After six months, 2460 games, an in-season tournament and an all-star break, the NBA regular season has finally come to an end. Now, sixteen teams will go to battle for a chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien in early June.
Will the Celtics be the first team to repeat as champions since 2018? Can the Thunder cap off a historic regular season with a championship? Or will LeBron James add another title in his quest to catch Michael Jordan?
This week, The Scouts Sports staff makes their NBA Championship picks.
Oklahoma City Thunder
BY MARK WAGNER
The Thunder currently have the best odds to win the NBA Championship, and for good reason. OKC is not only the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but it has also finished with its best regular season record in franchise history. With three All-Star-level talents in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, as well as some of the best role players in the entire league, the Thunder look unstoppable.
Most likely, their playoff path will consist of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals and the Houston Rockets in the conference finals if they are going to make the NBA Finals. Definitely a tough road, but Mark Daigenault has built a team that should be capable of overcoming any obstacle in their way. If their starting five stays healthy, the Thunder are well on their way to becoming NBA champs for the first time since 1979 (as the Seattle SuperSonics).
Los Angeles Lakers
By Ethan Diamond
After a midseason acquisition for Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić, the Lakers have launched their way back to being one of the top teams in the NBA. Dončić has averaged 28.2 points per game in the 28 games he’s played since the trade. Though LeBron James statistically had his worst point-per-game numbers since his rookie season, he’s still been a dominant force this season.
They will face the Timberwolves in the first round and avoid both Denver and Oklahoma City until at least the Western Conference Finals. They have the experience to get through any team in the West, and may not run into their toughest challenges until the Finals. James may be running out of time to add to his ring total, and I think he ends up adding potentially his last title this year.
Boston Celtics
By Steffen White
The defending champs until proven otherwise, the Celtics have the makings of a team ready to run it back in 2025. They’ve won 14 of their last 16 games heading into the playoffs, and they return virtually everyone from their title team last season. They know how to win. Every key contributor was there last season and knows what it takes to win in the postseason.
They definitely have the star power, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each averaging over 22 points per game. They also have the role players to help them, with Kristaps Porziņģis and Derrick White each having one of their best years. Joe Mazulla has cemented himself as one of the best coaches in the sport and is ready to lead Boston to become the first back-to-back champions since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
Cleveland Cavaliers
By Owen Dimpfl
The Cleveland Cavaliers are awaiting their opponent for the first round of the NBA playoffs after earning the Eastern Conference’s top seed. Cleveland will face the winner of Miami and Atlanta, but the Cavs should have no problem against either matchup. Cleveland was one of the NBA’s most consistent teams in 2024-25 and featured three different win streaks that reached a minimum of 12 games. The NBA postseason is all about heating up at the right time and the Cavs can be a team that stretches multiple wins towards the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Donovan Mitchell, who battled an ankle injury to end the regular season, should be healthy to begin the hunt for Cleveland’s first NBA title since 2016. The Cavs had the league’s top scoring offense led by Mitchell’s 24 points per game. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley provide additional scoring as three-point threats. Jarrett Allen completes the offense in the frontcourt with his 70.6 field goal percentage. The Cavs earned the bullseye on their backs after a successful regular season, now it’s time to complete the quest while avoiding everyone’s best shot.
