- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Photo: Tehumanetwork via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Team logos via ESPN.
The San Antonio Spurs lead Melissa Rohlin's weekly NBA power rankings despite falling to the Knicks in the NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama shouldered responsibility for the defeat, which saw San Antonio squander double-digit advantages in all four losses.
The Knicks sit second after retaining 10 of 12 rotational players, with Jalen Brunson described as "fearless." The Thunder rank third following their 2025 championship and subsequent Western Conference finals upset by the Spurs; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captured consecutive MVP awards.
Philadelphia's star-laden roster of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey places fourth, drawing comparisons to the disappointing Nets superteam of Durant, Irving and Harden. "Watch out," one observer warned of the 76ers' potential.
The Cavs round out the top five despite being swept by the Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference finals. That roster features Donovan Mitchell, Harden, Peyton Watson and Evan Mobley. The Lakers rank sixth with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, who appeared in only five games last season following shoulder surgery.
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).