The NBA Finals is a series of best-of-seven between the Eastern and Western Conference champions, which have happened after four rounds of the playoff bracket, and the 2027 edition is anticipated to occur in June after the playoff playoff format was confirmed for the 2026-27 season. It's still months away from materializing on the court, but the offseason has already provided one of its most incredible moments. The confirmed format, a contender picture as it exists today and what to be watching before the season tips off.
The Finals will be played in a best-of-seven format, with the first to win four games taking home the title. But it's the last round in a four-round playoff bracket that the NBA has confirmed in its official 2026-27 schedule release:
| Round | Matchup Structure |
| First Round | Conference seeds 1-8, best-of-seven |
| Conference Semifinals | Winners advance within conference, best-of-seven |
| Conference Finals | One winner per conference, best-of-seven |
| NBA Finals | Eastern champion vs. Western champion, best-of-seven |
This format remains the same — teams that make it to the tournament in any given year is what changes, and it begins with the Play-In tournament seeding the final two spots in each conference before the First Round even starts.
Exact dates will depend on the length of the playoffs, each round of which may be a different length, depending on how quickly series are decided. Traditionally, the Finals are held in June after the regular season, Play-In Tournament, and 4 rounds of playoffs outlined in the official 2026-27 NBA schedule. The playoff bracket will be determined in the spring and a firm start date will be established.
The one biggest story to emerge from the Miami offseason that could impact early championship discussion is the signing of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Some outlets, such as The Athletic, have already wondered if the Heat can surround the two stars with quality three-point shooting to have a legitimate chance to compete, not that it just has to be pretty boy talent.
Talking about Miami when it comes to shooting, depth and a healthy roster deep in the postseason comes to mind, but it needs to be two stars. Other known Eastern powers will play a part in this scenario once preseason games and news of any signings and cuts provide clarity on each team's depth chart. This section will provide a team-by-team breakdown of this and be updated as training camp and preseason results become available.
That's normally one of the things that helps the Western Conference get off to a better start at the beginning of each season, and this year is no exception – several teams have good chances at representing the West in June. Like the East, rankings for real contenders will depend on how rosters shake out after the games and this section will be updated as we get the real signal from the preseason and early-season results.
The NBA Standings page and NBA Playoffs page will give you a full-season picture of how the standings and playoff picture evolve towards this bracket. Check out our NBA 2026-27 Season Overview for the big picture of the season.
The Championship futures market moves in advance of any offseason news, and Miami's signing of a player is getting the early talking points off the ground. Sports OKBet is a top sports betting website in the Philippines that features NBA coverage:
Read our Guide to NBA Betting Odds Explained for more information about the way these markets are priced, and how to read them. Sports OKBet is an authentic and reliable source for NBA enthusiasts in the Philippines to track their favorite sport's odds, lines, and futures all season long and stay up-to-date with professional basketball through responsible gambling. Injury reports, trades and in-season activity can drastically affect futures odds, so always look at the latest lines directly and never gamble more than you can afford to lose.
The exact dates are determined by the playoff schedule and are usually in the month of June after the regular season and playoff schedule are determined. A start date is determined when the conference finals are decided.
The story of the season that will have the greatest influence on the early Eastern Conference and championship outlook is undoubtedly the two-point partnership between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in Miami. Experts are closely monitoring to see if the squad features enough shooters and depth to back up the combo.
The Eastern and Western Conference champions will compete in a best-of-seven series with the first to win the title having four victories.
Teams play through a 4 round playoff bracket (First Round, Conference SemiFinals, Conference Finals) with the 2 conference champions having a Finals matchup. The seeding for the bracket is based on the regular-season standings and Play-In Tournament.
The season is still young and it cannot be said with any degree of certainty — preseason and early regular-season results will provide a clearer picture of how the contenders on both sides perform on the court, beyond the offseason rosters.
For the latest championship futures as they develop during the season, visit our Betting Odds site, or follow Sports OKBet. Please gamble responsibly.
