The playoffs are where expectations meet reality, and where chaos usually wins. As the 2026 NBA postseason tips off, every team enters with a path to the Finals on paper. But history tells us that the first round rarely follows the script. Upsets happen, stars emerge, and narratives shift fast. So instead of playing it safe, let’s lean into the unpredictability. Here are five bold predictions that could define the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

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It’s a KAT Attack

The New York Knicks offense runs through Jalen Brunson. He is their best and most consistent player, along with being their leader. But it’s not going to be easy for him against Dyson Daniels and the speedy Atlanta Hawks.

That’s not to say Brunson isn’t going to have a good series, but Karl-Anthony Towns will lead the Knicks offense. For as fast and athletic as the Hawks may be, they don’t have the size and strength to go along with it. Towns had success against Atlanta in the regular season, and now that he’s truly found his groove within the Knicks’ offense, look for him to go nuts this round.

LeBron James Has 3 Triple Doubles

With no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, it’s all about LeBron James to begin the postseason. It’s not going to be easy for James and the Los Angeles Lakers against the Houston Rockets, but we know he’s going to give it his best effort. After all, a down season for James was seeing him average 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game this year.

We know that James can rise to the occasion, and he certainly has to here. This isn’t the way he’s going to want to go out, so look for him to be heavily involved and have three triple-doubles.

VJ Edgecombe Averages 25 Points per Game

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Joel Embiid is injured. The Philadelphia 76ers begin the postseason without Embiid, and that means the focus is on their backcourt. It’s an easy matchup against the Boston Celtics, and I’d expect them to focus on shutting down Tyrese Maxey. That’s not to say he won’t have success, but it will open things up for VJ Edgecombe.

In a strong rookie season, Edgecombe averaged 16 points per game, but that jumped to 20.6 in his last 11 games. Based on game context, I’m looking for that number to rise even more in the first round of the NBA playoffs, as the 76ers will likely be trailing as well.

Daniss Jenkins Averages 15 Points per Game

Yes, Cade Cunningham is healthy and returned before the end of the regular season. This is the NBA playoffs, so the urgency is also there. However, it’s also the first round of what should be a long postseason journey for the Detroit Pistons.

Over a 10-game stretch when Cunningham was sidelined, Daniss Jenkins averaged 19.9 points per game, so we know he’s capable. The Pistons will be heavily favored in round one, so look for them to manage Cunningham’s workload where possible. That will open up more opportunities for Jenkins, who could be one of the best bench players of the postseason.

Neemias Queta Averages 15 and 10

Credit is due to Neemias Queta as he’s seemingly taken the center role for the Boston Celtics and run with it. In 25 minutes per game during the regular season, Queta averaged 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The 76ers won’t have Joel Embiid available against Queta and the Celtics, and I’d expect Boston to lean even more heavily on Queta in what should be a relatively stress-free first-round series. 

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You ask, and you shall receive. The pressure is on. Now, it’s time to produce. But did it have to be this way?After winning 51 games last NBA season, things were great in New York. The Knicks were back. Fans trusted the process, and their prize was a team that finished third in the Eastern Conference. Following a tough series against the up-and-coming Detroit Pistons, the Knicks came through as underdogs against the Boston Celtics. What happened next, though, wasn’t great.

Beating the Celtics was the heavy lift. It almost seemed too easy to beat the Indiana Pacers and return to the NBA Finals. The problem, though, is that the Knicks were spent, and Tyrese Haliburton went nuts. Injuries and exhaustion took hold, and New York was sent packing after six games. But sunglasses were needed, as man, the future was bright.

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The Coaching Change That Shifted Everything

Karl-Anthony Towns still had to find consistency in the offense, as did Mikal Bridges, and more depth was needed. Aside from his rough demeanor and aversion to using his bench, Tom Thibodeau seemed like the perfect coach for the Knicks. Until he wasn’t. In a shocking decision, Thibodeau was fired, and Mike Brown took over.

As an assistant coach, Brown has a great resume, but the same isn’t necessarily true as the head coach. Towns struggled once more with finding his game, and Bridges looked lost at times. The Knicks did their damage against bad teams and had some issues against the top teams, but overall, with 54 victories, it’s hard to complain.

