For many years, amid fan festivals, T-shirt giveaways and light-up bracelets that spice up opening nights across the NBA, there has been an open secret that hangs over tipoffs each season.
Almost none of these teams celebrating fall renewals will have a chance to win by spring.
In a “good year” throughout the 2000s and 2010s, maybe five teams per season could truly look themselves in the mirror at the season’s start and believe they could hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June. Don’t even ask about the 1980s and ’90s, when the league was basically dominated by five teams over 20 years.
It was good for business in many respects, but from 1999 to 2007, Tim Duncan or Shaquille O’Neal was in the Finals in eight out of nine years. From 2007 to 2020, either LeBron James or Kobe Bryant was in the Finals in 12 of the 13 years (sadly, never against each other). You might recall the Golden State Warriors, who played in six Finals (2015-22), and the Cleveland Cavaliers played in the Finals four consecutive years from 2015 to 2018.
Which brings us to today. Parity has swept through the NBA like a breath of fresh air. This season, an exponential number of teams will begin the season believing they can win compared with a decade ago. And with good reason.
It’s true that the legacy Boston Celtics are the reigning champions, about to hang banner No. 18 and collect their rings on opening night, but last June they became the sixth different team in a row to celebrate under the confetti.
Eight teams start the season with championship odds of 13-1 or better, according to ESPN BET. Before the 2017-18 season, which as it turned out proved to be the end of the dynasty era, there were only two teams with those odds.
In this six-year span of change, some legacy teams indeed won — the Warriors, Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers — but there were glorious and unique championship parades in Milwaukee, Toronto and Denver, too.
There are a few major storylines to follow this season. The new-look Philadelphia 76ers being the newest quasi-superteam, assuming they can all get on the court together. The continued rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder, fueled by the addition of some high-class role players. The ascension of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The challenge of past champions, the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, to regain momentum with franchise players in their primes. And, of course, LeBron and Bronny James on the Lakers.
But maybe the most relevant storyline is that this collective group believes it can hold back the Celtics.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season opens with the New York Knicks taking on the Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Timberwolves facing the Lakers (10 p.m. ET) on Tuesday. But before we jump, let’s preview all 30 teams, where they stand and what to expect ahead of the NBA’s 79th season.
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