SLEEPER: Which Eastern and Western Conference Team Could Be A SURPRISE Championship Contender

September 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In the NBA’s new parity era, the gap between a play-in team and a conference finalist has narrowed so much that eleven Eastern Conference teams can plausibly believe they have a path to the Finals. On this episode of Locked On NBA Game Night, hosts Cook Hill and John Karalis each pick one surprise contender from the East and one from the West, subject to one ground rule: they cannot pick the obvious top teams (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and their own teams, Detroit and Boston). The result is a tour of the league’s middle class, where health, development, and a single star acquisition can flip a team’s ceiling.

The Eastern Conference: Hawks and Raptors as Sleepers

Karalis starts with the Atlanta Hawks, a team that has quietly leaned into defense by acquiring Lu Dort and already has high-level defenders. The Hawks also have CJ McCollum (though his age and durability are unknowns), plus role players like Jack Landale, Aaron Wiggins, and Corey Kispert who can shoot. “You can squint and be like, well, if everything goes right for this team, the Hawks could actually make some noise,” Karalis says. He stops short of calling them a contender, but in a best-case scenario, they could be a very good team.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:05) **Episode Intro & Ground Rules** - Hosts Cook Hill and John Karalis introduce the topic: one surprise contender from each conference, with ground rules excluding the obvious top teams.
2 (03:46) **John’s East Pick: Atlanta Hawks** - John selects Atlanta as his surprise Eastern Conference contender, betting on their defensive additions and offensive depth.
3 (05:22) **Cook’s East Pick: Toronto Raptors (with Kawhi)** - Cook picks Toronto, but only if they acquire Kawhi Leonard, creating a potent duo with Scottie Barnes.
4 (08:04) **Orlando Magic Appreciation** - John briefly roots for Orlando, a team with talent but constant injuries, to finally put it together.
5 (11:02) **West Segment Intro & John’s Pick: Denver Nuggets** - John picks Denver as his surprise West team, arguing the public is too down on a roster still built around Nikola Jokic.
6 (17:49) **Cook’s West Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves** - Cook picks Minnesota, believing the addition of LaMelo Ball alongside Anthony Edwards creates a dynamic, high-ceiling team.
7 (21:39) **Parity in the League** - The hosts reflect on how many teams in both conferences have a legitimate, if small, chance to contend, making “surprise” picks less surprising.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Eastern Conference race wide open as Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors emerge as this season’s potential shock contenders. Could Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto alongside Scottie Barnes push the Raptors back into elite territory? The hosts break down why the Hawks, with new defensive stoppers like Lu Dort and scorers including CJ McCollum, might have all the ingredients for a surprise playoff run—even if top-tier star power seems in short supply.

Over in the Western Conference, Denver Nuggets look to silence doubters despite criticism of their depth, as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray anchor a lineup hoping for a healthy Aaron Gordon and a bounce-back from Christian Braun. The Minnesota Timberwolves also make a case for a breakthrough behind Anthony Edwards and newly acquired LaMelo Ball. Plus, a spirited debate: With league parity at an all-time high, could as many as 11 Eastern teams realistically claim Finals aspirations?

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