Built for More Than Just Wins

This is a team built to reach the NBA Finals, and excuses will be at a minimum. The Atlanta Hawks could have played their starters in their final regular-season game in an attempt to avoid the Knicks, but they didn’t care. Atlanta is a fast team that could give the Knicks some difficulty, and Jalen Brunson could have a hard time against Dyson Daniels.

The problem, though, is that it doesn’t matter. New York needs to win its first-round series. This isn’t about style points; it’s strictly about results. And Brown’s job could depend on it, along with the future of Towns and Bridges in New York.

Go out there and take care of business. The Knicks are now past the point of excuses.

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In a league defined by dynasties and championship banners, there exists another, quieter narrative—one shaped not by triumph, but by persistence. The NBA franchises with the most seasons played without a title, as highlighted by CBS Sports, represent a compelling cross-section of professional basketball history. Teams like the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers have each spent decades chasing a championship that has remained just out of reach. Yet, to frame their histories solely through the lens of absence would be to miss the richness of their journeys.

These organizations have consistently contributed to the fabric of the league—producing Hall of Fame talent, iconic playoff moments, and eras of legitimate contention. From the Suns’ fast-paced innovation to the Jazz’s disciplined excellence, and from the Clippers’ transformation into a modern contender to the Nets’ ambitious roster-building experiments, each franchise reflects a different pathway toward relevance. The Pacers, meanwhile, embody a model of sustained competitiveness rooted in identity and culture.

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What binds these teams is not failure, but endurance. Their stories reveal how difficult it is to win even a single NBA championship, and how narrow the margin often is between legacy and longing. In many cases, these franchises have come within a series—or even a possession—of altering their historical trajectory. As such, their title droughts are not merely statistical footnotes; they are ongoing narratives shaped by resilience, reinvention, and the ever-present possibility of breakthrough.

1. Phoenix Suns — 58 seasons, 0 titles

The Phoenix Suns have long been one of the NBA’s most competitive yet unfulfilled franchises. Since their founding in 1968, they’ve made multiple deep playoff runs, including three trips to the NBA Finals (1976, 1993, and 2021), but have fallen short each time. The Suns have featured iconic players such as Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, and Devin Booker, often producing high-powered offenses and entertaining basketball. Despite consistent relevance and periods of contention, a championship has remained elusive, making their drought one of the most notable in league history.

2. Los Angeles Clippers — 56 seasons, 0 titles

The Los Angeles Clippers’ history has been defined by long stretches of futility punctuated by recent competitiveness. Originally founded as the Buffalo Braves, the franchise struggled for decades with instability, poor ownership, and limited playoff success. Their fortunes shifted in the 2010s with the “Lob City” era and later with the acquisitions of stars like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Still, the Clippers have never reached the NBA Finals, and their title drought reflects both their turbulent past and the challenge of overcoming it.

3. Utah Jazz — 52 seasons, 0 titles

The Utah Jazz have been a model of consistency without capturing the ultimate prize. The franchise reached its peak in the late 1990s behind Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton, making back-to-back Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, only to be denied by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Known for strong coaching, disciplined play, and loyal fan support, the Jazz have remained competitive across multiple eras. Yet, despite their sustained success and playoff appearances, a championship has continually slipped just out of reach.

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4. Brooklyn Nets — 50 seasons, 0 titles

The Brooklyn Nets, formerly the New Jersey Nets, have experienced flashes of prominence but lack an NBA championship to validate their efforts. They reached the Finals in 2002 and 2003, led by Jason Kidd, but were overmatched both times. More recently, the franchise assembled a star-studded roster featuring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, raising expectations dramatically. However, injuries and chemistry issues derailed that era, leaving the Nets still searching for their first NBA title.

5. Indiana Pacers — 50 seasons, 0 titles

The Indiana Pacers have a rich basketball tradition, including success in the ABA, but have yet to win an NBA championship since joining the league in 1976. Their most notable NBA achievement came in 2000 when Reggie Miller led them to the Finals, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, and last year when they went against the Oklahoma City Thunder where they lose too. The Pacers have consistently fielded competitive teams, often built around strong defense and disciplined play. Despite their stability and passionate fan base, the franchise remains in pursuit of its first NBA crown.

Conclusion

The absence of a championship does not diminish the significance of these franchises; if anything, it underscores the difficulty of sustained success in the NBA. Each team’s history is marked by moments that suggest how close they have come—and how much they still have to prove. Ultimately, their continued pursuit keeps one of the league’s most compelling storylines alive: the chase for a long-awaited first title.