"The National Basketball Association (NBA) is experiencing some of the most exciting parity it’s seen in ages. " --Rafi Ponet, 8th Grade.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is experiencing some of the most exciting parity it’s seen in ages. The playing field is so stacked that there is no team that I can confidently say will win the 2024 NBA championship. However, I’ve managed to select these ten teams who I think have the best shot for a title.
First, I want to start with honorable mentions. I’m not sure these four teams have got what it takes to make it all the way, but they definitely are looking good.
New York Knicks
Look, the Knicks are fresh off of a second-round appearance in which they looked very solid with Jalen Brunson playing great averaging 27.8 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in the 11 games he played during the run.
But the only thing they did this offseason was sign Donte DiVincenzo which came at the expense of Obi Toppin, who is now a Pacer. DiVincenzo will help, but if you compare the move to what other teams did, it looks minimal.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are coming off of an incredibly fun season. It was hard to root against them (unless you’re a Warriors fan) as they had one of the best offenses of all time, led by point guard De’Aaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis. They were so good that they secured the third seed in the Western Conference. However, they drew the defending champion Warriors and lost in seven.
This Kings team will be a very good contender this year, but I just can’t see them winning it all, which is why they are just out of the top ten.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are coming off of a good season, but are expected to take a leap next year. This all relies on the improvement of Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. Even if they both stay the same, you might say the Cavs are easily top ten. But when you look at the other teams and say would you rather have them or the Cavs, it gets tough. I don’t think anyone is arguing for them to be in the top five, so when you get past those, it gets tough. I might regret not putting the Cavs higher, but right now, this is how I see it. If the Knicks don’t make it, the Cavs can't make it either.
Oklahoma City Thunder
I really wanted to put the Thunder in the top ten. Really, really bad. But, they are a little too inexperienced compared to the others. I trust Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I think I trust Josh Giddey, and Lue Dort. But I haven't seen enough from the front court. But trust me, in the 2024-25 season, they will be in the top ten.
And that concludes the honorable mentions, obviously, there are lots more that I considered for the top ten, such as the Timberwolves, Hawks, Pelicans, Pacers, and Mavericks, but those were the ones I came the closest to putting in the top ten. Now the top ten.
Ok, now for the main event. Here are my personal top ten teams of the 2023-24 NBA season.
10. Philadelphia 76ers
I said it. I know they have the reigning MVP and one of the best backcourts in the league. But we’ve seen this over and over again. It seems like the only thing that we can guarantee each season is a second-round exit from the Sixers. If you combine that with the awkward chemistry between James Harden and the rest of the team, I just don’t think it’s going to work. Even if Harden gets traded, the package will most likely make them worse than with Harden. But having Joel Embid, and a decent supporting cast around you, automatically makes you top ten in my book.
9. Golden State Warriors
Doing this went against all of my Warriors fandom. But, if we’re being realistic, the Warriors are not a top eight team. They are led by the core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. They made a massive deal this offseason, dealing Jordan Poole, for Chris Paul. A deal that moved a 23-year-old guard, for a 38-year-old guard. But maybe this deal can help them, as it will be exciting to see Curry and Thompson run around screens with Paul running the offense. I think this team has enough experience to make them top ten, but too many flaws to put them any higher.
8. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are coming off of a weird season. With their stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul Gorge, in and out of the lineup, they were forced to make moves at the deadline, trading for Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland, and Mason Plumlee, along with signing Russel Westbrook. The Clippers were looking like a huge threat to win the western conference, but after Paul Gorge sprained his right knee, causing him to miss the playoffs, they ended up being defeated in five games.
This Clippers team has enough talent and experience to win the championship, but I have very little trust in them being healthy.
7. Memphis Grizzlies
As a Warriors fan, I wish I could put the Grizzlies, far, far away from the top ten, but they have too much talent, depth, and all-around versatility to ignore. Their star, Ja Morant is going to miss the first 25 games, due to a suspension, but this trade deadline, they acquired Marcus Smart in a three team trade, which will help them tremendously. All around I think this Grizzlies team will be very good, but they're just out of the top tier of contenders.
