With the 2024/25 NBA season approaching, here’s a prediction of the top 10 teams next season.

10. Sacramento Kings

After a horrific 2021-22 season finishing with a 30-52 record, Sacramento wanted a new look. That following offseason the team fired former head coach Luke Walton and hired Mike Brown, and drafted young star Keegan Murray in the 2022 NBA draft. Scouts viewed Murray as a high-IQ player who shoots the ball very well. Murray exceeded expectations this past season, he averaged 15.2 points per game and shot 41.1% from three. In free agency, the team also made a blockbuster trade, known as one of the most even trades in NBA history, sending future star Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers for star forward Domantas Sabonis. Despite this trade being considered even, it was just what the Kings needed because that following season Sacramento made the playoffs for the first time in 16 years and it seemed like they had the right squad. However, in the 23-24 season the team did not exceed expectations, losing in the NBA play-in tournament and falling just short of making the playoffs two years in a row. Many fans around the league were questioning the Kings so this past offseason they went and acquired six-time all-star DeMar DeRozan. DeMar fits right into the lineup filling the spot that was previously the weakest on the team and next season the Kings will be a team that the NBA should look out for. 

9. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers shocked many NBA fans worldwide by making their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2014. The team’s led by young star Tyrese Haliburton and experienced Pascal Siakam. Siakam got traded from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis Jr., Jordan Nwora, and many future draft picks. Indiana’s a complete team with a ton of depth coming off the bench and they look to return to the playoffs this upcoming season. Last season, the team finished 47-35 and sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers drafted Johnny Furphy and Tristen Newton, who are both excellent defenders, to boost their defense and hopefully make a push for their first NBA championship in team history.

8. Milwaukee Bucks

Following an NBA finals championship in 2021, Milwaukee had playoff struggles the past three years, unable to make it past the second round. The Bucks are led by 2x MVP and 2021 Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and 8x NBA all-star, Damian Lillard, who are a dynamic duo and possibly the best duo in the NBA. The Bucks have a great starting rotation and 6th man, Bobby Portis, but after that, the team does not have much depth. Despite the lack of depth coming off the bench for Milwaukee they are still regarded as a contender and can make a ton of noise this upcoming season.

7. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks, led by seasoned veterans Jalen Brunson and newly added Karl-Anthony Towns who have been stars in the league for a couple of years now. New York lost Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in order to acquire Towns. New York finished just short of making their conference finals after losing to Indiana in game 7. Injuries hurt the Knicks with OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson all missing time in the playoffs. Despite losing in the second round, it did not stop the organization in the off-season. At the very start of free agency, the team made a big splash by signing Mikal Bridges. The Knicks, who have been playoff contenders for the past couple of years, took that leap this offseason and look to compete for an NBA championship in 2025. With OG Anunoby and Josh Hart coming off the bench the Knicks are going to be a team to beat this upcoming season.

6. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers had some tough luck in the playoffs in the past decade by not getting past the quarterfinals the past seven years the team made the playoffs. Although the team had some playoff struggles lately, they did not disappoint this offseason by acquiring veterans Paul George and Caleb Martin. The team’s currently led by seven-time all-star Joel Embiid and 2023-2024 Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey. Embiid and Maxey put up outstanding numbers in the playoffs last season but ultimately fell short in the first round. With the new key additions the team has made in the offseason, it won’t be a team to count out. 

5. Denver Nuggets

The 2022-23 NBA championships look to make their return back to the NBA finals this upcoming season after adding a couple of pieces to fill out their rotation. The Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and star Guard Jamal Murray. Jokic might be one of the best players in the league right now, if not the best player in the league. The team picked up Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric this past offseason and they are hoping these two additions will give them a spark on both sides of the ball. After Denver lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the offseason, Christian Braun is going to need to step up and play a big role. The Nuggets fell short after losing to Minnesota in seven games, but this team still has what it takes to bring home their second championship in three years.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves were swept in the first round last year, Minnesota made a huge improvement by appearing in the Western Conference Finals in May 2024. After a disappointing loss in the Conference Final this past season, Minnesota picked up Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo from the New York Knicks. This trade happened on Sept. 27, which came to a surprise for many NBA fans considering the NBA season’s right around the corner. Unfortunately for Minnesota they lost Karl-Anthony Towns who is a 4x NBA all-star and shoots 41.6% from three which is incredible for a big man. The star players on this squad are Anthony Edwards and new addition Julius Randle. The Timberwolves traded up in the draft for eighth overall pick and gave the San Antonio Spurs a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap. After acquiring the eighth overall pick, the Timberwolves selected Rob Dillingham and Terrance Shanon Jr later in the draft with the 27th overall pick. Minnesota Attempted to boost their backcourt depth which seemed like the organization’s goal heading into the draft. With these new additions, the Minnesota Timberwolves will have a serious chance to make their first NBA finals appearance in team history.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

