The National Basketball Association (NBA) has been characterized by the creation—and subsequent dominance—of “super” teams for the greater part of the last decade.
After acquiring Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014 to complement superstars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the Cleveland Cavaliers made the NBA Finals in four consecutive seasons. Similarly, the Golden State Warriors advanced to three straight NBA Finals after adding Kevin Durant to a core that included Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Yet, the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks won the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2019 and 2021, respectively, without a trio of superstar players. While a case can be made for the 2021-22 Brooklyn Nets being a super team, there’s still a sense of parity in the league this season. BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook, among others, list only five teams with a greater than 5 percent chance of winning the 2022 NBA Finals.
Below are five of the teams most likely to win the championship this season.
1. Milwaukee Bucks
The defending NBA champions were given 9/1 odds to repeat by BetOnline in 2021-22. Similarly, BetMGM listed the Bucks at (+850), meaning a $100 bet on the team to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy would pay out $850.
Five-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo returns for his ninth season and first of a five-year, $228 million supermax extension signed back in December 2020. Antetokounmpo was named NBA Finals MVP last season after averaging 30.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in 21 playoff contests. The 26-year-old forward is also a two-time NBA MVP.
Milwaukee had limited financial flexibility following the 2020-21 season, so it wasn’t able to bring back every member of its championship-winning roster. Most notably, the Bucks lost Bryn Forbes and P.J. Tucker in free agency. The team did, however, re-sign energy player Bobby Portis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. It also signed forward Semi Ojeleye and wing Rodney Hood and acquired Grayson Allen from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Sam Merrill and a pair of second-round draft picks.
2. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets have three of the best players in the league (Durant, Irving, and James Harden). It’s no surprise they’re one of the favorites to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season.
Durant and Harden are both former MVPs, while Irving is a seven-time All-Star who has averaged 22.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game through 10 seasons in the league. Irving, however, may only play in the team’s away games. New York City requires that all Nets and New York Knicks players are vaccinated to practice and play at their home arenas.
“I think we recognize he’s not playing home games,” Nets coach Steve Nash said on October 10 of Irving’s reluctance to get vaccinated. “We’re going to have to for sure play without him this year.”
The Nets, however, bolstered its roster in the offseason by signing veteran players like Patty Mills, Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap, and DeAndre’ Bembry. It also acquired Sekou Doumbouya and Jahlil Okafor and drafted five players, including first-round picks Cameron Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
BetOnline has the Los Angeles Lakers tied with the Nets as the leading contenders to win the 2022 NBA Finals at 3/1 odds. Superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis missed a considerable amount of time due to injury last season and, as a result, the team was eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs last season. Both players are healthy entering the 2021-22 NBA season and the betting market sees good value in the Lakers winning its second championship in three seasons.
The Lakers complemented James and Davis with Russell Westbrook, who the team acquired from the Washington Wizards in a multi-team trade prior to the 2021 NBA Draft. The team also signed Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, Kendrick Nunn, and Carmelo Anthony as part of a major roster overhaul.
4. Phoenix Suns
The Suns reached the NBA Finals last year for the first time since 1993 before losing to the Bucks. The team has high expectations once again in 2021-22, but faces tough competition with teams like the Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Utah Jazz all expected to compete for top spot in the Western Conference.
Phoenix brought back veteran point guard Chris Paul on a four-year, $120 million contract, but did little else in a relatively quiet offseason. BetOnline gives the team 14/1 odds to win the 2022 NBA Finals.
5. Golden State Warriors
Despite missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, most sportsbooks list the Warriors as one of the leading contenders to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2021-22. The team boasts former MVP and 2020-21 top scorer Steph Curry and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Draymond Green. It also added proven players like Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. in free agency.
However, the primary reason to be optimistic about the Warriors this season is the return of Klay Thompson. The All-Star shooting guard hasn’t played since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and missed all of last season with an Achilles injury. He’s expected back at some point during the 2021-22 season.
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