We are about 2 weeks into the 2021-22 NBA season and there is already a lot going on. Not only are teams like the Celtics, Pacers, Clippers, and Trail Blazers struggling to find their footing early on in the year, but we are seeing plenty of teams get production from their young talents! 

Chris Duarte (Pacers), Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Franz Wagner (Magic), Jalen Green (Rockets), Evan Mobley (Cavaliers) and so many other rookies are stepping up big time for their teams, making this year’s rookie class one of the best in recent memory in terms of immediate production. 

While some star players around the league are still trying to get used to the new Wilson basketball being used and the new offensive/defensive foul rules, others are taking advantage of their opportunities, leading their teams to early victories. 

Entering the new NBA season, many expected the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers to be the “teams to beat” in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively, but both the Nets and Lakers have struggled to begin the year. 

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Brooklyn is still trying to figure out things in their rotation without Kyrie Irving, as the All-Star point guard continues to sit out because of vaccine mandates in NYC.

As for Los Angeles, they started the year 2-3, but have won their last three games and are starting to look like the championship-level team we all thought they would be with LeBron, Davis, and Westbrook. 

Both the Nets and Lakers are expected to be tough teams to beat in the postseason this year, regardless of their somewhat slow starts, but what about other contenders around the league?

There have been plenty of real championship threats around the NBA that are playing some great basketball right now, so let’s take a look at three contending teams who are off to the strongest starts to begin the 2021-22 season.