Back to back? Vegas has Warriors as 2023 NBA title favorites

After a 103-90 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, the Warriors were back in a familiar position.

A few of them, to be exact.

Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have become accustomed to winning NBA titles, as the trio hoisted a Larry O’Brien trophy for the fourth time in eight seasons. They’re also accustomed to being the favorites, which is what Las Vegas oddsmakers have already labeled them for next year.

According to BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings and others, the Warriors are the team to beat.

BetMGM lists the Warriors odds at +550 with the Celtics at +650 and Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets following behind them at +700. Caesars lists the Warriors at 5-1, with the Celtics and Nets each at 6-1 entering next season.

DraftKings actually lists the Warriors as one of four teams with +600 odds as they’re joined by the Celtics, Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

Regardless of what transpires next season, it’s a rather remarkable feat for a Golden State team led by a 34-year-old Curry and two 32-year-old teammates in Thompson and Green to be considered favorites after the team missed the playoffs in 2020 and 2021. Injuries to Curry and Thompson robbed the Warriors of star power, but during this year’s postseason run, the Warriors’ core players proved they’re still capable of playing at an elite level.

If Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney are back in the fold and a young trio of recent lottery picks –Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman– take steps forward, there’s no reason Golden State should enter next year with the type of doubts that surrounded the team headed into this season.