CBS Sports puts the 76ers first in its 2026-27 NBA pressure rankings

Philadelphia tops a new CBS Sports ranking of the NBA teams and figures facing the most pressure in 2026-27. John Gonzalez’s October 12 column places the 76ers ahead of Celtics executive Brad Stevens and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This is CBS Sports’ assessment of expectations, not a league announcement, a power ranking or WhyNBA’s own ranking. Its subject is the cost of falling short rather than which team is most likely to win.

Philadelphia leads the list

Gonzalez’s case for putting the Sixers first centers on the expectations surrounding a high-profile roster and the challenge of turning those expectations into a postseason run. He also puts head coach Nick Nurse and the front office inside that pressure picture, rather than treating it as the responsibility of one player.

At No. 2, the column focuses on Stevens and the reaction to Boston’s roster decisions. Oklahoma City is third, with Gonzalez weighing championship ambitions against the challenge posed by San Antonio and the cost of retaining a deep roster.

CBS Sports’ complete order

1. Philadelphia 76ers
2. Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors
5. Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers and the other Eastern Conference contenders
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat
7. Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets
8. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs
9. New York Knicks
10. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors

The entries deliberately mix entire teams with individual players and an executive. No. 5 groups multiple Eastern Conference contenders together, so this is not a one-to-ten table of individual franchises.

The column gives less weight to pressure on New York and San Antonio than to the teams at the top, while its Denver and Golden State entries examine the urgency surrounding established stars. Those are Gonzalez’s judgments, not measurable standings.

For a separate reported Philadelphia roster update, read our 76ers center-depth coverage.