6. Miami Heat
The Heat are a weird team to rank. Because on one hand, they are coming off of their second finals appearance in four years. But on the other hand, they are small, have no true super-duper star and have an inconsistent offense. They just made a miraculous run, getting all the way to the finals, but I just don’t see it happening again next year. They lost two key contributors, in Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, which will not help. Not having the heat in the top ten is something that I would not bat an eye to, but so would having them in the top three. This is a team with a ceiling of making it to the finals, and maybe even winning it, but a floor of losing in the first round. I think the Heat will be incredibly underwhelming in the regular season, but come playoff time they will make a push to the semifinals or conference finals, but I just don’t see them beating Milwaukee, or Boston again.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
This is where we get into the absolute no doubt contender tier, which is where LA definitely belongs. They have, in my opinion, one of if not the best defenses in the league. Combine that with having great depth, and lots of star power with Lebron James and Anthony Davis, they are easily a contender. But similar to the Clippers, I don’t trust the health of their stars for them to be any higher, but they will be very good.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are another weird team to rank. They are coming off of being the one-seed, but then losing in the first round. They have arguably the best player in the world with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but around him is an aging core that may be slowing down. Khris Middleton is going to have to have a very good season where he stays healthy, which will be hard given his age and injury history. The same goes for Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez. However, I think they have one more great season in them, and I think this Bucks team is right in the mix of contenders.
3. Phoenix Suns
The Suns made headlines this offseason for trading Chris Paul for Bradley Beal, a deal that made the Suns instant favorites in lots of people’s eyes. Not mine. I think that the pure talent of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, surrounded by a good supporting cast instantly makes Phoenix a top-three team in the NBA right now, but no higher. The Suns don't have one true starting level point guard, which will be fine just because all three of their superstars are pretty good playmakers, but even then I don’t trust their defense. They will be very, very good, and people who think they won’t be are ignorant, but they have too many roster issues to be number one or two for me.
2. Boston Celtics
I love the construction of this Boston team. I think the Kristaps Porzingis trade was a no-brainer. For those who don’t know, this off season, Boston agreed to a three team trade in which they sent out Marcus Smart and received Porzingis. I know the loss of Smart will take a toll on their culture, but Porzingis fits so well with this team's defense, it is an incredible team. He works well with either lineups—including bothAl Horford or Robert Wiliams the third. The only reason this team is not number one is because I haven't actually seen this core with Porzingis, or even without him, win a championship.
1. Denver Nuggets
This Nuggets team might be a problem for a long time. Obviously, they are coming off of a championship, so they are already a problem for other teams, but the fact that Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are only 26 and 28 respectively, should absolutely terrify every other team's fanbases. Denver is incredibly well constructed, and Jokic is the best player in the world in my opinion, so this is a no-brainer number one. I have to give the defending champions credit, with them practically having the same roster as last year, only losing Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. This team will be very, very, very good.
And there you have it! Those are who I think have the highest chance of holding up the Larry O'Brien trophy next summer, but again the NBA is witnessing all time competition. Anything can happen.
First, I want to start with honorable mentions. I’m not sure these four teams have got what it takes to make it all the way, but they definitely are looking good.
New York Knicks
Look, the Knicks are fresh off of a second-round appearance in which they looked very solid with Jalen Brunson playing great averaging 27.8 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in the 11 games he played during the run.
But the only thing they did this offseason was sign Donte DiVincenzo which came at the expense of Obi Toppin, who is now a Pacer. DiVincenzo will help, but if you compare the move to what other teams did, it looks minimal.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are coming off of an incredibly fun season. It was hard to root against them (unless you’re a Warriors fan) as they had one of the best offenses of all time, led by point guard De’Aaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis. They were so good that they secured the third seed in the Western Conference. However, they drew the defending champion Warriors and lost in seven.
This Kings team will be a very good contender this year, but I just can’t see them winning it all, which is why they are just out of the top ten.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are coming off of a good season, but are expected to take a leap next year. This all relies on the improvement of Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. Even if they both stay the same, you might say the Cavs are easily top ten. But when you look at the other teams and say would you rather have them or the Cavs, it gets tough. I don’t think anyone is arguing for them to be in the top five, so when you get past those, it gets tough. I might regret not putting the Cavs higher, but right now, this is how I see it. If the Knicks don’t make it, the Cavs can't make it either.
Oklahoma City Thunder
I really wanted to put the Thunder in the top ten. Really, really bad. But, they are a little too inexperienced compared to the others. I trust Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I think I trust Josh Giddey, and Lue Dort. But I haven't seen enough from the front court. But trust me, in the 2024-25 season, they will be in the top ten.
And that concludes the honorable mentions, obviously, there are lots more that I considered for the top ten, such as the Timberwolves, Hawks, Pelicans, Pacers, and Mavericks, but those were the ones I came the closest to putting in the top ten. Now the top ten.
Ok, now for the main event. Here are my personal top ten teams of the 2023-24 NBA season.
