Five Early Contenders for the 2024 NBA Championship

The 2022-23 NBA season was one for the books, a year full of excitement that ended with a new team taking home the championship and creating its mark on history. But for fans and bettors, there is no time to dwell in the past. Already, odds are available for NBA betting in Canada on the teams that will be most likely to win next season.

While so much can change over the course of the offseason, you can see online that bookmakers have already made their minds up on which teams can compete next year. If you are a fan getting excited for next season or a bettor looking to cash in on a long-term bet before the offseason kicks into gear, let’s look at five teams that can win it all next year.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have to be looked at as the likeliest team to win it next year, coming off a dominant championship run this year. Led by Nikola Jokic, who has seemingly cemented himself as the best player in the NBA, the Nuggets have the top-end superstar needed to win.

They also have the supporting talent, with Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. all under contract for next year. Murray especially showed himself to be an All-Star caliber player, and if this team stays healthy, expect another great year.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have come very close for the past few years, seemingly making a deep playoff run every season. Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and with strong depth pieces like Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, and Al Horford, they have one of the best, deepest teams in the league.

But some question whether they can fully get the job done with this team, as they’ve yet to seal the deal. Rumors of a Brown trade seem unlikely, so it looks like the Celtics will be running it back with the same talented roster as last year.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks had a hugely disappointing exit from the playoffs in the first round this year, but their outlook is still bright. They have one of the best two-way players of this generation in Giannis Antetokounmpo and are a threat to win every year he remains in his prime.

However, Brooks Lopez and Khris Middleton are free agents this offseason, so if they can’t retain them, this team will look very different. But Giannis is one of the NBA’s true forces, and he will come into this year with a huge chip on his shoulder.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are clearly all-in after acquiring Bradley Beal to play alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Stopping that trifecta from scoring seems like an impossible task. However, there is the issue that the Suns are already well over the cap and only have four players with guaranteed contracts. This team will struggle massively on defense and lack depth, so there will be question marks abound.

There are rumors they’ll trade their handsomely-paid center Deandre Ayton to get more depth and cap space, but that will be a challenge this offseason with so many teams against the cap. But with three all-world scorers, anything is possible.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have remained a contender for almost all of the past decade, winning four rings in that span. It feels like maybe this team is slowing down, but they have been doubted before. Draymond Green could leave in free agency, which would take this team out of true contender status.

But if they can retain Green and move some of their young players for veterans ready to help now, they could be chasing that elusive fifth ring soon.