The 2024-2025 NBA season just kicked off two weeks ago and some teams have already cemented themselves as real contenders to win this year’s NBA Championship. In the 2023-2024 season the Boston Celtics knocked off the Dallas Mavericks in 5 games to win their 18th championship. After going 16-3 in the postseason and 64-18 in the regular season, last year’s Celtics team has been referred to as one of best teams in NBA history. With Boston only getting better this year, will they win back to back championships or will someone else become NBA Champions.
The Celtics are led by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who are both averaging over 25 points and 7 rebounds per game. The backcourt duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White have also been stellar this year with Holiday averaging 13 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds and White averaging 20 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds. However the starters are not what makes this team so special, it is the depth Boston has. Payton Pritchard, Al Horford, Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and a few other names have all been huge playmakers coming off the bench. The Celtics currently sit at 7-2 with losses to both the Pacers and Warriors. With Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis currently struggling with injuries, the Celtics are vulnerable to losses for the next couple of weeks. However at full strength, this team is definitely the favorite to win the 2024-2025 NBA Championship.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are another favorite to win it all this year. Led by guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and accompanied by Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder are one of the best teams in the NBA. Shai is averaging 26 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds along with both a block and steal and is currently the favorite to win this year’s most valuable player. Williams on the other hand is averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while Holmgren is averaging a double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins have also been standouts for this team so far this season. The biggest news surrounding the Thunder right now is the possibility of acquiring the current face of the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is a 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA, 2x MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and an NBA champion in 2021. The acquisition of Antetokounmpo would easily make the Thunder the best team in the NBA and definite favorites to win the title.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the last undefeated team in the league; however, many people are still skeptical about their roster. With only one big name in Donovan Mitchell and a few other standouts in Darius Garland, Evan Mobely, and Caris Levert, can this team really continue their hot streak? The thing that makes this team so special is their defensive skills and ability to share the scoring. Four players are currently averaging over 15 points and another two are averaging more than 10. As a team they are also averaging over 9 steals and 5 blocks per game. On paper the Cavs do not look like a championship contending team however sitting at 9-0 to start the season this team looks very dangerous and could take the league by storm.
Along with these three teams, the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns have also looked good to start this year’s season. With the new backcourt in Steph Curry and Buddy Hield for the Warriors they have been able to score at ease against every opponent so far. The Suns on the other hand have been led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker who have averaged over 25 points per game each. With the season just entering its third week of the year, keep an eye out for these 5 teams as they have been on fire to start the season.
