The NBA's biggest contenders are easy enough to identify before the season begins. The more interesting question is which teams could wreck a few predictions along the way.
Here are four underdogs worth watching in 2026-27.
Eastern Conference
Orlando Magic
Orlando finished just 45-37 last season and went out to Detroit in seven games in the first round, but there is considerably more talent here than an eighth seed normally carries.
Paolo Banchero averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists, while Desmond Bane added 20.1 points per game and shot 39.1% from three. Franz Wagner gives Orlando another 20-point scorer when healthy.
Surprise package: Anthony Black. The 22-year-old made a major jump to 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season and is expected to lead Orlando's second unit. If Black takes another step, the Magic suddenly look extremely deep.
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta quietly won 46 games last season, with Jalen Johnson emerging as a genuine star. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists and earned All-NBA Third Team honours.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker also exploded for 20.8 points per game while shooting 39.9% from three. Atlanta led the NBA with 30.1 assists per game, suggesting this is already a dangerous offence rather than a rebuilding project.
Surprise package: Asa Newell. His rookie numbers were modest at 5.2 points in 11.4 minutes, but he shot 53.8% from the field and 38.7% from three. More minutes could reveal a very useful frontcourt weapon.
Western Conference
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland already surprised people by reaching 42-40 last season before losing to San Antonio in the first round.
Now comes the huge wildcard: Ja Morant. Portland acquired the former Memphis star during the offseason, adding another explosive creator to a team that had already climbed from 36 wins in 2024-25 to 42 last season.
Surprise package: Shaedon Sharpe. He averaged a career-best 20.8 points last season while still only 22. If Morant creates easier looks around him, Sharpe could become much more than an exciting young scorer.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago won just 31 games last season and finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, so a postseason push would represent a serious jump.
There are reasons to believe it is possible, though. Josh Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists last season, coming close to averaging a triple-double while establishing himself as the Bulls' main playmaker. Matas Buzelis also made significant progress, averaging 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds while starting all 77 games he played.
Chicago were also one of the league's quickest teams, ranking second in pace, although their 118.1 defensive rating shows exactly where the improvement has to come from.
A fresh voice could help. Tiago Splitter has taken over as head coach for 2026-27, giving a young Bulls roster a chance to reset after last season's struggles.
Surprise package: Matas Buzelis. The 21-year-old already produced 16.3 points per game in his second season while shooting 46.3% from the field and blocking 1.5 shots per game. If he makes another leap, Chicago suddenly have the kind of young two-way forward who can change their ceiling.
And no, you nostalgics... the Bulls are not suddenly Eastern Conference favourites. A climb into the Play-In Tournament, however, feels far less ridiculous than their 31-win season might suggest.
