NBA 2024-25 predictions: Luka for MVP? And will the Knicks win it all? | NBA

What I’m most wanting ahead to …

I can’t wait to see what Anthony Edwards seems to be like after his first style of playoff success and a summer time to take in inspiration from taking part in alongside his heroes. Because the lone No 1 total decide remaining on the Wolves with the departure of Karl-Anthony Cities, the keys to the franchise are actually his. He’s primed for a real breakout season. CDL

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry’s makes an attempt to channel Tom Brady. Whereas the trio are nonetheless taking part in at a excessive degree with no hints of retirement, a brand new crop of stars are rising. Just like Brady’s remaining seasons with Tampa Bay, LeBron, KD, and Steph will problem youthful NBA stars to show their reign is over. AS

Within the latter half of final season, the NBA appeared to shift from permitting ticky-tack fouls to letting the gamers play extra bodily. Refs may swallow their whistles. I grew up within the period of Nineteen Nineties basketball the place remaining scores had been generally within the 60s. And whereas we don’t want to return to that, my hope is that the league will focus extra on bodily play and cease permitting guys like James Harden to trick refs into 10,000 foul calls per sport. JU

Greatest offseason improvement …

The splashiest commerce this summer time was actually the Cities / Julius Randle swap between New York and Minnesota, however personally I’m most intrigued by the first large commerce the Knicks made this summer time: buying Mikail Bridges from neighboring Brooklyn. Bridges is simply what the Knicks had been lacking, they usually’re now properly positioned to provide Boston a run for his or her cash. CDL

New hope for the Knicks. Since 1973, Knicks followers have entered most seasons holding unreasonable expectations of successful the title. This season, that dream might be realized. With Jalen Brunson taking part in at an All-NBA degree, the offseason additions of Bridges and Cities place the Knicks in a main place to dethrone the Celtics. AS

The splashiest had been Paul George to Philly and Cities to New York. And whereas I’m extra within the latter than the previous there, what the basketball nerd in me is most wanting ahead to seeing are the additions in Oklahoma Metropolis. Usually, to win a championship means to make the best strikes on the margins and the Thunder getting Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein was a coup. JU

The shock package deal shall be …

This has already been mentioned an excessive amount of by diehards to be a “shock,” however the basketball viewing public has, as an entire, forgotten concerning the Memphis Grizzlies. And that’s a mistake, as a result of Ja Morant is on a revenge tour, GG Jackson had a breakout season, and Dillon Brooks has been changed by the equally spicy however extra mature Marcus Good. Memphis shall be a surefire playoff staff. CDL

The Grizzlies and Morant’s return. It’s straightforward to neglect that earlier than Morant’s off-the-court mishaps and season-ending damage, the Grizzlies had been the No 2 staff within the West. If Morant returns to high type and steers away from off-court shenanigans, the Grizzlies have sufficient to attain a deep playoff run. AS

The Orlando Magic will soar out to one thing like a 20-5 begin and folks will start to marvel if they’re a title contender. And whereas they in the end won’t be, the staff would be the darling of the NBA and grow to be one of the enticing locations for probably disgruntled stars like Giannis. JU

The LeBron James-Bronny James link-up is …

Actually, actually cool, however inflicting lots of overblown hand-wringing. The youthful James will most likely spend most (if not all) of his season within the G-League. This quantity of hullabaloo over a late second-round decide is outsized. CDL

A second that needs to be cherished as a result of it could not occur once more. The rarity of a father-son duo within the NBA will make it a must-see occasion the primary time it occurs within the common season. However the critics gained’t be sort as Bronny endures his rookie studying curve. AS

Cute, good, historic. However in the end it gained’t matter when it comes to the final word aim. I hope Bronny is sweet. I hope he will get time to develop. Debating nepotism is pointless on this case: it’s simply not that vital in relation to the precise video games. Although, if JJ Redick can flip Bronny right into a participant, that shall be spectacular. JU

One daring prediction …

Denver could also be in additional bother than many suppose. They misplaced just a few vital supporting solid members, they usually’re including Russell Westbrook, who has a notoriously quick honeymoon interval. The remainder of the West has gotten higher round them, and it’ll take a herculean effort from Nikola Jokić to verify they aren’t the worst they’ve been in years. CDL

The Lakers will wrestle to make the playoffs. LeBron and Anthony Davis will proceed to place up All-NBA numbers, however the Lakers won’t beat the Warriors to the ultimate playoff spot. The consequence shall be Redick’s first season as Lakers head coach being his final – a risk he jokingly acknowledged. AS

Jimmy Butler shall be traded. His time is simply up. He’s identified for acrimonious exits and the Warmth don’t wish to give him a large amount of cash as they start to reset and he approaches his late 30s. If and once they wrestle this season, they’ll take telephone calls and somebody shall be determined sufficient to take Butler on for package deal. JU

MVP

NBA Awards voters tend to have a little bit of a sadistic streak. That’s to say, they like when candidates have a tough street to MVP glory – just a few shut losses on their approach to a win is mostly rewarded. Luka Dončić, by these metrics and several other others, are due. My guess is he’ll lastly get it this yr. CDL

Anthony Edwards proved he’s able to be the brand new face of the league following the Timberwolves’ Western Convention finals run and his spectacular play within the Paris Olympics with Group USA. With out Cities, Edwards’ offensive numbers will enhance considerably as he carries the Wolves to a top-three seed within the West. Ant Man’s leap to superstardom shall be plain in 2024-25. AS

Luka Dončić. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum will make their claims, however it’s simply time for the Slovenian. The Mavs needs to be nice and Luka is the attention of their storm. SGA is a quieter participant and Tatum is surrounded by an incredible staff. So they are going to end top-five, together with the Joker and Brunson. JU

Jap Convention playoff groups

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Warmth, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers. CDL

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Miami Warmth. AS

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Warmth. JU

Western Convention playoff groups

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors. CDL

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors. AS

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers. JU

Jap Convention remaining

New York Knicks over Boston Celtics. CDL

Boston Celtics over New York Knicks. AS

Boston Celtics over New York Knicks. JU

Western Convention remaining

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder over Minnesota Timberwolves. CDL

Minnesota Timberwolves over Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. AS

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder over Dallas Mavericks. JU

NBA finals

New York Knicks 4-3 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. There may be, admittedly, a component of speaking-it-into-existence to say the New York Knicks are going to lastly break by way of and win the championship, however they’ve newfound top-end expertise and have retained their wonderful core from final yr. They’ve lots of mixed playoff expertise, nice offensive and defensive expertise, and a bona fide star in Jalen Brunson. The Thunder are formidable and shall be wonderful, which is why I’ve them popping out of a crowded West. However they’re a yr away from hoisting the trophy. CDL

Boston Celtics 4-2 Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA finals will function a showdown between Edwards’ Timberwolves and the Celtics led by Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Edwards is supplied with the abilities and toughness to make each second uncomfortable for the Celtics. However the Timberwolves will finally be outmatched by the Celtics’ depth and the star energy of Tatum, Brown, Vacation, and Porzingis. The Celtics will grow to be the primary back-to-back NBA champions for the reason that Golden State Warriors. AS

Boston Celtics 4-3 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The NBA is deep and stuffed with expertise this yr. Meaning the common season and playoffs shall be slogs. However atop the Jap and Western Conferences sit two groups with much more depth and expertise. Boston and OKC are only a lower above. And whereas their rivals, the brand new look Knicks and reigning Western Convention champ Mavericks, will push them, it gained’t be sufficient. It’ll be seven-game sequence throughout, together with within the finals. However Boston will win again to again. JU