Predicting The Regular Season Record For Every NBA Team In 2024

• The 2023-24 NBA season has multiple teams that are legitimate title contenders

• Expect major changes in the landscape as the season progresses toward the playoffs

• Many teams from last season will significantly improve in the upcoming season

As the 2023-24 NBA season approaches, fans, analysts, and basketball enthusiasts around the world eagerly await another year of thrilling hoops action. While predicting the outcomes of an entire NBA season with precision is a challenging task, it’s an exercise that captures the imagination of the basketball community.

What will the win-loss records look like for each team when the dust settles? What will the playoff picture resemble? As the 2023-24 season comes closer, we are preparing for some fireworks as we already have named the predicted award winners in every major category.

In this article, we embark on the exciting endeavor of predicting the regular-season records for every NBA team in 2024. We’ll analyze the key factors, from roster changes and injuries to coaching strategies and emerging talent, that can influence a team’s performance. 

While the unpredictability of sports is part of what makes them so captivating, our goal is to provide a thoughtful assessment of each team’s potential trajectory in the upcoming season.

Without further ado, here is the projected regular-season record for every NBA team in the upcoming 2023-24 season. 

Eastern Conference

15. Detroit Pistons 25-57

Cade Cunningham will continue to be the star for Detroit Pistons all year as the brightest spot on a rebuilding squad. 

The Pistons should also see improvements from Killian Hayes and Jaden Ivey, while other young players including Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, should begin making an impact for their team.

Still, the Pistons will likely be at the bottom of the East again as they continue to develop and will have another poor season in terms of team record. 

The longer they wait, the more frustrated Pistons fans will become, but that’s the name of the game right now.

14. Orlando Magic 30-52

The Magic will likely have one of the worst records in the NBA this upcoming season. They did well by drafting Paolo Banchero to be a cornerstone, but they do not have much else. 

Banchero had an exceptional rookie campaign by winning Rookie of the Year averaging 20.0 points per game.

Orlando is clearly in rebuild mode and will probably tank the season away with the hopes of acquiring another top pick in next year’s draft. 

Things are picking up for the Magic but they still need time to actually become a factor and not a bottom-three seed.

13. Charlotte Hornets 34-48

The Hornets are one of the most intriguing teams in the Eastern Conference, mainly thanks to LaMelo Ball, but they will not be able to make the playoffs this year. Ball is only 22 years old so he has over a decade to continue to play like a bonafide star.

The Hornets are rising, but it will not happen in 2024 even if Miles Bridges somehow elevates his game to All-Star status after he returns to the team following off-court allegations that have kept him out of the NBA since 2023.

12. Washington Wizards 30-52

Washington has finally traded All-Star Bradley Beal. It was time because the three-time All-Star was not going to lead the team to success as currently built. However, while it was the right move, the roster is not good enough to make the playoffs.

The Wizards will have some good moments under Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma, but there will be growing pains with a new roster led by a young core who haven’t proven to be All-Star quality yet. By most predictions, the Wizards won’t make the playoffs.

11. Toronto Raptors 36-46

Toronto was not great last year, finishing with a 41-41 record and missing the playoffs. The Raptors are seemingly all-in with Pascal Siakam, even if the player can be making massive money if he has a great season. 

They lost Fred VanVleet in free agency, and have a valuable player in OG Anunoby who is a prototypical 3-and-D player.

Perhaps moving Siakam for future parts for a rebuild does not sound like a bad idea if the team doesn’t look playoff-bound by the trade deadline because, other than Scottie Barnes, everybody should be on the trading block.

10. Indiana Pacers 40-42

The addition of Rick Carlisle was a massive factor in the Pacers’ run for a playoff seed last season, but they will likely fall short in 2024.

 Other teams in the East have improved dramatically and will make it hard for the Pacers to do more than grab close to a .500 record.

Luckily for the Pacers, the play-in tournament is a legitimate chance for the team to push and sneak into the postseason. 

The future is still bright for the Pacers, so they could position themselves accordingly if All-Star Tyrese Haliburton continues his growth as one of the best playmakers in the NBA.

