The NBA season is about to start, and the betting markets have already picked their favorites to win the championship. The Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks are the top contenders, according to several sportsbooks, while the defending champions Denver Nuggets are not far behind.
Celtics have a balanced and deep roster
The Celtics are coming off a disappointing second-round exit in the playoffs last season, but they have made some significant changes in the offseason. They hired Ime Udoka as their new head coach, replacing Brad Stevens, who moved to the front office. They also traded Kemba Walker and a first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Al Horford, Moses Brown, and a second-round pick. They also signed Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson, Enes Kanter, and Juancho Hernangomez to bolster their bench.
The Celtics have a balanced and deep roster, led by their young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum averaged 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game last season, while Brown had 24.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. They also have veteran leadership in Horford, Marcus Smart, and Robert Williams III, who provide defense, rebounding, and playmaking. Schroder, Richardson, Kanter, and Hernangomez add scoring, shooting, and versatility to the second unit.
The Celtics are the favorites at Draftkings Sportsbook with odds of +550 to win the NBA title. They are also co-favorites with the Bucks at several other sportsbooks with odds ranging from +380 to +400.
Bucks are the reigning Eastern Conference champions
The Bucks are the reigning Eastern Conference champions, having defeated the Brooklyn Nets in seven games in the conference semifinals and the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the conference finals. They fell short of winning the NBA title, however, as they lost to the Nuggets in five games in the finals.
The Bucks have retained most of their core players from last season, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, and Pat Connaughton. Antetokounmpo is the two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, who averaged 28.1 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game last season. Middleton is an All-Star wing who averaged 20.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game last season. Holiday is an All-Defensive guard who averaged 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game last season.
The Bucks have also added some new pieces to their roster, such as Grayson Allen, Rodney Hood, George Hill, Semi Ojeleye, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Allen is a sharpshooter who averaged 10.6 points and shot 39.1% from three-point range last season with the Memphis Grizzlies. Hood is a veteran wing who can provide scoring and defense off the bench. Hill is a familiar face for the Bucks, having played for them from 2018 to 2020. He is a reliable backup point guard who can run the offense and shoot from deep. Ojeleye is a former Celtic who can play multiple positions and defend multiple players. Mamukelashvili is a rookie forward from Seton Hall who can stretch the floor and pass the ball.
The Bucks are co-favorites with the Celtics at several sportsbooks with odds ranging from +380 to +400. They are also among the top contenders at other sportsbooks, with odds ranging from +600 to +700.
Nuggets are the defending NBA champions
The Nuggets are the defending NBA champions, having won their first title in franchise history last season. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the first round of the playoffs, the Phoenix Suns in seven games in the second round of the playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers in six games in the Western Conference finals, and the Bucks in five games in the NBA finals.
The Nuggets have a star-studded roster, featuring Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Will Barton. Jokic is the reigning MVP, who averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game last season. Murray is an explosive scorer, who averaged 21.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game last season. He missed most of the playoffs due to a torn ACL, but he is expected to return at some point this season. Porter Jr. is a rising star, who averaged 19 points, 7.3 rebounds, and shot 44.5% from three-point range last season. Gordon is a versatile forward, who averaged 10.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game last season. He joined the Nuggets in a midseason trade from the Orlando Magic, and provided defense, athleticism, and energy to the team. Barton is a veteran wing, who averaged 12.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game last season.
The Nuggets have also added some depth to their roster, such as Jeff Green, Bones Hyland, Austin Rivers, and JaMychal Green. Jeff Green is a journeyman forward, who averaged 11 points and shot 41.2% from three-point range last season with the Nets. He can play both inside and outside, and provide leadership and experience to the team. Hyland is a rookie guard from VCU, who averaged 19.5 points and shot 37.1% from three-point range in college. He is a dynamic scorer and playmaker, who can create his own shot and hit from deep. Rivers is a backup guard, who averaged 8.7 points and shot 37.4% from three-point range last season with the Nuggets. He joined the team in April after being waived by the Thunder, and played a key role in the playoffs with his clutch shooting and defense. JaMychal Green is a returning forward, who averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season with the Nuggets. He is a solid role player who can rebound, defend, and stretch the floor.
The Nuggets have the third-best odds to win the NBA title at Caesars Sportsbook with odds of +420. They are also among the top contenders at other sportsbooks, with odds ranging from +600 to +850.
