“We’ve never had this much depth in the NBA” – Greg Anthony feels the league is the most competitive right now

Anthony discusses why the NBA has never been more competitive.
One of the main reasons the NBA has been popular for so long is its competitiveness, but the last few seasons have taken that to a new level.

Teams once expected to dominate have faced unexpected challenges, and underdogs have consistently risen to the occasion. This shift has made predicting playoff outcomes and championship favorites more thrilling.

More depth than ever

This season has been particularly rough for teams projected to cruise into the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers have started with an underwhelming record. By November, the 76ers were floundering at 3-15. These teams have MVP-caliber talent and championship aspirations, yet they’ve spent weeks near the bottom of the standings.

Former NBA player and current analyst Greg Anthony reflected on this unexpected parity.

“We’ve never had this much depth in the NBA since we’ve gone to 30 teams; we haven’t,” says Anthony. “Think about who’s at the bottom of the East right now: Philly is 2 in 12, Milwaukee is 6 in 9. Those are two great teams. Same thing in the West, I should say.”

The Western Conference hasn’t been immune to surprises either. While the Bucks have shown signs of life recently, clawing their way to the sixth seed, other franchises have struggled to maintain consistency.

A new era of parity

The NBA’s competitive balance has been evident for years. Since the Golden State Warriors’ dominant back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018, no team has managed to repeat as champions. 

Instead, the league has seen a revolving door of contenders; the Bucks clinched their first title in 50 years in 2021, followed by the Denver Nuggets capturing their maiden championship in 2023. The Warriors have fallen short; after winning the title in 2022, they couldn’t even make it past the play-in stage last season.

Even teams with a single championship in their history, like the Dallas Mavericks, have made surprising runs in recent years. Despite finishing the regular season as a fifth seed, the Mavericks made an improbable push to the NBA Finals last year before falling to the Boston Celtics. This unpredictability speaks to the league’s depth, where no team can rest comfortably as a favorite.

This level of competition adds to the excitement of the modern NBA. The days of the Showtime Lakers, the ’90s Chicago Bulls, and even the modern-day Warriors, where a single dominant team ruled the league, are behind us. Instead, basketball enthusiasts are treated to a landscape where every game matters, every series feels consequential, and any team could hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy come June.