10. Philadelphia 76ers
I said it. I know they have the reigning MVP and one of the best backcourts in the league. But we’ve seen this over and over again. It seems like the only thing that we can guarantee each season is a second-round exit from the Sixers. If you combine that with the awkward chemistry between James Harden and the rest of the team, I just don’t think it’s going to work. Even if Harden gets traded, the package will most likely make them worse than with Harden. But having Joel Embid, and a decent supporting cast around you, automatically makes you top ten in my book.
9. Golden State Warriors
Doing this went against all of my Warriors fandom. But, if we’re being realistic, the Warriors are not a top eight team. They are led by the core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. They made a massive deal this offseason, dealing Jordan Poole, for Chris Paul. A deal that moved a 23-year-old guard, for a 38-year-old guard. But maybe this deal can help them, as it will be exciting to see Curry and Thompson run around screens with Paul running the offense. I think this team has enough experience to make them top ten, but too many flaws to put them any higher.
8. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are coming off of a weird season. With their stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul Gorge, in and out of the lineup, they were forced to make moves at the deadline, trading for Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland, and Mason Plumlee, along with signing Russel Westbrook. The Clippers were looking like a huge threat to win the western conference, but after Paul Gorge sprained his right knee, causing him to miss the playoffs, they ended up being defeated in five games.
This Clippers team has enough talent and experience to win the championship, but I have very little trust in them being healthy.
7. Memphis Grizzlies
As a Warriors fan, I wish I could put the Grizzlies, far, far away from the top ten, but they have too much talent, depth, and all-around versatility to ignore. Their star, Ja Morant is going to miss the first 25 games, due to a suspension, but this trade deadline, they acquired Marcus Smart in a three team trade, which will help them tremendously. All around I think this Grizzlies team will be very good, but they're just out of the top tier of contenders.
6. Miami Heat
The Heat are a weird team to rank. Because on one hand, they are coming off of their second finals appearance in four years. But on the other hand, they are small, have no true super-duper star and have an inconsistent offense. They just made a miraculous run, getting all the way to the finals, but I just don’t see it happening again next year. They lost two key contributors, in Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, which will not help. Not having the heat in the top ten is something that I would not bat an eye to, but so would having them in the top three. This is a team with a ceiling of making it to the finals, and maybe even winning it, but a floor of losing in the first round. I think the Heat will be incredibly underwhelming in the regular season, but come playoff time they will make a push to the semifinals or conference finals, but I just don’t see them beating Milwaukee, or Boston again.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
This is where we get into the absolute no doubt contender tier, which is where LA definitely belongs. They have, in my opinion, one of if not the best defenses in the league. Combine that with having great depth, and lots of star power with Lebron James and Anthony Davis, they are easily a contender. But similar to the Clippers, I don’t trust the health of their stars for them to be any higher, but they will be very good.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are another weird team to rank. They are coming off of being the one-seed, but then losing in the first round. They have arguably the best player in the world with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but around him is an aging core that may be slowing down. Khris Middleton is going to have to have a very good season where he stays healthy, which will be hard given his age and injury history. The same goes for Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez. However, I think they have one more great season in them, and I think this Bucks team is right in the mix of contenders.
3. Phoenix Suns
The Suns made headlines this offseason for trading Chris Paul for Bradley Beal, a deal that made the Suns instant favorites in lots of people’s eyes. Not mine. I think that the pure talent of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, surrounded by a good supporting cast instantly makes Phoenix a top-three team in the NBA right now, but no higher. The Suns don't have one true starting level point guard, which will be fine just because all three of their superstars are pretty good playmakers, but even then I don’t trust their defense. They will be very, very good, and people who think they won’t be are ignorant, but they have too many roster issues to be number one or two for me.
2. Boston Celtics
I love the construction of this Boston team. I think the Kristaps Porzingis trade was a no-brainer. For those who don’t know, this off season, Boston agreed to a three team trade in which they sent out Marcus Smart and received Porzingis. I know the loss of Smart will take a toll on their culture, but Porzingis fits so well with this team's defense, it is an incredible team. He works well with either lineups—including bothAl Horford or Robert Wiliams the third. The only reason this team is not number one is because I haven't actually seen this core with Porzingis, or even without him, win a championship.
1. Denver Nuggets
This Nuggets team might be a problem for a long time. Obviously, they are coming off of a championship, so they are already a problem for other teams, but the fact that Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are only 26 and 28 respectively, should absolutely terrify every other team's fanbases. Denver is incredibly well constructed, and Jokic is the best player in the world in my opinion, so this is a no-brainer number one. I have to give the defending champions credit, with them practically having the same roster as last year, only losing Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. This team will be very, very, very good.
And there you have it! Those are who I think have the highest chance of holding up the Larry O'Brien trophy next summer, but again the NBA is witnessing all time competition. Anything can happen.