The NBA season is officially upon us, and that means it's time to start thinking about who will win the championship this year.
The Boston Celtics are currently the favorites to win back-to-back Eastern Conference titles, but their path is made even more difficult as the Knicks and 76ers add talent.
Will we see a team emerge from the Western Conference?
In this article, I will introduce the team I would pick to win this year's NBA Championship, as well as two mid-priced teams that I think can provide value to the market. Let's dive in.
Oklahoma City Thunder (+650, FanDuel)
After a great offseason by Sam Presti, here's my preseason prediction for the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Championship.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander elevated to MVP-level status last season, averaging over 30 points per game and earning a spot on the All-NBA First Team. He is 26 years old and just entering the prime of his career.
The Thunder also rank second in odds for Most Valuable Player and should be a breakout season for the third-year forward, who is on the verge of superstardom.
Similarly, Chet Holmgren will continue to improve in his second season.
The elite young Big Three will be flanked by two key veteran acquisitions, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Caruso is a nuisance on defense, and the Thunder have arguably the best pair of guard-defenders in the NBA next to Luguentz Dort.
He also shot over 40% on catch-and-shoot 3s last season, significantly outperforming Josh Guidy, who has been left vacant since the end of the playoffs.
Hartenstein, on the other hand, gives the team versatility in an attractive lineup.
He provides elite offensive rebounding and playmaking for the big men, and Holmgren's ability to stretch the floor allows the Thunder to line up with two big men easily.
Finally, the Thunder have an elite lineup, including 3-point shooters Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, who both resigned this offseason due to team-related extensions. Second-year guard Kayson Wallace also showed surprising defensive acuity for a rookie last season.
The Thunder are one of the youngest teams in the league with future draft prospects, but I believe this team is ready to compete for championships with a wealth of young talent that will work together seamlessly.
Denver Nuggets (+1100, BetMGM)
Will we write off the Nuggets prematurely?
Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this offseason is certainly a blow to the win-now roster, as he was the team's best guard-defender and deadly 3-point shooter.
However, I think his demotion is somewhat exaggerated after Christian Braun made a solid impact in limited minutes.
Second-year guard Julian Stroller has had a great preseason and is ready to step up into a more important role.
More importantly, all-world center Nikola Jokic makes those around him better.
In my opinion, Jokic is still the best player in the NBA, and his running mate Jamal Murray has gotten even healthier this season after nagging injuries prevented him from playing in the postseason. It should be.
Denver has limited depth, and while the roster is arguably top-tier, Jokic can never be fully counted out of postseason contention.
Milwaukee Bucks (+1600, Caesars)
The Bucks field one of the oldest rosters in the NBA, and their top three stars haven't been ready to play in a playoff series since the 2021 NBA Finals.
However, there is reason to believe this team has upside. Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off one of his best seasons as he was once again named to the All-NBA First Team.
At the same time, Damian Lillard could be poised for a bounce-back season after struggling in his first year in Milwaukee.
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Doc Rivers never really played well with this team after taking over midseason, and Giannis and Dame only played five games with Khris Middleton after the All-Star break.
The additions of Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Delon Wright help inject shooting and defense into the rotation.
The Knicks' acquisitions of Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns and the 76ers' addition of Paul George have filled the top of the Eastern Conference, but there's no need to completely write off the Bucks this season.
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Jacob Wayne handicaps college football and the NFL for the New York Post. He gained 84.5 units across two sports for an ROI of 6.27%.
