San Antonio Spurs enter the 2026/27 NBA season as the favorites to claim the championship, with General Managers casting 50 percent of their preseason votes for the franchise and 77 percent backing Victor Wembanyama for Most Valuable Player, according to the league’s annual GM survey published ahead of opening night.
San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama Lead General Manager Preseason Favorability
The annual survey of league executives points toward Texas as the upcoming center of gravity in the NBA. Fifty percent of club decision-makers picked the San Antonio Spurs to win the title, placing them ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder at 43 percent, with reigning champions the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers rounding out the sparse remaining votes. San Antonio reached the final series last season before falling 1:4 to New York, and now seeks its first championship since the 2013/14 campaign.
🏀 WEDNESDAY'S FINAL SCORES 🏀De'Aaron Fox's 31 and Luke Kornet's game-saving block helps the @spurs improve to 15-6 on the season!Dylan Harper: 16 PTS (10 in 4Q), 5 REB, 5 ASTFranz Wagner: 25 PTS, 6 ASTJalen Suggs: 24 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST https://t.co/K7LNfdXCnt pic.twitter.com/kDIqPIULLv
Individual accolades in the poll align with that team projection. Victor Wembanyama captured 77 percent of the vote for the most valuable player, leaving Nikola Jokic at 10 percent and Anthony Edwards at 7 percent as challengers. League managers selected Wembanyama first across eight distinct categories, highlighting his projected defensive dominance and versatility as a 2.24-meter player. Alongside young teammates Stephon Castle (21) and Dylan Harper (20), the Spurs boast the most promising young core.
Alan Ibrahimagic Assesses Franz Wagner and Orlando Magic Roster Changes
As Orlando Magic prepares to open its regular-season slate against the Atlanta Hawks, co-trainer Alan Ibrahimagic of the German national basketball team offered a glowing assessment of Franz Wagner to the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). Ibrahimagic, who coached Wagner during their youth days at Alba Berlin and within the DBB program, asserted that the 25-year-old has not yet reached his peak.
“Wir haben den besten Franz Wagner definitiv noch nicht gesehen,” Ibrahimagic said via RND, noting that Wagner’s intelligence and work ethic will drive continued growth across every facet of his game. Wagner has played for Orlando Magic since 2021. The upcoming 2026/27 schedule also marks his first professional year without his brother Moritz, who transferred to the Brooklyn Nets during the summer. Ibrahimagic praised the 29-year-old Moritz as the “perfekten Mitspieler” whose energy bolsters any locker room.
Dennis Schröder Takes on Veteran Mentor Role for Charlotte Hornets Rookies
Dennis Schröder is shifting into a leadership capacity with the Charlotte Hornets, committing to guide German rookies Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach through their debut professional season. Schröder, who arrived in Charlotte from the Cleveland Cavaliers over the summer, enters his 14th season in the league.
“Ich bin Veteran, 14 Jahre jetzt in der Liga,” Schröder told RTL and Sky Sport, explaining his objective to ease the transition for Anderson and Steinbach. Both rookies were selected by the Hornets in the draft—Steinbach at 14th and Anderson at 18th—after winning the U18 European Championship in 2024 and finishing as runners-up in the U19 World Championship in 2025. Steinbach and Anderson, both 20 years old, acknowledged the practical benefits of having a veteran compatriot on the floor and in meetings, with Anderson describing Schröder as a “great veteran, a real OG.” The Hornets tip off their season against the Brooklyn Nets.
Upcoming NBA Schedule Milestones and International Showcases
The 2026/27 regular season opens on Oct. 20 with marquee matchups including the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons, the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the New York Knicks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder facing the San Antonio Spurs. International fixtures return early in the calendar, highlighted by the NBA Mexico City Game on Nov. 7 featuring the Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers at Arena CDMX. Later in the winter, the league expands its international footprint with the NBA Paris Game on Jan. 14, 2027, and the NBA Manchester Game on Jan. 17, 2027, both matching the San Antonio Spurs against the New Orleans Pelicans.
