Looking into another exciting NBA season!
Harmannat Singh, Staff Writer
The 2024-25 NBA season is soon returning, and there is plenty of excitement as teams set their sights on the ultimate goal: winning the championship. The reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, are fresh off a historic run, breaking the all-time NBA record for most championships after securing their 18th.
The Boston Celtics are certainly the favorites to repeat. With an all-rounded team consisting of offensive standouts such as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, as well as exceptional defenders in Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis, this team will be very challenging to beat in a 7-game series. The only question is whether or not they will be able to continue their health streak and avoid any major injuries going into the regular season and playoffs.
A team that has seen many changes this off-season is the New York Knicks. Considered contenders last season being the 2nd seed in the East, the addition of Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges has only helped their chances of finishing as a top 3 seed once again and making the ECF.
In the West, the Denver Nuggets are still a major threat. Led by arguably the best player in the league, Nikola Jokić, and having traded for point guard Russell Westbrook, Denver will aim to bounce back after their title-winning 2022-23 season. If Jokić, Murray, and Westbrook stay injury-free, then the playmaking, rebounding, and scoring of this team will be incredibly hard to defend against and might be the factor that takes them to the WCF, and potentially the finals.
In the past few seasons, the Sacramento Kings have seen massive improvements and are the underdogs going into the regular season. In the 2022-23 playoffs (their first appearance in 17 years), they took the Golden State Warriors to 7 games in the first round. Last season, De’Aaron Fox averaged 27/5/6 on 47FG% and Sabonis averaged 19/14/8 on a whopping 59FG% while leading the league in rebounds per game. This season, they have added six-time All-Star PF DeMar DeRozan who brings in tremendous experience and a great scoring package for a team looking to elevate from last season’s 46-36 record.
Another underrated team to watch this season is the San Antonio Spurs. Led by one of the best-ever NBA prospects, Victor Wembanyama, alongside one of the most talented point guards, Chris Paul, this team has immense potential. Wembanyama, who has already made an impact by winning Rookie of the Year, is a game-changer on both ends of the floor with his unique combination of size, skill, and versatility, and will be complemented well by Chris Paul’s playmaking ability.
On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns are a team full of star power with a roster consisting of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, but severely lack depth. While their offense is still dynamic, the loss of key role players and defensive shortcomings could potentially hurt them in the playoffs and may prevent them from contending with other teams in the Western Conference such as the Nuggets or the Thunder.
All in all, this season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With major changes to rosters, returning stars, and rising young talent, there are plenty of storylines to follow.
