Ranking the 4 Possible NBA Finals Matchups From Best to Please No

We are in the thick of the conference finals in the West and East as the NBA playoffs get closer to their climax, and we are only two weeks away from the beginning of the NBA Finals.

And while all four potential matchups have intriguing storylines, some are better than others.

Here’s my ranking of the best possible final and which might have a difficult time in the ratings.

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1. San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks

This is the consensus top pick at the moment, right? We see Victor Wembanyama take the gigantic leap in his third season by toppling the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder before taking on the fiery New York Knicks, back in the NBA Finals for the first time in a quarter-century, against the team they last beat for the championship.

The 6-foot-2 Jalen Brunson going up against the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama in a truly fresh final.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New York Knicks

The Knicks are the constant in the top two picks. Regardless of whether it’s the Spurs or the Thunder, Madison Square Garden will be rocking, and New York will adopt an underdog attitude as it faces the reigning champions.

Can the Knicks pull off the massive upset and stop the Thunder dynasty from forming?

3. San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

After Wembanyama took care of business against Rudy Gobert and Chet Holmgren, it would be up to Evan Mobley to see if he has what it takes to withstand the might of the French titan. Good luck.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

This would be a true David vs. Goliath story, with the Thunder destroying their first two rounds before taking down Wembanyama, while the Cavaliers had to grind their way to the finals. Thunder would be massive favorites, and it’d be up to James Harden, facing the franchise that drafted him, to see if he can have one last peak performance to win that elusive first ring.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 5:37 PM.