NBA news: Larry Nance Jr makes Lakers, Warriors, Rockets claim after LeBron James move

Steve Kerr’s Warriors come into the new season off the back of winning three titles in the past four years.

And they remain many people’s favourites to take the Larry O’Brien trophy home with them come next June.

Nance Jr’s Cleveland Cavaliers will be eyeing up a place in the finals once again having fallen to the Warriors last year.

While the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers will be hoping to be in the mix too.

Nance Jr has now offered his take on which teams have a chance of stopping the Warriors securing the so-called three-peat.

And he’s claimed the Rockets are their biggest threat, despite the Los Angeles Lakers landing his former team-mate James in free agency.

“If I knew, then we would have won a couple of games,” Nance Jr told BBC Sport, when asked how the Warriors charge can be halted.

“They were so good last year, and to add a talent like DeMarcus Cousins is a whole new ball game, so I don’t know.

“I’m glad we don’t play them until the middle of the season, so hopefully I can watch a couple of teams beat them and we can get a few ideas.

“I do think Golden State are going to end up taking it home again, but I think Houston could give them some problems.

“Obviously the Lakers are going to be very good. Those are really the two big ones for me.”

Meanwhile, ESPN pundit Mark Jackson is backing the Warriors to secure another set of NBA championship rings.

“Golden State is the clear-cut favourite,” Jackson said. “I do think in this league anything can happen so there’s some teams in the Western Conference, if clicking right, if healthy — injuries plays a role not just for the Warriors but throughout this league, so that can play a part in it. But the Warriors are the clear-cut favourite.

“On LeBron, I think it’s about the improvement that the Lakers show. The continuing to develop, I think the goal is to win a Championship like there is a handful of teams in this league.

“You have the best player in the world, that’s the goal. Is it realistic? I’m not sure.

“But to show improvement, to show growth, and it’s a win already because the Lakers are once again relevant, now it’s about developing winning habits and progressing towards that march.”