Steve Starr
- Denver (+450) is favored to win the NBA championship again in 2024
- Boston (+650), Milwaukee (+800) and Phoenix (+850) face difficult decisions in the offseason
- Star players such as Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal could be on the move over the summer
Denver clinched its first NBA title in the franchise’s 47-year history with a 4-1 series victory over the Miami Heat last Monday. However, are Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets primed to be the league’s next dynasty?
Before we examine the 2024 NBA Championship futures, be sure to check out the 2023 NBA Draft Betting Odds and our guide to betting on NBA basketball.
2024 NBA Championship
| Team |  |  |  |
| Denver Nuggets | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Boston Celtics | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Phoenix Suns | +850 | +850 | +850 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Miami Heat | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| New York Knicks | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Sacramento Kings | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +5500 | +5500 | +5500 |
| Toronto Raptors | +6600 | +6600 | +6600 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +8500 | +8500 | +8500 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +8500 | +8500 | +8500 |
| Houston Rockets | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +12500 | +12500 | +12500 |
| Utah Jazz | +12500 | +12500 | +12500 |
| Indiana Pacers | +15000 | +15000 | +15000 |
| Orlando Magic | +15000 | +15000 | +15000 |
| Washington Wizards | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +30000 | +30000 | +30000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +40000 | +40000 | +40000 |
Denver opens as title favorite
It’s easy to see why Denver (+450) is the chalk pick to repeat in 2024. Nikola Jokic nearly averaged a triple-double in the postseason (30 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists) and he’s only 28 years old. The Serbian has firmly established himself as an all-time great, as just the 11th player in league history to claim at least two regular-season MVP awards, a championship and a NBA Finals MVP.
Jokic’s running mate Jamal Murray also became the first player in NBA history to record at least 10 assists in each of his first four NBA Finals contests. The 26-year-old Canadian averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds in the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic is the 1st player in NBA history to lead all players in points, rebounds and assists in a single postseason. pic.twitter.com/DtqhfBKLIl
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 13, 2023
Contenders face question marks
Boston (+650) fell to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals after making it all the way to the NBA Finals in 2022. Much of the offseason conversation revolves around whether the Celtics should offer a supermax contract extension to Jaylen Brown or trade the 26-year-old All-Star forward.
Milwaukee (+800) will always be a contender with two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Bucks have salary-cap issues and a new coach in Adrian Griffin. Similarly, Phoenix (+850) handed the reins to Frank Vogel. They also waived Hall-of-Fame point guard Chris Paul. While the Suns are in good shape with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, they have few assets to acquire more talent.
Other teams in the mix
The Mavericks (+900) seem significantly overvalued given they missed the playoffs last season. There has been talk that Kyrie Irving is trying to convince LeBron James to join him and Luka Doncic in Dallas, but that is not a scenario we would bet on happening.
Golden State (+1200) has won four championships over the past nine years with another two NBA Finals appearances. However, for the dynasty to continue, they desperately need to retool around Steph Curry. And while the Lakers (+1400) made an impressive run to the Western Conference Finals, they were swept by the Nuggets. LeBron will be 39 years old, and what are the chances Anthony Davis stays healthy again?
.@CJMcCollum's top five NBA duos 👀⬇️
1. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray
2. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker
3. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo
4. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo and/or Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton pic.twitter.com/lTYI5Z8JdV— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 8, 2023
Best Longshot
With the NBA offseason sure to bring a flurry of draft day deals and mega-trades, we’re focused on finding potential value. Damian Lillard has already expressed interest in joining the Heat next season. If Pat Riley can find a way to acquire the seven-time All-Star, Miami might have what it takes to knock off the Nuggets in the 2024 NBA Finals.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
