2023 NBA title odds: Warriors, Celtics favored to meet again in Finals

Just when you thought the Warriors' dynasty was over, they hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the fourth time in eight years with Thursday's win over the Celtics. Oddsmakers like their chances of doing it again next year, too.

Golden State opened as the +550 favorite to win the 2023 NBA championship at Barstool Sportsbook, just hours after extending its dynastic run with arguably the most surprising title run yet. The Dubs are slim favorites over the Celtics (+650), who came two wins away from securing their first title since 2008 but couldn't stave off elimination on their home court.

2022-23 NBA championship opening odds

It shouldn't surprise anyone to see those two teams atop the title oddsboard after the way they played throughout the 2021-22 season. The Warriors got off to an 18-2 start before injuries took hold down the stretch, but they heated up in the playoffs behind their Hall of Fame trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

Father Time will eventually take a toll on all three of Curry (34), Thompson (32), and Green (32), but reinforcements are coming next year for the title favorites. Fresh off his first All-Star nod, Andrew Wiggins was arguably the second-best player for the Warriors in these Finals and could take another leap next year. Jordan Poole looks primed to do the same after his breakout campaign at age 22 - joining Jonathan Kuminga (19), Moses Moody (20), and James Wiseman (21) as potential 22-and-under rising stars for this group.

The future is bright for the Celtics, too, albeit with more questions than the defending champions. Jayson Tatum (24) and Jaylen Brown (25) remain the best young duo in the league, but their flaws were laid bare for the world to see in this postseason - namely, their inability to take care of the basketball or create their own offense in crucial moments.

Boston also boasts arguably the best inside-outside defensive duo in Marcus Smart and Robert Williams, who should join Al Horford as the five returning starters for the Eastern Conference champions. How much can the Celtics rely on Horford in his age-36 season? And can they find a competent option off the bench to assuage their late-game scoring woes come playoff time?

Just behind those two NBA finalists are the Clippers (+700) and the Bucks (+700), who have the star power and supporting cast to make a deep run. Los Angeles hopes its star duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can make waves after Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. will certainly factor into the mix after winning it all last year.

The Nets (+900) entered last season as title favorites but face myriad questions entering this upcoming season: Can Kevin Durant stay healthy? Will Kyrie Irving be back? And is Ben Simmons the answer at point guard for a title contender? Similar concerns face the Heat (+1000) and the Suns (+1000), who claimed No. 1 seeds a year ago but are running out of time behind aging superstars and uncertain young stars around them.

Don't forget about the Mavericks (+1200) and the Nuggets (+1400), who are both led by MVP-level superstars in Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, respectively. Can either star get enough help around them to make their first-ever title run? That's the question facing the 76ers (+1400) and the Grizzlies (+1600), too, with Joel Embiid and Ja Morant primed to lead a title run, if healthy.

And then there's the Lakers (+2200), who were clear favorites in the West a year ago despite incongruent roster construction and two superstars with inconsistent health. New head coach Darvin Ham will be tasked with extracting some better defense from a roster with very few capable defenders. Don't be surprised to see a much different team come October than the one that ended the season in Los Angeles.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].