NBA 2026/2027 Season Preview: Outlook and Favourites

On 20 October 2026, the 81st season of the NBA got underway. This means that the thirty best basketball teams in North America will be vying for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy. Last season, the New York Knicks pulled off a historic upset by winning the championship for the first time in over 50 years. Will the team from the Big Apple manage to retain their title?

With superstars such as Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it promises to be another spectacular basketball season. Not to mention the ever-impressive LeBron James. Oranje Palace tells you everything about the new NBA season, the top title contenders and all the options for betting on the NBA.

Betting on the NBA at Oranje Palace

The new NBA season gives you the chance to place a wide variety of bets at the Oranje Palace Sportsbook. What makes it even more exciting is that new players can take advantage of a welcome offer featuring 3 x €14 Free Bets: a Pre-match Free Bet, a Live Free Bet and a Bet Builder Free Bet. You can use these straight away for the best matches in the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world.

For example, with NBA matches, you can predict which team will win, how many points will be scored, or which player will score the most points. There are also opportunities to place live bets during matches. This is particularly interesting, especially as matches in the NBA can turn on a sixpence. For instance, a fifteen-point deficit doesn’t necessarily mean a team is out of the running.

How does the NBA work?

In the 2026–2027 season, the NBA will again consist of thirty teams, divided between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each team plays 82 matches during the regular season. This is followed by the knockout stage, in which the best teams compete for the championship. These are the NBA Play-offs.

The top six teams from each conference qualify directly for the NBA play-offs. Teams ranked seventh to tenth will first compete in the Play-In Tournament, in which the final two places will be decided. Four play-off rounds will then be played, each following a best-of-seven format. This means that a team needs four wins to progress to the next round.

The format is therefore as follows:

NBA 2025–2026: a brief look back

Not everyone saw it coming, but last season was all about the New York Knicks. The famous team from Madison Square Garden won the NBA title for the first time in 53 years. In the NBA Finals, the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, who had also surprisingly reached the NBA Finals.

Jalen Brunson, in particular, played a key role in the Knicks’ impressive title win. The point guard led his team to the title and was named Finals MVP. In the decisive fifth game, he scored no fewer than 45 points.

NBA 2026/2027 Favourites

Who will lift the trophy in the NBA 2026–2027? Below are a number of teams that, according to Oranje Palace’s Sportsbook, are among the favourites:

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are once again among the top favourites. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, the team boasts some of the best basketball players in the world. Can they avenge their relatively early elimination at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs last season? A bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA at Oranje Palace offers odds of 3.00.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs were perhaps the biggest surprise of last season. Led by Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio reached the NBA Finals, where the New York Knicks proved too strong. The young team now has an extra year’s experience under its belt and hopes to make a big impression in the NBA again this season. A San Antonio Spurs victory in the NBA gives you odds of 3,50.

New York Knicks

Of course, the reigning champions cannot be left out either. Led by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks enjoyed a historic campaign last season. The question is whether New York can repeat that feat. Especially as the Knicks are currently the team to beat. A bet on the New York Knicks to win the NBA pays out odds of 10.00.

Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia is a particularly interesting dark horse. With the arrival of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, the team now boasts an impressive squad. Together with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, they will undoubtedly be in contention for the title. Will they succeed for the first time since 1983? We saw last season with the Knicks that nothing is impossible. A bet on the Philadelphia 76ers to win the NBA will earn you odds of 10.00.

NBA 2026–2027: Players to watch

As with every season, there are a number of players who deserve a bit of extra attention. Here are five giants to keep an eye on:

Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs

The French superstar is now among the very best in the world. With his extraordinary height, defensive qualities and scoring ability, the basketball player with Kenyan roots is one of the most complete players in the NBA. Will he do it again in the new season?

###Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
The Canadian guard won the MVP award in both 2025 and 2026. He combines impressive scoring ability with speed and technical skills. With the Oklahoma City Thunder, he is once again among the leading contenders for the championship. Will he be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the third year running?

Nikola Jokić - Denver Nuggets

The Serbian centre has been one of the world’s best players for many years. Jokić has won the MVP award three times and is renowned for his passing, game intelligence and scoring ability. However, it is important that he and ‘his’ Denver Nuggets go far again in the NBA.

Luka Dončić - Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Dončić is one of the most spectacular forwards in the NBA. The Slovenian has a phenomenal shot and can create chances from virtually any position. He has now become the key playmaker for the Los Angeles Lakers and hopes to lead the club to another championship – something that would certainly be fitting for the Lakers.

Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks

Finally, we mustn’t overlook Jalen Brunson. Last season, he emerged as the New York Knicks’ hero. The American point guard led his team to their first NBA championship since 1973 and was named MVP of the 2026 NBA Finals. In the decisive fifth match against the San Antonio Spurs, he was the standout performer, scoring no fewer than 45 points. Will he be able to replicate that form this season?

NBA prediction by Oranje Palace

Year after year, it’s difficult to predict who will win the NBA. Especially with the New York Knicks’ victory still fresh in our minds. Nevertheless, most of the attention is focused on the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. Both teams start the season as joint favourites with the bookmakers. This is, of course, mainly due to the presence of Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

We reckon the Oklahoma City Thunder will reach the NBA Finals again this season. Although we mustn’t underestimate a team like the Philadelphia 76ers. Especially as the arrival of LeBron, perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, could cause a bit of a seismic shift. In short: it promises to be a particularly interesting NBA season, whatever happens. Will we see you soon at the Oranje Palace Sportsbook?