What New York Team Will Be Next To Win A Championship?

Though New York isn’t a particularly large state, it boasts a high number of professional sports teams. Thanks to the huge population in New York City and the surrounding area, there are plenty of fans dedicated to each team. When it comes to championships, New York is itching for its next big sports title. But which team will be the next to bring it home? Take a look at these forecasts to find out.

(USATSI)

Basketball

The New York Knicks franchise is one of the oldest in the NBA. While the Nets aren’t new, their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn has given the Knicks their first in-state competition in several decades. The result is a fierce rivalry that has injected renewed passion into the state’s basketball fans.

When it comes down to it, the Nets may be closer to a championship than the Knicks. Fans assert that the Nets have a stronger roster, particularly Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez. However, both teams last won a championship in the 1970s and neither is particularly close to doing so within the next few years, so it’s more likely that the next New York championship will come from another sport.

Football

The New York Jets and the New York Giants each have their devoted fan followings. Both have a rich history of exciting games and playoff appearances that keep fans on their toes. However, when it comes to championship odds, the Giants are clearly the front-runners in this sport.

The Jets actually appeared in and won just one Super Bowl in 1968. Since then, they’ve appeared in the playoffs a number of times, including three times since 2005. However, the New York Giants have continued to be a major contender in the sport for some time. They’ve won two Super Bowls in the last decade (2007 and 2011) and have become one of the most valuable sports franchises in the NFL. Current quarterback Eli Manning continues to be a star player as well, giving this team an excellent chance of bringing home a championship in the coming years.

Baseball

It’s perhaps the biggest dividing line in New York sports: Are you a Mets fan or a Yankees fan? Both teams have had their ups and downs over the years, but it’s been clear for some time now that the Yankees are currently on top. The Mets have struggled in recent seasons, reaching the playoffs only twice since 2000. In that time, the Yankees have been World Series champions twice and won the American League pennant four times.

Though Derek Jeter famously played his last game in the 2014 season, there’s no reason to believe that the Yankees will slow down anytime soon. A number of veteran players have been signed to the team recently, including Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, who may contribute to a championship win in upcoming seasons. Meanwhile, the Mets have a number of promising young prospects, but still appear to be in rebuilding mode.

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Hockey

As with the state’s other key sports, hockey also boasts two teams: the Islanders and the Rangers. As of January 2015, both teams were actually listed as having 14/1 odds for winning the Stanley Cup–good information for those who frequent sites like RotoGrinders for their daily fantasy fix. While it’s certainly not the best odds (Chicago’s Blackhawks lead the pack at 5/1 odds), it puts both teams squarely in the top ten for the NHL.

Based on their performance in recent years, the Rangers are more likely to win a championship. Since 2009, the Islanders have qualified for the playoffs just once, while the Rangers have qualified four times and appeared in a Stanley Cup final.

It’s impossible to say for certain which team will be next to bring a championship trophy to New York. However, the Yankees have the strong roster and most recent championship wins to make them a front-runner for the top spot. After all, they have by far the most championship titles of any New York sports team, with 27 in all. However, the New York Giants and New York Rangers aren’t far behind. Both feature a number of recent playoff appearances and strong records. Keep an eye on these teams to see some exciting championship attempts in the coming years.