NBA Hope-O-Meter 2026-27: Ranking fans’ optimism for all 30 teams

Last year, the Knicks and Spurs finished sixth and eighth in hope. Of course, they met in the finals.

By Jared Weiss · The Athletic

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 9:30 AM

Key Things to Know

A survey ranked fan optimism across all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2026-27 season.
San Antonio Spurs fans expressed the highest optimism with an average score of 9.27 out of 10.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks ranked second and third, respectively.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The 2026-27 NBA Hope-O-Meter survey measured fan optimism across all 30 franchises entering the season based on 1,511 responses. The San Antonio Spurs topped the rankings with an average score of 9.27 out of 10, edging out the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8.97 and the New York Knicks at 8.60.

The results highlight major shifts in expectations from previous years, with the Philadelphia 76ers climbing to fourth place with an 8.29 optimism rating following significant roster changes. Significant drops in fan optimism were observed for franchises including the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and LA Clippers.

Read the full article on The Athletic

NBA Hope-O-Meter 2026-27: Ranking fans’ optimism for all 30 teams

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