Colin Cowherd named his top picks that would be contesting for the championship title in 2026.
Renowned sports anchor Colin Cowherd revealed his 2026 NBA Championship bubble picks. Cowherd named the teams that he thinks are the most favorable to contest for the title in the upcoming season. According to Cowherd, teams such as the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Orlando Magic would emerge as the top teams the next season.
Apart from them, he named the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets close to winning the title in the next season. While revealing his top picks, Cowherd said that these teams are favored to win because they are young. However, teams such as the New York Knicks have players who excel offensively but struggle defensively. Not only this, but he also talked about the Los Angeles Lakers and said that if Austin Reaves is their third-best player, that there is something that’s concerning for them.
Speaking on his podcast, The Herd With Colin Cowherd, the 61-year-old said, “My 2026 NBA Championship bubble, I would have Houston, OKC, Cleveland, Minnesota, Orlando, and then I would have the Celtics, and the Nuggets close. There’s no Lakers if Austin Reeves is your third best player.”
Cowherd believes that Cooper Flagg, the first overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, will have an immediate impact on the Dallas Mavericks. There is a common narrative that the No. 1 overall picks enter the NBA with enormous hype, but still need to work hard to develop their skills. However, according to Cowherd, it seems to be different.
The 61-year-old declared that the former Duke Blue Devils superstar is a better player. Not only this, but he also compared Flagg with Anthony Davis and Carmelo Anthony, and declared him better than these two. He said, “Cooper Flagg is the best domestic product. I think he has a more well-rounded game than Anthony Davis or Carmelo Anthony.”
The analyst added, “The last decade, we’ve had two stars be the number one pick. Wemby and Zion were stars. Small markets and bad rosters. Cooper Flagg is going to Dallas. Dallas has the deepest frontline in the NBA.” He went on to say, “He doesn’t have to defend the rim; he can get out on transition. I think he’s a perfect fit. This is very rare. Just like Duke, he’s gonna walk in and he’s not gonna waste four years – waiting for coaching staff, the draft picks to develop, and that’s what Wemby having to do.”
Notably, even while Flagg has received staggering media attention even before his debut in the NBA, it has raised the bar to an unfair level. Often addressed as a ‘generational talent’ Flagg finished his collegiate career with an average of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. It is to be seen if he is able to live up to the hype and make the same kind of impact in his professional journey with the Mavericks.
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