Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison
Winning an NBA championship is one of the biggest achievements an NBA player can accomplish. It takes hard work and a long journey to get to that point, and throughout history, some of the league’s greatest players have won championships. Whether it is Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or Steph Curry, some of the NBA’s top players have won it all. The Boston Celtics added their names to the history books with their championship win last season. This was their first championship since 2008, which was the year Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen beat the Los Angeles Lakers. This season, the Celtics will look to repeat, but the championship is up for grabs. There are teams hungry for a championship, and in some cases, those teams are led by players searching for their first title. The championship race is more exciting than ever, and there is a good chance that one of the league’s top players could finally get their championship. Here are five players that could get their first championship this season.
1.) Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic was close to winning his first championship, as he and the Dallas Mavericks reached the NBA Finals last season. They beat the Los Angeles Clippers, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves to get to the finals, where they took on the Celtics. The series did not go in Dallas’s favor, and the Celtics won 4-1. This was their first championship with their duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but the franchise’s 18th championship. Doncic had an MVP caliber season in 2023-24, and he could be on the verge of another this season.
The Mavericks made a big move in the offseason by adding Klay Thompson. The addition of Thompson could be the boost the Mavericks need to win a championship this season, and if Thompson produces (and the Mavericks play at a high level), Doncic could get his first championship. Do the Mavericks have what it takes to get to the finals once again, but this time win it all?
2.) Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is a veteran guard that joined a new team last season. The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Lillard, who played for the Portland Trail Blazers since 2012, in hopes of pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks won a championship in 2021, and have fought to remain contenders since then. The addition of Lillard keeps the Bucks a contender a little longer, and if Milwaukee plays well, they could get another championship. If Milwaukee does win, this will be the first championship of Lillard’s career. It would be a big accomplishment for a player that stayed loyal to the franchise that drafted him (Portland) and tried to keep them a playoff team. Can the Bucks stay healthy in the regular season and playoffs and win it all? They have a shot.
3.) Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is another veteran guard, who has some impressive accolades under his belt. He is an MVP and he has had four triple-double seasons. Three of those triple-double seasons were with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since then, Westbrook has moved around and played for different teams. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul. The move reunited Westbrook with his former OKC teammate James Harden. After one season with Houston, Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for John Wall. His fourth triple-double season was during this time. After his season with the Wizards, Westbrook was traded to the Lakers. He spent time with the Lakers before they traded him to the Utah Jazz. Westbrook and the Jazz reached a buyout agreement, and Westbrook did not play a game for them. He joined the Clippers two days later. During this year’s free agency, Westbrook was traded to the Jazz once again, and was waived. He later signed with the Denver Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets won a championship the year before Boston, and they remain one of the top teams in the West. This could be the perfect opportunity for Westbrook to win a championship. If he is able to play alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray (and adjust to his new role), the Nuggets could be the team to beat this season.
4.) Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is an elite center who has an MVP under his belt. Embiid is nearly unstoppable when healthy, but when it comes to the playoffs, he and the Sixers have had trouble. The Sixers reach the playoffs every year (since 2018), but come up short. However, like the Mavericks, the Sixers made a move that could get them over the hump. The Sixers added Paul George, another player searching for his first ring, which makes the Sixers an even tougher team. George could be the missing piece the Sixers need, and if they do win it all, two of the league’s top players will get their first championship.
5.) Devin Booker
Devin Booker is one of the league’s young stars. He can score (as his 70-point game in the past shows), and during the 2024 Olympics, he was one of the key players that helped USA win gold. Booker was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2015, and after missing the playoffs from 2015 to 2020, the Suns have been in the playoffs for the past few seasons. The Suns even reached the finals in 2021 when they lost to the Bucks. Booker has led the way, and now playing alongside Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal puts the Suns in a position to win. The trio’s first season had ups and downs, and they ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs. This year is a chance for them to bounce back and play to their full potential as a unit. If the Suns do that they can potentially win it all.
There are some talented players searching for their first championship. Chris Paul is a veteran that has yet to win a championship, but he is playing for a rebuilding San Antonio Spurs. Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to prove they are contenders. And Jimmy Butler is itching to get his first ring. With so many players striving for the same thing, this season could be extremely competitive. Let the games begin.
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