That cool chill in the air isn't just a sign that fall is officially upon us, it's a reminder that basketball season is just around the corner. In roughly three weeks, the NBA season tips off with all 30 teams hoping to be crowned the eventual champion in the summer of 2023.
The Golden State Warriors have the title of reigning champions, but entering the Media Day and training camp festivities, they aren't the favorites to win it all. Check out where every team stands on the most recent NBA championship oddsboard as the season nears.
NBA Championship Odds
Odds as of Monday Sept. 26 and via DraftKings.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Clippers | +550 |
| Warriors | +600 |
| Celtics | +600 |
| Nets | +700 |
| Bucks | +800 |
| Suns | +1200 |
| 76ers | +1500 |
| Lakers | +1800 |
| Nuggets | +1900 |
| Heat | +2000 |
| Mavericks | +2000 |
| Grizzlies | +2200 |
| Timberwolves | +3000 |
| Cavaliers | +3000 |
| Pelicans | +4000 |
| Raptors | +4500 |
| Hawks | +4500 |
| Bulls | +5000 |
| Trail Blazers | +8000 |
| Knicks | +10000 |
| Hornets | +15000 |
| Wizards | +35000 |
| Kings | +70000 |
| Pistons | +70000 |
| Thunder | +100000 |
| Jazz | +100000 |
| Magic | +100000 |
| Spurs | +100000 |
| Pacers | +100000 |
| Rockets | +200000 |
NBA Conference Odds
Click arrow to expand East/West conference winner odds via DraftKings.
| Eastern Conference | Odds |
|---|---|
| Celtics | +275 |
| Nets | +310 |
| Bucks | +340 |
| 76ers | +550 |
| Heat | +800 |
| Cavaliers | +1600 |
| Raptors | +2000 |
| Hawks | +2000 |
| Bulls | +3000 |
| Knicks | +5000 |
| Hornets | +7000 |
| Wizards | +15000 |
| Pistons | +25000 |
| Pacers | +60000 |
| Magic | +60000 |
| Western Conference | Odds |
|---|---|
| Warriors | +330 |
| Clippers | +340 |
| Suns | +500 |
| Lakers | +750 |
| Nuggets | +850 |
| Mavericks | +900 |
| Grizzlies | +900 |
| Timberwolves | +2000 |
| Pelicans | +2000 |
| Trail Blazers | +4500 |
| Kings | +30000 |
| Jazz | +40000 |
| Spurs | +60000 |
| Thunder | +60000 |
| Rockets | +100000 |
Who Are the Contenders?
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers lost in the NBA Play-In Tournament last season after dealing with a mountain injuries all season, but they've recently become the favorite to win it all.
Kawhi Leonard is expected to be available for the Clippers' season opener, which immediately changes the ceiling for the team. Their offseason acquisition of John Wall gives them significant depth at the guard spot, which was an area of need all of last season.
Few teams in the NBA have the combination of top-tier star talent and quality rotations players like the Clippers … if everyone stays healthy.
Golden State Warriors
No surprise here. The Warriors won their fifth NBA title in the past eight seasons and they're bringing back the core of the team for yet another run.
In hindsight, it's easy to think the Warriors were destined to win it all last season, but they dealt with significant injuries to both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for stretches of the season (not to mention Klay Thompson's long-awaited return).
They lost some key bench players in the offseason — Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II were big for them — but they can offset those losses with young players like Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Jame Wiseman. Back-to-back championship seasons is certainly within reach for the NBA's most recent dynasty.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics' offseason has been filled with highs and lows.
They've kept the core of their team in tact and even added some depth — Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari — via trades and free agency. However, Gallinari suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for the season, center Robert Williams will miss at least four weeks after having surgery on his knee and head coach Ime Udoka is embroiled in a scandal that resulted in a year-long suspension.
The Celtics still have a talented team and were NBA Finals runners up, which is why their odds haven't dipped too far over the past week, but they have an uphill battle to climb as training camp begins.
Brooklyn Nets
Off all the teams with title odds inside of 10-1, the Nets have the most questions. Last season was a rollercoaster for Brooklyn and the offseason was even more of a ride with Kevin Durant's future up in the air until mid-August.
Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons are all expected to play for Brooklyn this season and their talent alone should be enough to compete with the best teams in the NBA. They added Royce O'Neale, Markieff Morris and T.J. Warren in the offseason and will get a healthy Joe Harris back in the lineup as well.
Still, the Nets have a cloud of uncertainty that will hang over them until they all see the court together.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Champs in 2021 round out the top five teams on the board. The Bucks were one win away from the Eastern Conference finals despite being down their second-best player Khris Middleton in the playoffs.
The Bucks didn't make any significant upgrades in the offseason, but they re-signed role players like Bobby Portis, Wesley Matthews and Serge Ibaka. They also added Joe Ingles, who could be back for the second half of the season.
The trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Middleton is enough to make the Bucks title contenders.
