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NBA League Pass Rankings for the 2023-24 Season

By Michael Shearer

DENVER, CO - MARCH 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks steals the ball from Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of a game at Ball Arena on March 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MARCH 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks steals the ball from Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half of a game at Ball Arena on March 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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11. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers were one of last season’s best and most enjoyable stories until they met a brutal end at the bloody hands of the Knicks.

This season, they’ve revamped and come back with added shooting and flexibility. More spacing should only benefit Donovan Mitchell, who scored 71 points in a game last season. Mitchell was an MVP candidate for stretches of last season, and he’ll look to improve upon his superb year. Darius Garland is a goldfish. Almost every night, he burns someone with the league’s best shot-fake.

Jarrett Allen has sweet hair and a willingness to dunk and get dunked on that makes for some delightfully violent plays at the rim. And we haven’t even talked about Evan Mobley, the defensive superstar expected to take a major offensive leap.

The Cavs have pieces that fit perfectly, a good offense and stifling defense, and plenty of room for internal growth. They were a delight to watch last year and should be again.

10. Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic’s on-court behavior is some of the most tiresome in the NBA. Nobody complains as much or as loudly as Doncic, and it’s a genuine distraction.

But Doncic remains a one-of-a-kind offensive wonder, a point guard in a ground-bound power forward’s body who uses skill and strength to overcome his physical limitations. He’s joined, of course, by Kyrie Irving, perhaps the greatest ballhandler of all time and an elite shotmaker.

Grant Williams and rookies O-Max Prosper and Dereck Lively III promise to shake up the rotation. Josh Green is a name a bunch of people are about to learn. Dante Exum is back; as the star of some of my favorite basketball commercials (“It’s a genus of frogs”), I hope he earns some minutes. Jaden Hardy might be on the verge of a breakout season.

But this ranking is purely based on the singular talents of Doncic and Irving, two of the most electrifying players in the NBA.

9. Phoenix Suns

If I’m being honest, this ranking is probably too high. For as much star power as Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker possess, the team will undoubtedly devolve into a bunch of (surprisingly efficient) iso-ball and midrange jumpers.

But then again, who cares? It’s Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker on one team!

Add to that consistently excellent uniforms, a new coach, and an intriguing bench filled with versatile skill sets and ages, and you get an eminently watchable squad.

We might even see a game this season with three 30+ point scorers, which, while not as rare as you might think (the Pelicans did it at the end of last season with the fabled scoring trio of CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, and, uh, Herb Jones!), is still pretty cool.

If we assume this is a playoff-ready offense, I’m excited to see just how high the defense can rise.

8. Golden State Warriors

Maybe you’re sick of the beautiful brand of basketball that this team plays, but I’m not. Steph Curry remains the most absurd League Pass viewing experience, and his off-ball movement is something that every aspiring shooter should closely scrutinize. Klay Thompson has the purest shot in the league, and Draymond Green is bound to do something wacky with regularity.

There are deeper reasons to tune in, too, starting with Chris Paul’s integration into his fiercest rivals. Will he be coming off the bench? How will he fare defensively next to Curry and Thompson?

Jonathan Kuminga may finally be in line for a bigger role, and he brings an element of athleticism the team sorely needs.

They’re knocked down a few pegs because the broadcast team is irritating and the team is still pretty similar to what we’ve seen over the last near-decade, Chris Paul aside. There isn’t much of a novelty factor, but there is some gorgeous basketball.

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