Championship selection before opening tip

The start of the NBA season is officially upon us and that means it's time to start thinking about who will win the championship this year.

The Boston Celtics are currently the betting favorites and are looking to repeat in the Eastern Conference, but with the Knicks and 76ers adding more talent, their path will become much more difficult.

Can a team emerge from the Western Conference?

In this article, I'll give you my picks to win the NBA Championship this year and two mid-range teams that I believe could provide value in the market. Let's dive in.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+650, FanDuel)

After another masterful offseason from Sam Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder are my preseason prediction to win the NBA Championship.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rose to MVP level last season, averaging more than 30 points per game and earning an All-NBA First Team berth. At 26, he is currently at the peak of his career.

The Thunder should also have a breakout season for the third-year forward, who is second in the Most Improved Player Award odds and on the verge of superstardom.

Chet Holmgren will also continue to improve in his second season.

This Big 3 of elite young talent is flanked by two key experienced additions: Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Caruso is a defensive pest and alongside Luguentz Dort, the Thunder arguably have the best guard-defender pairing in the NBA.

He also shot better than 40% on catch-and-shoot threes last season, making him a significant improvement over Josh Giddey, who was consistently left open deep into the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Hartenstein gives the team some intriguing lineup versatility.

He provides elite offensive rebounding and playmaking for a big man, and with Holmgren's ability to stretch the floor, the Thunder can easily run lineups with two big men.

Finally, the Thunder have elite depth, including 3-point shooters Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, who agreed to team-friendly extensions this offseason. Second-year guard Cason Wallace also showed remarkable defensive sharpness for a rookie last season.

The Thunder are one of the youngest teams in the league with a roster of future draft ammunition, but I believe this team is ready to compete for a championship with a wealth of young talent that fits together seamlessly.

Denver Nuggets (+1100, BetMGM)

Are we writing off the nuggets early?

Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this offseason is certainly painful for a win-now squad, as he was the team's best defender and a deadly 3-point shooter.

However, I think Christian Braun's retirement is a bit overrated after he made a strong impression in just a few minutes.

Second-year guard Julian Strawther had an excellent preseason and is ready to take on a more prominent role.

More importantly, all-world center Nikola Jokic makes everyone around him better.

In my opinion, Jokic remains the best player in the NBA, and his running mate, Jamal Murray, should be healthier this season after serious injuries hampered him in the postseason.

Denver's depth is limited and the roster is undoubtedly top-heavy, but we can never completely rule Jokic out of postseason contention.

Milwaukee Bucks (+1600, Caesars)

The Bucks have one of the oldest rosters in the NBA and their three best stars have not been fit for a playoff series since the 2021 NBA Finals.

However, there are reasons to believe this team has an edge. Giannis Antetokounmpo ends one of his best seasons with another First Team All-NBA nomination.

At the same time, Damian Lillard could be primed for a rebound season after struggling in his first year in Milwaukee.

Betting on the NBA?

Doc Rivers never got a fair break with this team after the midseason acquisition, and Giannis and Dame only played five games with Khris Middleton after the All-Star break.

New additions Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Delon Wright help integrate shooting and defense into the rotation.

The top of the Eastern Conference is occupied after the Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns and the 76ers added Paul George, but the Bucks shouldn't be completely written off this season.

Why you should trust New York Post Betting

Jacob Wayne covers college football and the NFL for the New York Post. It is up 84.5 units in both sports, with an ROI of 6.27%.