seconds

The New York Knicks face a challenging title defense in the Eastern Conference following major roster moves across rival teams. The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, the Miami Heat traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Toronto Raptors added Kawhi Leonard. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured Donovan Mitchell with an extension and re-signed James Harden.

New York's depth at center behind Karl-Anthony Towns has taken a hit after losing Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti. To address the gap, the Knicks signed Andre Drummond alongside James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks on Exhibit 9 deals, but they may face frontcourt issues against top eastern rivals.

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