Who Has the Best Chance to Win the NBA Title?

By Joey Askin ‘24

    With the start of the 2020-21 National Basketball Association season right around the corner, it is still uncertain as to who holds the best odds to win the championship. 
    According to MGM Resorts Sports Betting, the Los Angeles Lakers have the best odds to win followed by the L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets. After a championship victory over the Miami Heat, the Lakers demonstrated their capability to work together and win games under pressure.

    “The Lakers have the best odds because they have two MVP caliber players in LeBron James and Anthony Davis,” sophomore Daniel Shiffman said. “In addition, they are one of the best defensive teams in the league.”
    At almost 36 years old, LeBron James proved this past season that age is just a number. With great offensive and defensive help from Davis and keeping the same team they had last season, the Lakers can be just as dominant. The Lakers have put themselves in a position to have another outstanding playoff run.
    Unlike the Lakers, the Clippers did not have much playoff success last season but are still well-deserving of the second-best odds to win the championship. They have multiple star players and a lot of depth to go with it.
    “Despite the disappointing playoff run last season, the Clippers have the best bench in the NBA and have a proven winner in Kawhi Leonard,” freshman Zach Siegel said. “The Clippers’ success depends on if Paul George will show up in the playoffs.” 
    George contributed to the Clippers’ rough playoff run last season, struggling and shooting inconsistently. A huge contribution to the Clippers’ success was their bench, which included Montrez Harold and Lou Williams, both of whom have won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. As long as George can play relatively well like he was during the regular season, the Clippers can be a serious threat in the Western Conference. 
    Although the Warriors finished in last place in the entire NBA, they are looking to bounce back with their star players: Stephen Curry and Klay Thomson. Before last season, this duo made five straight finals appearances and won three. The Warriors have the playoff experience, but the question remains as to whether they will be able to perform at a high enough level to bring them to the Finals again.
    In addition to the Warriors’ two stars, they have multiple pieces that make them a stronger team. In the Warriors mid-season trade, they acquired Andrew Wiggins, who averaged almost 20 points and five rebounds per game. With another healthy piece in Draymond Green and center James Wiseman picked up in the 2020 draft, the Warriors are looking to add to their decorated franchise.
    After the 2019 season, the Nets lured two stars in free-agency, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. However, during the 2020 season, Durant was injured and Irving played a career-low 20 games. The Nets resulted in being swept in the first round by the Raptors as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. 
    “If Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are able to play well together as a dynamic duo, I believe they can be serious title contenders,” freshman Doron Finkel said.
    Durant and Irving have both won a championship on different teams, but have teamed to get the Nets their first championship in franchise history. The two arguably future Hall-of-Famers need to be willing to play together as a team and stay healthy to get the Nets in a good position to win the title.
    All of these teams have a chance to win the championship, but ultimately, they must prove their ability to perform well in the playoffs to claim their title.