After getting embarrassed in the 2021-2022 season, finishing with a record of 24-58, it was clear Oklahoma City needed to make some moves to get back on a winning path. In 2022 the team drafted future all-stars by selecting Chet Holmgren out of Gonzaga and Jalen Williams out of Santa Clara University. After the organization made this pick, the tables turned the following season where they went from being at the bottom of the standings to making the playoffs in the 22-23 season. After they were eliminated the next season, the Thunder, led by coach Mark Daigneault, were unstoppable, finishing the year with a record of 57-25. The team’s led by MVP runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who’s third in scoring with 30.1 points per game and he led the league in steals with 2.0 steals per game. Oklahoma City lost in the second round of the playoffs last season despite finishing with the one seed in the Western Conference standings. This offseason the team added defensive studs Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to help boost the defensive front and backcourt. Oklahoma City traded away Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in order to acquire Caruso. Giddey this past season had massive struggles in the regular season and even worse in the playoffs, shooting a horrific 33% from the field in an elimination game. Caruso’s just what the Thunder needed to try to get their first NBA title in franchise history. The future’s bright in Oklahoma City and we should expect them to make some finals appearances here in the upcoming years. 

2. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have only gotten better throughout the years making a Western Conference Finals appearance two out of the past three years and making a finals appearance last season. However the 2022-23 season did not go according to plan, the team finished with a record of 38-44 and it looked like the Mavs just might not be a good team anymore. Many NBA fans had lost belief in the Mavs but the following season they finished with a 50-32 record. Luka Doncic stepped up in a huge way to finish the regular season finishing the year first in points per game with 33.9 and second in assists per game at 9.8. The Mavericks had a good regular season but a great playoff run making their first finals appearance since 2011. Kyrie Irving and Derrick Lively II were huge contributors to their playoff success. Lively II at 19 years old, proved that just because he has a lack of experience doesn’t mean he can not contribute in a big way. The Mavs fell short in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics but this finals loss did not slow the team down in the off-season. Despite losing a key role player, Derrick Jones Jr., the team did not disappoint this offseason, bringing in five-time all-star and four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson, lockdown defender Naji Marshall, and sharpshooter Quentin Grimes. With these off-season additions, the Dallas Mavericks are a serious contender for an NBA championship.

1. Boston Celtics

There’s no doubt that Boston’s the most talented squad in the NBA currently and that’s why they won the NBA finals last season. Boston picked up Kristaps Porzingis in a three-way deal despite having to give up Marcus Smart. Marcus Smart made a huge impact for Boston and giving him away was a tough decision but acquiring the one-time NBA all-star Porzingis was just the right move. In the 2023 NBA season, the Celtics finished with a 64-18 record and dominated the Eastern Conference all season long. The team’s stars are five-time NBA all-star Jayson Tatum and 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. Derrick White made a big impact in the NBA Finals run and he’s also one of the most improved players over the past couple of years. At the time White shot the three ball 30.6% in 2021 and in 2024 White shot nearly 40%. The Celtics also acquired Jrue Holiday last offseason in a three-way trade from the Milwaukee Bucks. Holiday’s a three-time All-NBA defensive first-team guard which makes him one of the league’s best lockdown defenders. Holiday certainly did not disappoint, being a huge factor in the Celtics championship run. The team’s loaded with talent from the top of their roster to the bottom. This offseason the team added Lonnie Walker IV and drafted Baylor Scheierman out of Creighton University. With the talent on the roster and new minor editions, it’s clear that Boston’s the favorite to win the NBA Finals next season in 2025.