NBA Power Rankings: Where each team stands as regular season begins
To kick things off, we're taking a look at how things shape up as the 2023-24 NBA regular season begins. Power rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors, and championship odds are courtesy theScore Bet.
1. Denver Nuggets
Title odds: +550
The defending-champion Nuggets are ready for a repeat but will be without a key contributor. Bruce Brown left for the Pacers, meaning more opportunity and shots for second-year wing Christian Braun.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
Title odds: +400
The addition of Damian Lillard will lift Milwaukee's offense to another level. The seven-time All-Star should form a dynamic pick-and-roll tandem with Giannis Antetokounmpo and provide the Greek Freak with ample space to operate.
3. Boston Celtics
Title odds: +400
No one would blame the Celtics for running it back after falling one game short of the NBA Finals, but upgrading from Marcus Smart and Robert Williams to Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis makes them even more dangerous than last season.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
Title odds: +1200
Building on an unexpected WCF run, the Lakers rewarded Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell with long-term deals. Signing Taurean Prince and Gabe Vincent also provides valuable depth for a team with championship goals.
5. Phoenix Suns
Title odds: +600
The Suns made the bold decision to move on from Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, instead opting for Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic, and more depth. Led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, a title could be reaching Phoenix soon.
6. Golden State Warriors
Title odds: +1200
A pivotal season awaits the Warriors. Steve Kerr and Klay Thompson are both entering the final year of their respective deals. Meanwhile, a breakout campaign from Jonathan Kuminga would go a long way in boosting the team's title hopes.
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Title odds: +2500
It's slated to be a weird campaign for the Grizzlies, who seemingly got better in the offseason but will also be without star Ja Morant for 25 games. So long as they make the playoffs, though, they'll be dangerous.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
Title odds: +1600
The James Harden saga seems like a lose-lose situation for the 76ers. Daryl Morey is unlikely to get much in return for Harden, and don't expect The Beard to play his best basketball if he stays put.
9. Los Angeles Clippers
Title odds: +1800
The Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era has yielded only three playoff-series victories. The star duo has struggled to stay healthy throughout their tenure and needs to be available for the Clippers to have any chance at winning a championship.
10. Miami Heat
Title odds: +3000
Miami watched Lillard join one of its top rivals and lost Gabe Vincent and Max Strus in free agency. The team needs a big year from Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. to keep pace in the retooled East.
11. Sacramento Kings
Title odds: +6000
The future is bright in Sacramento after last season's surprising playoff berth. The Kings set an NBA single-campaign record for offensive efficiency and return all five starters from that squad.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
Title odds: +2500
The Cavaliers surrounded their trio of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley with sharpshooters. That should be enough to jolt them up the list of East contenders.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
Title odds: +6600
Another year with the Big 3 of Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert will hopefully lead Minnesota to contention. Adding wing depth in Shake Milton and Troy Brown should strengthen the rotation.
14. New York Knicks
Title odds: +4000
New York brought back virtually the same group of players. Anticipate a leap from third-year guard Quentin Grimes, who averaged 21.9 points and shot 47.8% from deep over his last nine regular season contests.
15. New Orleans Pelicans
Title odds: +5000
Without having seen a full season of Zion Williamson with this current Pelicans core, it's hard to project just how high the ceiling is. But if all goes to plan, there may not be many better teams in the West.
16. Dallas Mavericks
Title odds: +2500
The Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving pairing was a giant disappointment as Dallas failed to even qualify for last season's play-in tournament. Expect the duo to right the ship after a full training camp together.
17. Atlanta Hawks
Title odds: +6600
John Collins was finally traded away to the Jazz after being the subject of trade rumors for the last few seasons. Other forwards with a better shooting touch will now have the chance to start.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder
Title odds: +7500
After a year in which he was sidelined with a Lisfranc injury, center Chet Holmgren will make his debut with the Thunder. They came close to making the playoffs last season, and Holmgren might be the final piece for an OKC postseason return.
19. Indiana Pacers
Title odds: +20000
Rookie Jarace Walker providing versatile defense alongside burgeoning offensive talents Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin is an enticing core for the Pacers, but it may be another year until they're truly competitive.
20. Brooklyn Nets
Title odds: +6600
If Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Nic Claxton continue to blossom with increased responsibility, and if Ben Simmons shows signs of his old self, the Nets could be a top-six team in the East. That's a fair amount of "ifs," though.
21. Utah Jazz
Title odds: +15000
The Jazz nearly snagged a play-in tourney spot despite shipping Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert prior to the campaign. Lauri Markkanen won Most Improved Player honors and Walker Kessler established himself as a premier rim protector in his rookie year.
22. Toronto Raptors
Title odds: +10000
It's hard to gauge exactly what to expect from the Raptors when it feels like the organization itself doesn't know which direction to go in. Once it's determined whether Toronto is competing or rebuilding, the prognosis becomes clearer.
23. Orlando Magic
Title odds: +15000
The Magic feel more like a collection of good basketball players than a good team. For a franchise that hasn't won a playoff series since the days of Dwight Howard, baby steps should count as success.
24. Chicago Bulls
Title odds: +20000
The Bulls look a step behind the rest of the league. Chicago went 1-4 over the preseason, winning its only game against the Nuggets. The team could be dismantled if those results carry over into the regular season.
25. Houston Rockets
Title odds: +10000
After a 22-60 record last campaign, the Rockets made bold swings to improve this season. Hiring Ime Udoka as coach, drafting Amen Thompson, and signing Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks should make the team better.
26. San Antonio Spurs
Title odds: +20000
It’s Victor Wembanyama time in San Antonio. The Spurs landed the French phenom with the top pick in June’s draft, and he's now tasked with helping the franchise compete for a sixth title.
27. Portland Trail Blazers
Title odds: +20000
What a luxury for the Blazers to trade away a franchise icon in Damian Lillard and immediately roster three potential replacements in the backcourt. Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe will be fun to watch during this rebuild.
28. Detroit Pistons
Title odds: +40000
First and foremost, the Pistons are hoping for a healthy, productive campaign from 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham. Wins will come eventually if the oversized point guard continues to grow his game.
29. Charlotte Hornets
Title odds: +40000
Charlotte should improve upon its 27-win campaign. LaMelo Ball is healthy again, Brandon Miller will inject some life into the offense, and Mark Williams showed promise as a starter down the stretch last season.
30. Washington Wizards
Title odds: +40000
Although many seasons too late, the Wizards are doing the right thing in rebuilding. Washington traded away Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis and got back Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones to help start fresh.