NBA Power Rankings: Celtics enter season ready to repeat
NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
To kick things off, we're looking at how things shape up as the 2024-25 regular season begins. Title odds courtesy of theScore Bet.
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ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Boston Celtics
Title odds: +300
Aside from a one-point loss to the Raptors to end preseason, the defending champs resemble last year's 64-win machine. Joe Mazzulla's squad should be on a tier of its own in the East again.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Title odds: +675
Oklahoma City is ready to compete for championships after landing Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein over the summer. While Hartenstein will miss time with a fractured hand, the Thunder are primed for a dominant season.
3. New York Knicks
Title odds: +750
Capitalizing on their best campaign in over a decade, the Knicks pushed in all their chips to acquire Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns in hopes of capturing their first title since 1973.
4. Denver Nuggets
Title odds: +825
Denver's title defense ended in the second round against the T-Wolves. The Nuggets remain a threat with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray leading the way, but they'll certainly feel the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
Title odds: +825
The Sixers revamped the roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, adding a variety of veterans, including Paul George. Philadelphia will need its star trio healthy to vie for a title.
6. Dallas Mavericks
Title odds: +1000
Klay Thompson's best days are in the past, but the former All-Star's knack for economizing movements without the ball should pair well with Luka Doncic's eye for finding open teammates on the perimeter with absurd passes.
7. Phoenix Suns
Title odds: +2000
Phoenix addressed its lack of a natural point guard with the free-agent signings of Tyus Jones and Monte Morris. The two vets should alleviate some of Devin Booker's and Bradley Beal's playmaking duties.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Title odds: +1000
The T-Wolves have been accused - sometimes unfairly so - of being soft, so they added two dogs from NYC in Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Minnesota will have title aspirations if Anthony Edwards can be in the MVP discussion.
9. Indiana Pacers
Title odds: +5000
The Pacers are flying under the radar despite last season's conference finals run. The return of a healthy Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard's emergence could further propel a team on the ascendancy.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Title odds: +1300
Back-to-back first-round exits, Khris Middleton's two summer ankle surgeries, and a threadbare bench have lowered expectations for a Bucks side that could still make a run thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
11. Memphis Grizzlies
Title odds: +4000
The Grizzlies should catapult up the standings after Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, Marcus Smart, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all missed double-digit contests last season. Get in on the Zach Edey hype while you can.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
Title odds: +4000
The Cavaliers had one goal this summer: tie down their important pieces long term, beginning with Donovan Mitchell. However, without other moves, it's essentially the same team that Boston outmatched in the playoffs.
13. Orlando Magic
Title odds: +5000
The third-best defense added Caldwell-Pope in the offseason. Get ready to deal with a perimeter defense of Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, and Anthony Black. Can Wagner join Paolo Banchero as a premier offensive player?
14. New Orleans Pelicans
Title odds: +5000
Supplementing a burgeoning core with any above-average point guard would've sufficed, but the Pelicans did one better by swinging for Dejounte Murray. That should help avoid a fourth straight play-in tournament berth.
15. Miami Heat
Title odds: +4000
Heat culture is being put to the test with a roster that, once again, isn't dripping with talent. Will Jimmy Butler be re-invigorated as he searches for a max contract?
16. Golden State Warriors
Title odds: +4000
Buddy Hield should be able to fill veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson's absence from beyond the arc. Expect Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, and Trayce Jackson-Davis to all take a leap this season.
17. Los Angeles Lakers
Title odds: +3000
JJ Redick will be under enormous pressure to deliver in Year 1 with the Lakers. However, with virtually the same roster returning, it's hard to imagine a drastic improvement from last season.
18. Sacramento Kings
Title odds: +5000
Sacramento made a splash over the summer, acquiring former All-Star DeMar DeRozan to aid in scoring. A career 29.6% three-point shooter, his fit with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis will be watched closely.
19. Los Angeles Clippers
Title odds: +10000
Kawhi Leonard was held out of the Olympics, and he reportedly underwent a knee procedure in the offseason. The Clippers will only go as far as Leonard takes them. His indefinite absence doesn't bode well.
20. San Antonio Spurs
Title odds: +10000
The Spurs should be more competitive with Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul on the roster. Paul solves one of the team's biggest issues: a dearth of talent at point guard. San Antonio also has Victor Wembanyama, who's pretty good.
21. Houston Rockets
Title odds: +15000
After a sensational Summer League, No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard was out of sorts in the preseason, scoring double digits just once on 18.2% 3-point shooting. If the Rockets have legit postseason aspirations, that won't cut it.
22. Chicago Bulls
Title odds: +50000
How fast will Coby White and Josh Giddey form a partnership? Can the Bulls build up Zach LaVine's trade value early this season? The rebuild in Chicago is officially underway. Finally.
23. Atlanta Hawks
Title odds: +20000
Top overall pick Zaccharie Risacher looked convincing in a tiny two-game preseason sample size, but the Hawks need him to rapidly develop chemistry with Trae Young if they want to improve on last year's 36-46 finish.
24. Toronto Raptors
Title odds: +50000
The Raps went on a 15-game losing streak after Scottie Barnes broke his hand last campaign. With Cooper Flagg, among others, at the top of the next draft, don't be shocked if Toronto hits the tank button.
25. Charlotte Hornets
Title odds: +100000
Charlotte will likely miss the playoffs for the ninth straight season. But hiring Charles Lee as head coach and Year 2 of Brandon Miller are breaths of fresh air for Hornets fans.
26. Portland Trail Blazers
Title odds: +100000
Nobody seems to expect a bounty of wins in Portland this campaign. That might bode perfectly fine for a young Blazers squad oozing with potential with a mishmash roster that could navigate plenty of turnover in 2024-25.
27. Utah Jazz
Title odds: +100000
Jazz head coach Will Hardy has been lauded for his player development during his two seasons at the helm. Expect Hardy to continue prioritizing the long term over wins in another rebuilding campaign.
28. Detroit Pistons
Title odds: +100000
J.B. Bickerstaff will hope that a healthy Cade Cunningham and the additions of veteran trio Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley are enough to avoid replicating last season's franchise-record 68 losses.
29. Brooklyn Nets
Title odds: +100000
Brooklyn is committed to tanking after acquiring its first-round pick in the summer, which will help land the Nets a big-time prospect. For now, new coach Jordi Fernandez can focus on roster development.
30. Washington Wizards
Title odds: +100000
Washington added three first-round picks - Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George - to a roster lacking talent. Getting them playing time early in the season will be paramount for the future.