9. Chicago Bulls 40-42

The Chicago Bulls might have one last chance to go all-in with the core of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic. These three players are good enough to lead a team to the playoffs, but for some reason, the Bulls did not get to that level last season in 2023.

In 2024, not much will change. Lonzo Ball is out for the season yet again, and that is a major negative for the starting backcourt. Alex Caruso is an All-Defensive Team member and the duo of DeRozan and LaVine can score against anybody, but there isn’t enough chemistry or steel for this team to get over the hump.

8. Brooklyn Nets 41-41

This Brooklyn Nets team is almost unrecognizable from the one that once had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden at one point. There are no superstars on the team right now, but that is what management wants. 

They need players to prove themselves and not to be entitled, which could be a good sign for team chemistry going forward.

Mikal Bridges is a budding All-Star and is one of the players who are in the race for Most Improved Player in 2024. 

Bridges averaged 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on 38.2% shooting from three in 2023, and he has a chance to be one of the best two-way players in the NBA next year.

7. Atlanta Hawks 43-39

The Hawks are a solid but unspectacular team and will show it again in 2024. Trae Young is a baller and will solidify his case as one of the best guards in the NBA in his 6th season when it comes to impacting the offensive end after posting 26.2 points and 10.2 assists per game.

Atlanta will be looking to push for the Eastern Conference Finals again, but with the way they played last year, that is unrealistic right now. 

John Collins is gone and that could clear up space for other youngsters to shine through like De’Andre Hunter who needs to take a step up next season.

6. Philadelphia 76ers 46-36

The Philadelphia 76ers have a reigning MVP and the best two-way big man in the world in Joel Embiid, and that is why they should still win 46 games whether James Harden stays or not. 

Whatever happens with The Beard, Philadelphia has enough pieces to still be a playoff team when looking at Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris around Embiid.

However, if the 76ers can find a way to acquire a legitimate star by moving James Harden, the team record might be even better. Philadelphia has the pieces to contend and there is no doubt that The Beard should be moved to keep peace in the locker room, and keeping Embiid happy should be the priority. 

To be fair, not having Harden could actually be better for the Sixers, considering his track record.

5. New York Knicks 47-35

The New York Knicks were a more than solid team last year, making it to the second round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. 

Jalen Brunson has been a revelation for the Knicks and it was great to see Julius Randle back to All-Star status. The duo is good enough to lead New York to an almost guaranteed playoff spot.

However, New York might need one more star player to actually look like a title contender because they aren’t good enough to defeat the top three teams in the Eastern Conference right now.

 Making the Western Conference Finals would be a huge step up, but it might not happen yet.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers 48-34

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a future star in the making with Evan Mobley, and his pairing with Jarrett Allen will be a difficult one to score against. 

Darius Garland is on his way to having an improved season with another season under his belt, and Donovan Mitchell is still one of the best guards in the NBA.

As a result, there is no reason to believe that Cleveland can’t challenge for a top-four seed in the East and they should strive to get to the 50-win mark. 

The problem with the Cavaliers is that Mitchell hasn’t proven to be able to lead a team to a deep playoff run, and as he is the best player on the team right now, that is something to consider.

3. Miami Heat 50-32

If the Miami Heat find a way to get Damian Lillard, they will be the biggest problem in the Eastern Conference. They could win as much as 55 games, but assuming they don’t acquire him yet, the core of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo under Erik Spoelstra are good enough to lead the side to 50 wins.

Miami will always be a threat to make the Eastern Conference Finals because of their sheer determination and confidence, but their ability to actually win the NBA championship will come down to if they can get Damian Lillard because Butler and Adebayo cannot do it on their own anymore.

2. Milwaukee Bucks 50-32

The Bucks have a deep roster led by multiple All-Stars, and because of that, they will be a top-3 team in the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely be great enough to be in contention for his third MVP Award, and the team is still stacked with competitors with the return of Brook Lopez on the team.

Milwaukee is the second-best team in the East and will be looking to return to the NBA Finals because if Khris Middleton is healthy, there isn’t an excuse not to be pushing for the championship. 

