2024-25 NBA Season Preview

          As the opening tip-off of another season of the National Basketball Association draws closer, anticipation among fans is at a fever pitch. In just a few short days, seasoned veterans and upcoming prospects alike will take to the court to challenge for a championship. After an eventful offseason filled with marquee moves, it feels like the Larry O’Brien Trophy has never been more up for grabs. 

          Starting with the most exciting point of discussion at the start of any NBA season: potential title contenders. Last season, The Boston Celtics managed to capture their 18th title in franchise history, the most of any team. They didn’t make any big roster changes in the offseason, but they had no reason to. The Celtics aren’t going anywhere, and with their experience, balance, and lockdown defense, fans should expect them to be at the top of the championship race yet again. On a tier slightly below them are two teams that have made major offseason moves: The New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks’ addition of Karl-Anthony Towns will provide elite spacing for star point guard Jalen Brunson. Meanwhile, the Thunder added a veteran defender in Alex Caruso and a much-needed big man in Isaiah Hartenstein to their already strong young roster. The Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets are three more top teams that should finish near the top of their respective conferences, though maybe not quite as high as some might expect. These more veteran-lead teams should hope to rest their stars in the regular season to preserve them for a strong playoff push.

          Though they rarely ever win the championship, dark horse contenders are still a fun topic to discuss, and this year has a couple worth noting. The Minnesota Timberwolves, despite losing the aforementioned Towns, are still in the running, as long as their young all-star guard Anthony Edwards continues his development. Edwards has a strong group of role players surrounding him, anchored by four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. The Orlando Magic are another young team that may go under the radar. Led by one of the league’s most underrated players, Paolo Banchero, The Magic aren’t particularly flashy, but they get the job done. They were the fourth seed last year and should only get better. 

          With all-time great players such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant reaching the end of their careers, fans are looking to the young stars of the league to replace them, and there are many to choose from. The most obvious breakout star to watch for is Victor Wembanyama. Paired with a Hall of Fame caliber playmaker in Chris Paul, Wembanyama should be in for a big year on both ends of the floor. With Klay Thompson no longer in Golden State, expect a new Warrior to step into his role as the team’s second option behind Curry. Brandin Podziemski exceeded expectations last year, and with an increased role, should be a meaningful contributor for the Warriors. Two sophomores to watch for are Keyontae George and Cam Whitmore. Both have shown that they can thrive in their respective team’s systems, George through his elite shooting ability, and Whitmore with his athleticism; expect both players to elevate their game to the next level this upcoming season. 

          Finally, the offseason has given us some interesting storylines to follow as the season progresses. LeBron James teamed up with his son Bronny James Jr through the NBA draft, the first-ever father-son duo in the history of the league. Whether or not the rookie deserves to be in the NBA is certainly a major question surrounding him; expect his every move to be scrutinized by the media. As alluded to earlier, Klay Thompson has joined the Dallas Mavericks after spending 12 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, winning multiple championships as part of the famous “Splash Brothers” duo alongside Curry. Will Thompson have a bounce-back year and contribute to a winning culture on this finals team, or will he show that he will never come close to being the player he used to be? Lastly, it’s no secret that this year’s draft class is considered one of the weaker classes in recent years, but every draft has a few players that fly under the radar. Unlike last year, there is no clear-cut Rookie of the Year frontrunner this time around. Fans of teams who had a high draft pick last year will certainly be looking to see whether their rookie outshines the rest.