The best NBA handicappers of the 2026-27 season are John Ryan, Jay Briggs and Sean Murphy. John Ryan leads at 9-1 (90%) for +$795, followed by Jay Briggs (+$465) and Sean Murphy (+$383). Updated November 4, 2026.
These rankings use each handicapper’s NBA record tracked on PickDawgz this season, graded on a $100 base bet. Cappers are ranked by profit, not win percentage, so the list rewards handicappers who actually make money, not just those who win a high share of a few plays.
John Ryan9-1 · 90.00%+$795 profit
#2
Jay Briggs21-15 · 58.33%+$465 profit
#3
Sean Murphy15-10 · 60.00%+$383 profit
Best NBA Handicappers 2026-27 Rankings
| Capper | Won | Lost | Win % | Profit (per $100 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Ryan | 9 | 1 | 90.00% | +795 |
| Jay Briggs | 21 | 15 | 58.33% | +465 |
| Sean Murphy | 15 | 10 | 60.00% | +383 |
| Stephen Nover | 7 | 3 | 70.00% | +344 |
| Jay Yang | 22 | 17 | 56.41% | +300 |
| VIP Sports Syndicate | 9 | 6 | 60.00% | +237 |
| Damian Sosh | 11 | 8 | 57.89% | +209 |
| Big Al McMordie | 16 | 13 | 55.17% | +181 |
| Ron Romanelli | 13 | 11 | 54.17% | +98 |
| Kyle Hunter | 2 | 1 | 66.67% | +85 |
| CD Sports | 6 | 5 | 54.55% | +45 |
| Millz Young | 14 | 12 | 53.85% | +10 |
Top NBA Handicappers This Season
John Ryan: How His NBA Picks Have Covered
John Ryan’s 9-1 NBA start isn’t a run of lucky half-point covers. His nine winners have beaten the spread by an average of 16.8 points, and none got there by less than 5 points. Across all 10 plays, including his one loss, he has averaged nearly 14 points better than the spread.
Most of the damage has come with underdogs. Ryan is 7-0 when getting points this season, and six of those seven dogs won the game outright. The only one that lost was Brooklyn at +11.5, beaten by a single point in overtime in Boston. His biggest covers came with Memphis +7.5 in Portland, a 21-point win that covered by 28.5, and Sacramento +10.5 in Dallas, a 15-point win that covered by 25.5. He has also cashed favorites, with Houston -8 winning by 32 in Milwaukee.
His one miss was Indiana -4.5 in Milwaukee on Oct. 26, a 110-102 loss.
Jay Briggs
Jay Briggs is second at 21-15 for +$465. With 36 plays, he has one of the larger samples near the top, which makes his profit a bit more meaningful at this stage of the season.
Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy rounds out the top three at 15-10 for +$383, a 60% win rate across 25 plays.
Further down, Jay Yang has released the most NBA picks on the board, 39 so far, and is up $300 at 22-17.
Past Seasons: Best NBA Handicappers
2025-26 NBA Season
| Capper | Won | Lost | Win % | Profit (per $100 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Yang | 335 | 274 | 55.01% | +3249 |
| Big Al McMordie | 177 | 148 | 54.46% | +1464 |
| Brian Bitler | 142 | 117 | 54.83% | +1216 |
| Ron Romanelli | 101 | 87 | 53.72% | +429 |
2024-25 NBA Season
| Capper | Won | Lost | Win % | Profit (per $100 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Al McMordie | 165 | 130 | 55.93% | +2156 |
| Ron Romanelli | 79 | 56 | 58.52% | +1748 |
| Jovan Burts | 239 | 215 | 52.64% | +911 |
| Brian Bitler | 137 | 118 | 53.73% | +659 |
| Jeremy Conn | 4 | 1 | 80.00% | +286 |
| Jay Briggs | 306 | 311 | 49.59% | +9 |
Big Al McMordie, Ron Romanelli and Brian Bitler have finished in the profit on the NBA leaderboard in each of the last two full seasons.
How to Pick an NBA Handicapper
Look at profit, not just win percentage. A handicapper can win a high percentage of plays and still lose money. Profit shows whether following them actually pays.
Check the sample size. A 9-1 start is impressive, but 100 plays tells you far more than 10. The longer the record, the more you can trust it.
Look past one week. Anyone can get hot for a few days. Look at how a handicapper has done over a longer stretch of plays before you judge them.
Be wary of big promises. Claims of 80% or 90% winners over a full season are a red flag. Realistic, consistent profit is what matters.
What Makes NBA Betting Different
The NBA season runs 82 games per team, so there is a betting edge to find almost every night. That volume rewards handicappers with a disciplined process over those who rely on gut feel.
Late injury news and rest days can move lines fast. Stars sitting out on back-to-backs, travel spots and load management all matter more in the NBA than in most sports, and the best handicappers track them closely.
NBA Handicapper FAQ
Who is the best NBA handicapper right now?
As of November 4, 2026, John Ryan leads the 2026-27 NBA leaderboard at 9-1 for +$795. It is early in the season and sample sizes are small, so the order can change quickly. Check back as the season goes on.
Are NBA handicappers worth it?
A good handicapper saves you hours of research and brings a consistent approach, but no one wins every night. Judge a handicapper on a long-term record and profit, not a hot week, and only bet what you can afford to lose.
What is a good win rate in NBA betting?
At standard -110 odds you need to win about 52.4% of your bets just to break even. A handicapper who stays around 55% or better over a large number of plays is doing very well.
How is profit calculated?
Every pick is graded as a flat $100 bet, so profit shows how much you would be up or down following a handicapper at $100 a play. Using the same bet size for everyone lets you compare handicappers fairly.
How are these rankings decided?
Handicappers are ranked by profit on the NBA picks tracked on PickDawgz this season, with every pick graded as a flat $100 bet. Win percentage is shown too, but profit decides the order.
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