Harper, Spurs favored to win it all

The San Antonio Spurs have yet to tip off their 2026-27 National Basketball Association (NBA) campaign, but league executives already see them as the team to beat.

In the NBA's annual general managers survey released Thursday (Friday Manila time), San Antonio emerged as the favorite to win the 2027 championship, while second-year guard Dylan Harper was voted the player most likely to enjoy a breakout season.

The survey, conducted by NBA.com senior stats analyst John Schuhmann, had 50 percent of general managers picking the Spurs to win it all, narrowly ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who received 43 percent of the vote.

The defending champion New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers also received votes.

It is quite a turnaround for San Antonio, which reached the NBA Finals last season before falling to the Knicks.

Now, the Spurs are being viewed not merely as an emerging contender but as a legitimate championship favorite.

Much of that optimism revolves around Victor Wembanyama, but Harper's growing reputation has given San Antonio another reason to believe its championship window is opening.

The 20-year-old guard received 27 percent of the votes for the player most likely to have a breakout season, comfortably ahead of Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles, who each drew seven percent.

Harper, the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 69 games during his rookie campaign.

His impact grew in the playoffs, where he averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, offering a glimpse of what he could become alongside Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.

That postseason experience, including a trip to the NBA Finals, could prove invaluable as Harper enters his sophomore season with greater expectations and potentially a bigger role.

While Harper was singled out as the league's leading breakout candidate, Wembanyama commanded even greater recognition.

The 7-foot-4 French superstar received 77 percent of the votes to win the 2026-27 Most Valuable Player award, well ahead of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić at 10 percent.

An overwhelming 93 percent of general managers also selected Wembanyama as the player they would choose to build a franchise around.

The Spurs were similarly dominant in another category, earning 87 percent of the vote for the NBA's most promising young core.

San Antonio's combination of Wembanyama, Castle and Harper gives the franchise an unusual luxury: a roster capable of competing for a championship now while still having considerable room to grow.

The confidence in San Antonio extends beyond league executives.

The Spurs and Thunder are also listed as co-favorites in the NBA championship futures market, with both teams sharing the shortest title odds. ESPN's NBA futures page tracks the market, while other betting platforms and crypto casino services reflect the broader growth of digital gaming.

The tight race in the futures market mirrors the GM survey, although San Antonio holds a slight advantage among league decision-makers.

Oklahoma City remains a formidable challenger behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and its deep young roster, while the Knicks are seeking to defend the championship they won against the Spurs.

For Harper, however, the individual recognition comes with a bigger challenge.

His rookie season established him as one of the NBA's most promising young guards. His second season will test whether he can turn that promise into consistent production on a team expected to compete for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

The general managers have made their predictions. Now Harper and the Spurs have an entire season to prove them right.