Most Intriguing Headlines Going Into the 2026-27 Season | Ringer NBA

Summary of Most Intriguing Headlines Going Into the 2026-27 Season | Ringer NBA

by The Ringer

1h 34m•September 11, 2026
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Overview of Most Intriguing Headlines Going Into the 2026-27 Season | Ringer NBA

The episode has two main parts: first, the hosts rank the last decade’s Finals MVPs by who is most likely to win another championship; second, they each pick the most intriguing storylines, teams, players, and front-office situations heading into the next NBA season. The recurring themes are age, health, roster context, and how hard it is to repeat in today’s league. The big thesis: outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, almost every recent Finals MVP comes with serious “will they win again?” uncertainty.

Ranking Recent Finals MVPs by Another Title Chance

Bottom of the list: age, health, and thin support

  • Stephen Curry was the clear least-likely pick.
    • Golden State looks too old and too thin.
    • Curry is still carrying too much of the load at an age where he shouldn’t have to.
  • LeBron James was next.
    • His age, plus the uncertainty around the current roster, make another ring feel unlikely.
  • Kevin Durant was also near the bottom.
    • He remains elite, but Houston may not be ready in time relative to his age.

Middle tier: elite players, messy context

  • Kawhi Leonard
    • Still highly effective when available, but availability remains the biggest issue.
    • His situation is also complicated by the Clippers/Raptors uncertainty.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo
    • Still in his prime enough to matter, but his team context and roster fit are not yet ideal.
    • The Heat/Raptors-style “build around him later” logic was part of the debate.
  • Jalen Brunson
    • The hosts acknowledged his brilliance, but stressed how much has been asked of him physically.
    • The Knicks’ lack of another true offensive engine and the possibility of extension drama make another title less certain.

Top of the list: Jokic vs. SGA

  • Nikola Jokic
    • One host had him near the top because he’s still the best player in the exercise.
    • The other pushed him lower because Denver keeps losing talent and cutting costs around him.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
    • The unanimous No. 1.
    • Reasons: age, durability, elite scoring, team infrastructure, culture, depth, and future flexibility.
    • The key takeaway: he’s the only one on the list who would be genuinely surprising to never win another title.

Side debate: Tatum vs. Brown

  • The hosts briefly discussed which Celtics star is likelier to win another title without the other.
  • Their conclusion: Jayson Tatum is the safer bet because Boston’s organizational stability and long-term structure give him a better path.
  • They also noted that Jalen Brown is a unique player, but Boston’s system and front-office track record matter a lot here.

Most Intriguing Teams, Players, and Situations for the Season

Kevin Durant and the Rockets

  • Durant was one of the hosts’ favorite intrigue picks.
  • The Rockets are viewed as a real title-level possibility if things break right.
  • Why it matters:
    • Durant’s shot-making remains outrageous.
    • Fred VanVleet returning healthy could stabilize the offense and end the late-game chaos.
    • The young core still has upside, and Durant’s presence changes the entire conversation.

Anthony Edwards + LaMelo Ball in Minnesota

  • A major “how will this actually work?” pairing.
  • The upside is obvious:
    • Edwards is an elite scorer and can thrive off the ball.
    • LaMelo brings creativity and shot creation that could lighten Edwards’ burden.
  • The concern:
    • Minnesota gave up a lot of frontcourt depth to make this happen.
    • The fit is fascinating, but there are real questions about size, defense, and role balance.

Jeff Weltman and the Magic

  • The Orlando front office was singled out as a pressure point.
  • Orlando has:
    • a huge payroll,
    • a mostly unchanged roster,
    • and high expectations after disappointment.
  • The hosts think a major trade may be coming if the team stalls again.
  • The broader critique: Orlando has been too passive and too willing to wait for things to fix themselves.

The Luka-led Lakers

  • The Lakers are now clearly Luka Dončić’s team.
  • The front office spent aggressively to build around him, and the hosts think the roster is a lot more sensible than it may look at first glance.
  • Key talking points:
    • Austin Reaves is a strong co-star.
    • The supporting cast is built around defense, size, and versatility.
    • If Luka is healthy and locked in, the Lakers’ ceiling is very high.

The Raptors and Kawhi Leonard

  • Toronto remains one of the most intriguing teams because of the uncertainty around Kawhi’s future and health.
  • The hosts like Toronto’s overall direction and think the team could be genuinely strong if the deal and roster come together.
  • The appeal:
    • a strong defensive identity,
    • young talent,
    • and the possibility of a high-impact Kawhi reunion.
  • Even so, the whole situation still feels strange and unresolved.

The Sixers: maximum chaos, maximum intrigue

  • The Sixers were basically impossible to avoid.
  • Why they’re fascinating:
    • LeBron James, Jalen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey all create massive questions about shot distribution, hierarchy, and sacrifice.
    • Embiid’s health remains a major variable.
    • Brown’s fit and mindset are especially important because he didn’t sign up for a reduced-role setup.
  • The hosts agreed the Sixers will be one of the league’s biggest storylines all season.

Other Notable Long-List Teams and Players

Also mentioned as intriguing

  • Utah Jazz
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Washington Wizards
  • Memphis Grizzlies

One extra bounce-back name

  • Anthony Davis was discussed as a fascinating “what if he’s actually back?” candidate.
  • The idea: if he looks like his old self again, his impact on any team becomes highly relevant.

Main Takeaways

  • Winning another title is brutally hard in the current NBA landscape.
  • Age and health matter as much as raw talent, maybe more.
  • Team context is often the deciding factor, especially for older stars.
  • SGA is the safest bet among recent Finals MVPs to win another championship.
  • The season’s most compelling teams are the ones with the biggest questions:
    • the Rockets,
    • the Wolves,
    • the Magic,
    • the Lakers,
    • the Raptors,
    • and especially the Sixers.

Bottom Line

The episode is basically a tour of the NBA’s biggest “what happens next?” questions. The hosts argue that the league’s current parity makes repeat championships extremely difficult, which is why the conversation keeps circling back to age, health, front-office competence, and fit. If there’s one clear takeaway, it’s this: Shai is the closest thing to a repeat-title bet, and almost everyone else is living in uncertainty.