NBA power rankings: Nuggets start from in front in way-too-early look at 2023-24 season

For five consecutive seasons, a different team has won the NBA championship.

The Toronto Raptors in 2019, Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, Golden State Warriors in 2022 and Denver Nuggets in 2023. Golden State was the last team to repeat in 2017 and 2018.

Prior to this season, five different teams haven’t won championships in consecutive seasons since the Warriors, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Bullets, Seattle SuperSonics and the Lakers did from 1975-80.

"When you think about a 30-team league, and it's not just the fans in those markets but fans increasingly all over the world who follow a team in that particular market – maybe because they have an affinity for that style of play or a particular player on that team or some created connection to that city – you want a league where everyone feels that if the team that they are rooting for is well-managed and gets a little bit lucky, too, that's necessary, that they can truly compete for championships," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said at the start of the 2023 NBA Finals.

"This increased parity we're seeing around the league is fantastic. It's part by design, too. Through successive collective bargaining agreements and the one we just negotiated, there's some new provisions in that one, as well, that we hope will help even the playing field to a certain extent."

Will there be a sixth consecutive different champion next season? That will unfold over 82 games for each team and a two-month playoffs schedule next season.

Here’s a look at our way-too-early 2023-24 NBA power rankings:

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30. Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets had issues on and off the court, and they took a step back in number of victories. There's significant work to be done with the roster.

29. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons' young roster has potential with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, but it won’t be enough in new head coach Monty Williams' first season.

28. Houston Rockets

Another top-four lottery pick will help the Rockets, but new coach Ime Udoka has work ahead of him to get this team that has young talent headed in the right direction.

27. Washington Wizards

A new front office for the Wizards, led by Michael Winger who was hired from the Los Angeles Clippers, needs to decide on a firm direction.

26. San Antonio Spurs

Drafting Victor Wembanyama certainly elevates your team, but it’s difficult to see how the Spurs can jump in the standings immediately.

25. Toronto Raptors

Losing head coach Nick Nurse and potentially Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. this offseason puts the Raptors in a tough spot next year.

24. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls made a push to go for it with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nik Vucevic and Lonzo Ball, but it hasn’t translated to playoff success. And Ball’s injury remains a concern.

23. Orlando Magic

There were good signs from the Magic last season, including Paolo Banchero’s superb rookie season, but a young Magic team is still finding its way in the Eastern Conference.

22. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers got a jumpstart on their rebuild as Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin have emerged as a promising backcourt duo.

21. Utah Jazz

The Jazz return most of their team but are missing some complementary pieces next to All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, who could be due for regression after a career-best season.

20. Portland Trail Blazers

You will hear a lot about potential trades for Damian Lillard but the focus should be on who the Blazers can add to make them a contender in the West.

19. Brooklyn Nets

If it wasn’t for the strong start led by Kevin Durant, the Nets likely would have had to fight for a playoff spot, which seems to be the reality for this forward heavy team.

18. New Orleans Pelicans

Can Zion Williamson stay healthy, and is he willing to do all the work that will help him stay healthy? That’s where it starts for New Orleans.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

The biggest question for the 'Wolves is figuring out the Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert tandem alongside young star Anthony Edwards, leaving them on the bubble of the Western Conference playoff race.

16. Oklahoma City Thunder

With All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and the debut of 2022 No. 2 overall draft pick Chet Holmgren, the Thunder are poised to move up in the West standings.

15. Atlanta Hawks

Head coach Quin Snyder has a full offseason to work with the Hawks after a first-round exit and to implement his system with a solid team led by Trae Young.

14. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are running out of time with the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George pairing, and they’re not on the court enough together to make a significant impact.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers had a solid regular season but faltered in the playoffs with subpar offense, and GM Koby Altman’s job in the offseason is to find scoring.

12. Dallas Mavericks

Having a superstar such as Luka Doncic makes life easier for the Mavericks, who are bound for a bounce-back season after missing the playoffs last year whether they resign Kyrie Irving or not.

11. New York Knicks

Even though Jalen Brunson’s stellar first season in New York ended in the second round of the playoffs, there’s a lot the Knicks can build off as they return almost all their key players.

10. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors will have a new person in charge of basketball operations following Bob Myers' decision to step aside, and they are likely to run it back with same core group led by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Is that enough?

9. Miami Heat

The East champs return their core for another season and, if their recent playoff run says anything, it would be a mistake to count them and Jimmy Butler out next year. Especially if they upgrade at point guard.

8. Los Angeles Lakers

Can the Lakers get the point guard they need to provide reliable scoring? Some depth at power forward and center will help LeBron James and Anthony Davis, too.

7. Sacramento Kings

The Kings, like Cleveland, need some offensive help, but they should be a team moving in the right direction with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

Pending league discipline for Ja Morant, the Grizzlies still have the talent to make noise in the West with Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. improving each season.

5. Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid’s MVP season ended in a second-round defeat, but with the hiring of head coach Nick Nurse and roster continuity, the 76ers should be back in the mix.

4. Milwaukee Bucks

With Giannis Antetokounmpo still at an MVP level, the Bucks still see a championship window and brought in new coach Adrian Griffin to help Milwaukee return to the Finals.

3. Phoenix Suns

The Suns have a busy offseason with new head coach Frank Vogel and potentially finding suitors for Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton, but the duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker still puts them in a position to contend for a title as long as they bring in depth.

2. Boston Celtics

It will be interesting to see what the Celtics’ roster looks like next season (will Jaylen Brown still be there?), but they have made significant additions to the coaching staff to help head coach Joe Mazzulla.

1. Denver Nuggets

Coming off a long playoff run with arguably the best duo in the league, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets return a deep roster, making them the team to beat next season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: Nuggets start 2023-24 on top but who follows?