The 2024 NBA season has been nothing less than amazing, with exciting games, standout acts, and moments that will never be forgotten. It was a tough season for the league’s best teams, but the Boston Celtics came out as the winners. Explore the 2024 NBA final rankings and see how each of the top 12 teams did by looking at their strengths, weaknesses, and playoff paths.
Top 12 Teams in 2024 NBA Final Rankings
1 Boston Celtics
Record: 60-22
Key Players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart
The Boston Celtics won the whole season because their offense and defense were well-balanced. Jayson Tatum had a great year, scoring over 28 points per game on average. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart did a great job on both court ends. Their tough defense and Tatum’s great shooting helped them easily beat the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals (4-2). They played better than the Dallas Mavericks (4–1) in the NBA Finals, which solidified their place at the top of the 2024 NBA final rankings.
2 Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 55-27
Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the most interesting teams this season. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in charge, the Thunder showed off an exciting team of young stars. Josh Giddey’s ability to make plays and Chet Holmgren’s ability to play defense were very important. They made it to the Western Conference Finals, but the Dallas Mavericks beat them in an exciting seven-game series by a score of 4-3. Their impressive growth this season points to a bright future for the team.
3 Denver Nuggets
Record: 53-29
Key Players: Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.
The Denver Nuggets built on their success from last year, with Nikola Jokić, who has won MVP twice, continuing to lead the way. Jokić’s great passing and scoring and Jamal Murray’s great clutch play kept the Nuggets in the game all season. Even though they had a lot of talent and good chemistry, they lost to the Thunder 4–2 in the second round and couldn’t win another title. Denver is still one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
4 Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 51-31
Key Players: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert
This season, Anthony Edwards became the Minnesota Timberwolves’ most important player. He showed that he could score and protect with ease. Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns gave the team a strong force in the middle, which improved their defense. They made it to the Western Conference Semifinals, but the Mavericks beat them in a close game. The future looks bright for Minnesota with Edwards in charge.
5 Dallas Mavericks
Record: 50-32
Key Players: Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Christian Wood
Luka Dončić had another great season and almost always had a triple-double—the team’s ability to score and make plays got better when Kyrie Irving joined. The Mavericks had an amazing playoff run. They beat the Timberwolves and the Thunder to get to the NBA Finals. The trip made them one of the best teams in the 2024 NBA final rankings, even though they lost to the Celtics (4–1).
6 Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 48-34
Key Players: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook
The Los Angeles Clippers stayed in the game even though some of their most important players were hurt. Kawhi Leonard needed to get back to being a great two-way player, and Russell Westbrook’s energy gave their backcourt more depth. They made it to the playoffs but lost in the first round to the Denver Nuggets (4-2). If their health gets better, the Clippers could be a real threat next season.
7 Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 46-36
Key Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday
The Milwaukee Bucks had a tough season because Khris Middleton was hurt a lot, which made them less consistent. They made it through thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s great play, but they lost 4-1 to the Boston Celtics in the first round. The Bucks are still a strong team, but they must fix their depth problems to win the title again.
8 Orlando Magic
Record: 45-37
Key Players: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Markelle Fultz
This season, the Orlando Magic made much progress thanks to their young core, which Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner led. Their young energy and ability to do many things made them tough opponents for any team. Even though they got better, the Thunder (4-2) eliminated them in the first round. The Magic’s upward trend makes it look like they are about to become a regular playoff threat.
9 New York Knicks
Record: 44-38
Key Players: Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett
Jalen Brunson’s guidance and scoring were very important for the New York Knicks this season. In the tough Eastern Conference, the team fought hard and showed resolve. The Bucks beat them in a close series to end their playoff run (4–3). The Knicks have a strong base to build on with Brunson and Randle in charge.
10 Miami Heat
Record: 43-39
Key Players: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
The Miami Heat’s defensive toughness and Jimmy Butler’s big games made the season what it was. Another important thing was Bam Adebayo’s consistency on both ends of the court. Following their win over the Cavaliers in the first round, the Heat played the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals but lost (4-2). Miami is still a tough opponent that can go far in the playoffs.
11 Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 41-41
Key Players: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley
This season was up and down for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland both had moments of greatness. They made the playoffs despite having trouble being consistent, but they lost to the Celtics in the first round (4-2). Cleveland’s promise is still high because their young core is getting more experience.
12 Atlanta Hawks
Record: 39-43
Key Players: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela
The Atlanta Hawks’ season had its ups and downs, but Trae Young’s great scoring kept them in the running for the playoffs. Adding Dejounte Murray strengthened their backcourt, which helped their defense. But their run in the playoffs didn’t last long; they lost to the Bucks in the first round (4-1). If the Hawks play more consistently next season, they might increase in the 2024 NBA final rankings.
Conclusion
The 2024 NBA final rankings show what a great basketball season it was, showing how tough, talented, and determined the league’s best teams are. From the Boston Celtics’ run to the championship to the rise of young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Paolo Banchero, the season had much to be happy about. As teams prepare for the off-season, fans can look forward to more action and battle in the coming years.
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