Unfortunately, this could be a massive season because it seems Giannis wants to win at all costs and that means more than loyalty.

1. Boston Celtics 54-28

The Boston Celtics have the East to win in 2024. Jayson Tatum is a top-five player in the world at his best, Jaylen Brown is an All-Star and All-NBA performer, and the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis means the team has a Big Three. 

Losing Marcus Smart will hurt, but there is enough cover at those guard positions. Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon are two-way players who can play important roles, and the bigs are still there in Al Horford and Robert Williams III. 

Joe Mazzulla has a year under his belt and will be able to place his players in the right spots, meaning that if the Celtics do not make the NBA Finals, it would be a disastrous season, which shows the expectations now.

Western Conference

15. Portland Trail Blazers 21-61

Damian Lillard is still in Portland for now, but time is up for the superstar point guard by most accounts. The Trail Blazers understand the player’s motive to leave and go somewhere else, and the trade will eventually happen it seems.

As a result, the Trail Blazers will likely fall into the lottery because rookie Scoot Henderson isn’t enough to make the difference even if he is bolstered by Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. The rebuild starts now in Portland and that is actually a good thing.

14. San Antonio Spurs 25-57

The Spurs got their man, and Victor Wembanyama will be the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. However, that doesn’t mean the team will be any good. In fact, they won’t really have a chance to make the playoffs considering the youth.

Gregg Popovich is still one of the best coaches in the league, but he does not have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, or Manu Ginobili to trust to lead the youngsters. The Spurs will still be a heavily watched team thanks to Wembanyama, but that won’t help team success.

13. Utah Jazz 38-44

The Utah Jazz once finished with the best record in the NBA, but that likely will not happen again, thanks to the rebuild that sent Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert to new places next year. In return, they did get first-time All-Star Lauri Markkanen.

Utah will try to make the play-in tournament at the most because some teams in the West have gotten better this summer. The key for Utah is to find cornerstones with Markkanen going forward because the team was better than expected last year.

12. Houston Rockets 38-44

The Houston Rockets have finally got better after three years of very poor play. Jalen Green will likely get better and so will Jabari Smith Jr., but the keys to the team’s success will lie in the free agent signings Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. While they aren’t superstars, they are starters.

VanVleet is the point guard Houston has been clamoring for because he is a steady playmaker and has experience at this stage of his career. 

No matter the criticism Brooks received, the man plays All-NBA Defense and will improve the roster. Finally, the Rockets will be competitive throughout the season.

11. Oklahoma City Thunder 40-42

The Oklahoma City Thunder are another team in rebuild mode and make no apologies for fielding their youth movement. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a bright young star and the franchise has high hopes for guard Josh Giddey. Of course, Chet Holmgren will be back.

Rebuilding also means that the Thunder will not have a .500 record in the Western Conference although they will do their best at sneaking into the play-in tournament. Whatever happens, the Oklahoma City team is full of talent and that is all that matters.

10. New Orleans Pelicans 42-40

The Pelicans should be better than last year, but it might be another season that Zion Williamson does not make the playoffs. The explosive big man can score, rebound, and even handle the ball; so we should continue to see the ascension of the Pelicans’ superstar which is a good thing for them.

But overall, New Orleans is not scaring anyone yet. Zion can’t stay healthy, Brandon Ingram’s Team USA struggles might affect him in the upcoming season, and the rest of the roster is still a work in progress. The play-in tournament is there and fans want to see Williamson play in the postseason.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves 45-37

The Timberwolves have Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, two star players with exceptional talent, so the core is there. The Timberwolves could find a way to click on both ends of the floor and fight for the 8th seed, but based on last season, that is unlikely because the West is too stacked.

Edwards needs to be the franchise player going forward because he has the mentality and toughness to one day make the Timberwolves relevant in the Western Conference and he seems to be more trustworthy than Karl-Anthony Towns in that regard.

8. Sacramento Kings 46-36

The Sacramento Kings are a solid team, and they need to keep developing the players around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. 

