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2024-25 NBA season power rankings and championship odds

Madoc Meredith October 18, 2024

The Boston Celtics are the heavy favorites to win the 2024-25 NBA Championship.

And rightly so. They won the title last season and returned all of their core players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman.

The Celtics enter the season ranked No. 1 in USA TODAY’s NBA Power Rankings.

Will they finish the season there?

No NBA team has been repeatedly confirmed as champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, and the Celtics are joined by improving Eastern Conference teams including the New York Knicks, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns added to their roster will receive a significant challenge. This also includes Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby.

And if the Celtics get to the Finals from the East, they’ll face a Western Conference team that probably had to beat several 50-win teams to get this far.

Here are the season-opening NBA power rankings with one question for all 30 teams and championship odds, courtesy of BetMGM:

2024-25 NBA Power Rankings with chances to win the title

30. Washington Wizards (+100000)

Will the Wizards’ rebuild take even more – and perhaps encouraging – shape this season?

29. Portland Trail Blazers (+100000)

How much does fourth-year coach Chauncey Billups need to improve to keep his job beyond this season?

28. Detroit Pistons (+100000)

Can new coach JB Bickerstaff lead Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey and rookie Ron Holland – all lottery picks – to more than 23 wins for the first time since 2018-19?

27. Brooklyn Nets (+100000)

Is this the restart that finally works for the Nets?

26. Charlotte Hornets (+100000)

Will new ownership, a new front office and a new coach turn things around for the Hornets, who haven’t won a playoff series since 2002 and haven’t made the playoffs since 2016?

25. Chicago Bulls (+100000)

Can the Bulls get this going in a snap or will a more committed rebuild be needed?

24. Toronto Raptors (+100000)

What can the Raptors do with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to make an impact?

23. Atlanta Hawks (+50000)

What direction will the Hawks and Trae Young take in the East standings?

22. San Antonio Spurs (+15000)

How will the Spurs continue to build around second-year star Victor Wembanyama?

21. Utah Jazz (+50000)

The Jazz will be better, but will it be enough to get into the playoffs with Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Keyonte George?

20. Miami Heat (+5000)

Do Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo have enough to lift Miami to the No. 8 seed in the East?

19. Memphis Grizzlies (+3500)

After the rise and emergence of Ja Morant as a star, can the Grizzlies be that team again?

18. Houston Rockets (+8000)

Will the promising Rockets win enough games to compete for a playoff spot with a young roster in Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard?

17. Los Angeles Clippers (+12500)

Can the Clippers compensate for the loss of Paul George and remain a playoff team in the West led by Kawhi Leonard and James Harden?

16. Golden State Warriors (+4000)

How do the Warriors move forward with Steph Curry and Draymond Green and without Klay Thompson?

15. Sacramento Kings (+6600)

Does the addition of DeMar DeRozan to De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis move the Kings up in the West standings?

14. Los Angeles Lakers (+4000)

Is a deep run possible for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and first-time NBA head coach JJ Redick?

13. Indiana Pacers (+6600)

Will Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers reach the East finals again?

12. Orlando Magic (+4000)

What does success look like for this young Magic team and All-Star Paolo Banchero – a first-round win? Participation in the conference finals?

11. Cleveland Cavaliers (+3500)

As the East improves, will the Cavaliers (led by Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, plus new coach Kenny Atkinson) be able to compete?

10. New Orleans Pelicans (+5000)

Led by Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Dejounte Murray, are the Pelicans a top-four team in the West?

9. Phoenix Suns (+1500)

Is Mike Budenholzer the right coach for Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and the Suns after getting rid of Monty Williams and Frank Vogel in consecutive seasons?

8. Milwaukee Bucks (+1400)

With Giannis Antetokounmpo still at MVP level and Damian Lillard still an All-Star guard, do the Bucks still have a push for a championship ahead of them?

7. Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)

Will the addition of Paul George alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey push the Sixers past the second round for the first time since 2001?

6. Minnesota Timberwolves (+1200)

Did the Timberwolves improve with the Karl-Anthony Towns trade and the acquisition of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo?

5. New York Knicks (+650)

Is the starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns enough to topple Boston in the East?

4. Denver Nuggets (+1000)

Did the Nuggets miss their multi-championship window with Nikola Jokic?

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (+650)

Can the Thunder, who were perhaps slightly ahead of schedule last season with 57 wins, differentiate themselves from other top teams and reach the Finals?

2. Dallas Mavericks (+1200)

Will the addition of Luka Doncic and the addition of Klay Thompson along with Kyrie Irving be enough to win the Western Conference again?

1. Boston Celtics (+325)

How hungry are the Celtics for a second straight title?

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

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