The long awaited NBA season is nearing its return and will commence with the defending champion Denver Nuggets taking on the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday, Oct. 24. This offseason has been filled with unexpected trades and anxious fans waiting in apprehension for the performance of their teams. As always, some teams are expected to perform better this year than others.
There are some teams with dynasties to defend, while others have ones they would like to begin, Some teams are out to prove themselves, and others while some are eager to try new rosters.
Here are the top five best teams going into the 2023-24 NBA season:
1. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets enter the new year with virtually the same roster that won its championship the past season minus small forward Bruce Brown who was shipped to the Pacers. That being said, this is a team that clearly did not need to make many adjustments to its roster, and have a solid chance of running it back a consecutive year. After finishing 53-29 last season and winning the NBA championship for the first time in franchise history, this team has more confidence than ever.
The previous four seasons before their championship were filled with disappointing playoff exits, sparking questions of championship success. However, after dominating last year’s postseason with just five total losses, they looked to once and for all be a playoff team that can execute the job. Center Nikola Jokic is already a two time MVP, and has a chance to become one of the greatest players in the league’s history. Winning the title a second consecutive year would make him one step closer to cementing himself into the leagues greatest even further.
At the end of last season, there were talks of this team becoming a dynasty, however, they are going to have to win at least one more title to do that. When you add players like point guard Jamal Murray and power forward Aaron Gordon on top of Jokic, there is no doubting this team’s success. Murray, who was injured the entire 2021-22 season, came back with a vengeance last year and has looked better than ever since his time away.
Meanwhile, Gordon is coming off his best season yet, possibly due to the help surrounding him. This team looked unstoppable in the playoffs last season, and if they play that way all year they will undoubtedly be dangerous.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
Entering the month of October, the Milwaukee Bucks were already looked upon as championship contenders for the upcoming season. However, a late offseason trade occurred at the beginning of the new month, seeming to shape the landscape across multiple NBA teams.
The Bucks sent point guard Jrue Holiday and a 2029 first round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for seven time all star point guard Damian Lillard. The trade involved three teams, and originally included the Suns, as they received shooting guard Grayson Allen from the Bucks. Holiday has now been sent to another team but that will be discussed later. As for the Bucks, Lillard has never played with another all-star in his 11 years with Portland. Now not only is he playing by the side of seven time all star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, but his true potential may fully be unlocked in the presence of another all star.
The addition of Lillard to the Blazer’s also helps Antetokounmpo’s case, as yet another all star joins the team. The Bucks finished last season 58-24, and first in the conference, however, were delivered a shocking exit by the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Lillard’s entrance has made the Bucks stronger than before as they will be out for redemption as well as regaining their throne in the Eastern Conference.
3. Boston Celtics
Years past for the Celtics have been filled with countless disappointing playoff exits, and failures to achieve their destiny. That being said, they have made the playoffs nine years in a row and continue to be a consistent threat throughout the league. Every season the Celtics seem to be the team that are going to win it without question, it always gets ripped away from them somehow.
Players like small forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have experienced this in the past, however, the Celtics roster made a few changes from last year. After a two year tenure with the Washington Wizards, center Kristaps Porzingis has joined the squad, as former center Robert Williams III was sent to Portland. Shooting guard Derrick White will enter his third season with the team while veteran center Al Horford agreed to play two more years with the team.
Finally, the trade discussed earlier needs to be brought back up. Although point guard Jrue Holiday was sent to the Trailblazers, he was picked up by the Celtics days later. Holiday won his first NBA title with the Bucks in 2021, and the addition of championship experience may be what this team is looking for.
The team finished 57-25 last season, and appear to only have one competitor amongst the Eastern Conference in the Milwaukee Bucks. There is no doubt this Celtics team will perform well throughout the season. Questions will lie on whether they have finally built a team one would deem playoff worthy, and if they can finally go all the way once again.
4. Phoenix Suns
The Suns may have lost center Deandre Ayton to the Trailblazers in the blockbuster trade that happened weeks ago, but still have a core three any team should be bragging about. The Suns began the offseason with sacking former head coach of four seasons Monty Williams, and bringing in Frank Vogel.
Vogel, who won a championship with the Lakers in 2020, will offer that championship experience to a team led by three all-stars. Three time all star shooting guard Devin Booker enters his eight year with the team, surrounded by the best company he’s ever had. He is joined by power forward and 13 time all star Kevin Durant and three time all star shooting guard Bradley Beal.
Durant seemed to be part of a failed experiment during his time with the Brooklyn Nets, but will provide veteran and championship experience to a hungry team. Beal, who joins the Suns after an 11 year tenure with the Wizards, has not been surrounded by all-star company since the departure of John Wall from Washington. He will have the chance to truly come alive as part of the Sun’s offense this season and reach further potential.
This team really could have had the chance to have an all-star starting five, but unfortunately had to let go of names such as Ayton, and point guard Chris Paul. That being said, the team also picked up former Trail Blazer’s center Jusuf Nurkic and Bucks shooting guard Grayson Allen. They are sure to have one of the most exciting starting five in the league.
It may look good on paper, however, fans will not be content until the team begins to make a name for themselves. Time will tell if this is a team built for the playoffs or not, but don’t be surprised to see this team finish in at least the top five of its conference.
5. Golden State Warriors
Although the dynasty of the late 2010’s may be over, this team always finds a way to remain in the consistent playoff race. Besides one blunder of a year in 2019-20, which they erased with a championship a couple seasons ago, this team has been nonstop glory. With three championships in the late 2010’s, a dynasty was surely built.
Now with a similar roster, they are looking to etch a new dynasty into the books. The team is still built around its core three players, point guard Steph Curry, power forward Draymond Green and small forward Klay Thompson. However, they have added yet another all-star to their roster in the form of point guard Chris Paul. The 12 time all-star Paul, who is 37, will desperately be looking for his first championship, as he came up short in 2021 losing the finals with the Suns.
Players like their core three will be looking for a fifth championship, cementing their name in greatness once and for all and surely creating a dynasty of sorts. Small forward Andrew Wiggins will be looking for his second title with the team, and a place in Golden State’s history. Coach Steve Kerr will have his tenth total championship as a coach and player in sight.
This team is already filled with greatness from years past, but will be looking to keep their status in the league. They want to remain great for as long as possible, and this will be another season where the Warriors do not disappoint.