It is likely that the current team will stay the same by the end of the season, so their record could fluctuate slightly, but they will be a playoff team.

Sacramento has the team to get out of the first round of the playoffs, but it won’t be easy unless they can go after a top-4 seed. 

If they fall below that level, a first-round exit could be in the cards. Sacramento did very well to hold a top-three seed last year, but it might not happen again in 2024.

7. Memphis Grizzlies 47-35

Ja Morant will miss significant time due to his off-court behavior leading to a suspension, and that will hurt Memphis enough to place them out of the top four. However, bringing in Marcus Smart will soften the below just enough to continue making the team a solid playoff side.

Expect Memphis to fall under 50 games in 2024 due to Morant’s absence but still maintain a respectable level with the leadership of Smart, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. Memphis is a joy to watch and the sooner Morant gets back on the court, the better for every NBA fan watching.

6. Dallas Mavericks 47-35

Luka Doncic might be the favorite for the MVP Award next season, and that means Dallas should make the playoffs after a disastrous 38-44. 

Jason Kidd could elevate Luka’s game even more because he was an all-time great playmaker and Kyrie Irving should be better on the court with the Slovenian beside him.

There is no way that the Mavericks will miss the play-in tournament again because they can’t get worse than losing 44 games last season. 

The West is stacked, but Dallas has two superstars in their prime and a coach with experience so hopefully they can return to contending for a championship.

5. Los Angeles Clippers 48-34

The Clippers have fallen in the power rankings in recent years mainly due to the amount of time that Kawhi Leonard will probably miss.

But Los Angeles might finally stay healthy and not settle for a lower seed, unlike previous seasons. The Clippers won 44 games last year and they might do a little better in 2024.

What happens with the Clippers at the end of the year once again depends on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s health. 

The duo are simply too important for the team to not be available, and while Russell Westbrook is back, all that matters is that the superstars are healthy.

4. Los Angeles Lakers 48-34

The Los Angeles Lakers will grab a top-four seed in the West, mainly because D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura are perfect fits around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. 

Even with age and attrition, James and Davis are incredibly dominant on a physical level and will beat up teams all season long. If the Lakers are fully healthy, they are a major threat to making the NBA Finals. 

Of course, we do not know if LeBron will finally start showing major signs of his age because so far he has fought Father Time than anybody could have dreamed. Unless James magically gets old, the Lakers are coming back with a vengeance.

3. Golden State Warriors 50-32

Things will be interesting in Golden State all season long because the Splash Brothers are back and the addition of Chris Paul could be a major factor in the team’s depth. 

It is obvious that Paul was brought for long-term salary cap reasons, but he could play a major role for the dynasty that has won four championships over the past decade.

The Warriors have the best shooting in the league, the most confidence, and the most steady core. Steve Kerr will find a way to bring out the best of Chris Paul as the player tries to get back to the NBA Finals after yet another trade. 

Never count out the Golden State Warriors, and the team will be back in contention.

2. Denver Nuggets 52-30

As long as the Denver Nuggets have the reigning Finals MVP, Nikola Jokic, on their roster, they will be in the mix for the championship.

 The championship run in 2023 was impressive because no team stood a chance against them from the start until the end of the playoffs. Jokic has help with Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon and they will all be back.

Losing Bruce Brown will hurt, but it was expected after the swingman moved teams for bigger money. That means Christian Braun will play a bigger role and as a 6’7” shooting guard, he has the size and certainly the athleticism to make a difference in the rotation. 

Barring one other team, Denver will be the most dominant team in the West.

1. Phoenix Suns 57-25

The Suns are coming with force because the three stars, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, are elite scorers with exceptional talent and impactful skill sets. 

Obviously, there needs to be more than three offensive stars to win a ring, but the presence of Deandre Ayton and the recently acquired Eric Gordon will be critical.

If Frank Vogel can get the bench playing consistent basketball and the stars build chemistry with each other, the Phoenix Suns have the best starting lineup in the NBA. 

However, getting bench players to be at their highest level and counting on Durant’s health won’t be easy, but the Suns will likely win over 55 games and make a push for the NBA Finals. 

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