Ranking every NBA team's defense entering the 2026-27 season: Thunder and Spurs competing for top spot

Who will be the best — and worst — on defense this season? We Earlier this week, I ranked the NBA's top offenses. It's something I do before every season, and it's an agonizing process because, on paper, the best versions of most NBA offenses look great. I typically find myself worried that some team I rank in the 20s will make me look foolish simply because I underrated them in a crowded field. Well, that's pretty much exactly what actually winds up happening with the defense rankings. Last year, I predicted that the Boston Celtics would have the No. 22 defense, and they wound up at No. 4. I had the Phoenix Suns at No.

23. They finished at No. 9. Building a high-level NBA offense is typically an arduous process that involves years of talent accumulation. Surprises tend to be more common on the defensive end. The right culture and strategy, paired with a bit of shooting luck, can bolt a team up the leaderboard fairly quickly. In an 82-game season that wears down even the deepest of teams, you can get pretty far by playing hard and plucking low-hanging fruit. There are always some surprises at the end of the season, so let's start trying to figure out who those surprises could be. Below are my pre-season