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

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.…