NBA GMs Predict Knicks to Rule Eastern Conference This Season

In the annual NBA GM surveys, the general managers took a vote on who would win the Eastern Conference in 2026-2027, and the New York Knicks were heavily favored by the executives to win the conference one again this season. 

The Knicks have a big advantage coming off a championship season, and that's their continuity. Early in the offseason, the Knicks brought back guards Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado, and Landry Shamet. 

Alvarado and Shamet were two players who had big moments in the postseason, and they gave the Knicks a big lift in energy at times. Now, going into this season, those important pieces off the bench have some momentum as they look to win back-to-back NBA Finals. 

The one notable loss the Knicks had this season was center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Boston Celtics. To replace Robinson, New York signed veteran big man Andre Drummond, who was previously with the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Drummond and Robinson have very similar play styles, as both of them have a great interior presence. Mitchell Robinson was known as one of the top offensive rebounders in the league during his time with the Knicks, and if Drummond can replicate that production, that could give New York's second unit a big advantage. 

This season, the Knicks are facing a much harder Eastern Conference. Teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat loaded up on talent in the offseason, leaving some already counting out the Knicks to win the East. 

The 76ers added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown this offseason, and the expectation is that they will be a championship contender. The Heat paired former Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo, and they too could emerge as a top team in the NBA. 

Still, with so many moving parts in the conference and aggressive roster moves, the Knicks are clearly the team every other franchise is chasing. The other teams may look good on paper, but it's New York that has the true chemistry and continuity that is necessary to compete for years on end. 

The franchise is in an awkward situation with Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride due to the front office pausing contract extension negotiations, but if they can tune out the external noise from that situation and play their brand of basketball, they could be a tough team to beat this season. 

It will be interesting to see how other teams adapt to the Knicks this season, but if they can still play their fast-paced style of basketball and get production out of their stars, they will be a handful for the rest of the Eastern Conference.