10 Bold Predictions for the 2024-2025 NBA Season

The Boston Celtics finally delivered on their potential in 2023-2024, winning the NBA Championship decisively over the Dallas Mavericks. Boston appears set up for a shot at a repeat this year, and the rest of the league will be on their trails.

As we know, the NBA is sports’ greatest soap opera. Player drama, breakout stars, and Cinderella stories define the eight-month trek to the NBA Finals, and this season should be no different. So with that said, here are 10 bold predictions for the upcoming NBA season, and how they may shape the outlook of the league.

LeBron Shows He Is Human

Simply put, there has never been an athlete in the NBA of the caliber of LeBron James. LeBron turns 40 this season, and will spend it playing with his son Bronny, a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Even as the Lakers struggled, LeBron was still electric in his 21st season last year, averaging 25.7 points across 71 games. It was the most games he has played in since 2017-2018, as injuries have mounted over the years. While James will still be an All-Star and average more than 20 points per game in 20224-2025, expect to see the beginning of the end of his dominance in the NBA, as minutes and mileage finally begin to take their toll. It’s likely rumors will persist of James retiring following the season to focus on a career in coaching or the media, but expect a few more seasons under his belt before he hangs up the jersey for good.

Shai Gilgous-Alexander Wins MVP

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgous-Alexander had a breakout two seasons over the course of the last couple of years, and 2024-2025 could be the year he cements himself in NBA history.

SGA finished second in NBA Most Valuable Player voting last season to Nikola Jokić, but he has his best chance to win to date. The Thunder were the top team in the Western Conference last season, and sent the controversial Josh Giddey to Chicago in exchange for defensive wizard Alex Caruso. The pieces are in place for Gilgous-Alexander to average more than 30 points once again, and should the Thunder repeat at the top of the West in the regular season, the MVP crown could very well be his.

The Knicks Win the East

It took an unprecedented barrage of injuries to end what could have been a championship campaign for the New York Knicks last season. This year, things could look at lot different.

The Knicks won’t only compete with the defending champion Boston Celtics, but they very well may win the Eastern Conference altogether. New York made a franchise-altering trade in October, sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for superstar forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is one of the greatest shooting big men in NBA history, and adds a completely new dynamic for breakout star Jalen Brunson. Their depth took a hit with the deal, but the Knicks have a threat they haven’t had in decades with Brunson and KAT, while also rounding out the squad with Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart.

The Orlando Magic Contend For a Championship

Hit with a few picks in the NBA Draft, and all of a sudden, you have yourself contending in a short period of time. Look no further than the Orlando Magic as proof of this.

The Magic hit on forward Franz Wagner in the 2021 NBA Draft, while his draftmate Jalen Suggs has developed into a defensive stud in the backcourt. But the emergence of forward and former No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero as an All-Star has completely changed the outlook and trajectory for the franchise, which will find itself as a top seed in the Eastern Conference this year. Expect Jamahl Mosley’s squad to improve on its No. 5 seed from last season, pushing the Celtics and Knicks to the brink.

The Nets Will Be Among Worst Teams in NBA History

The 2009-2010 New Jersey Nets won just 12 games, and are considered to be one of the worst teams of the modern era. Don’t expect the 2023-2024 Brooklyn Nets to be much better.

The Nets sent their one superstar-esque player in Mikhail Bridges crosstown to the Knicks this offseason in a deal meant to bolster their draft capital. They’re a young squad with 10 players who have been in the league three years or fewer, and there’s no clear trajectory on what kind of output the Nets will get from the often-injured Ben Simmons at guard. Expect the Nets to win fewer than 20 games this season, and potentially fewer than 15 under new head coach Jordi Hernandez.

Cam Thomas Breaks Out Anyway

Even with the dire waters ahead for the Nets, there is potential for them to have one giant bright spot in Cam Thomas. In fact, 2024-2025 could be the year the fourth-year guard becomes a star in the NBA.

Thomas immediately becomes the Nets’ biggest scoring threat with Bridges out of the picture, while Nic Claxton will aim to burden the load defensively in the front court. Thomas averaged 22.5 points per game last season, a nearly 12-point improvement from the year prior. He scored more than 30 points per game in Brooklyn’s first three games last season, and you should expect more of those this year. In fact, Thomas may improve so much, he could become a star dealt at the NBA Trade Deadline to take a team over the playoff hump.

Los Angeles Clippers Shop Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is going to be a Hall of Famer, but his time as a superstar in Los Angeles could end in the 2024-2025 season.

Leonard is expected to miss an extended period of time due to injury to start the season, even as he was supposed to be the star attraction as the Los Angeles Clippers open their new Intuit Dome. But the loss of Paul George combined with Leonard’s injury history could see Los Angeles make some calls on interest for their superstar, exploring the possibility of a reset. He has three years of team control on his contract to go, and would be an attractive option for a team looking to contend like the Cleveland Cavaliers or Houston Rockets. Expect chatter of a Leonard trade to pick up throughout the winter.

Trae Young Requests Trade

Don’t expect Leonard to be the only superstar name who comes up in trade discussions midway through the season. The same could happen with Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.

Young’s name floated as a potential trade candidate throughout the offseason, as the Hawks seem on the precipice of a rebuild after dealing Dejounte Murray out of town. It’s unlikely No. 1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher will make much of an impact in his first season, so one of the league’s most dynamic players could request his way out of town. Young has averaged more than 25 points per game in five of the six seasons he has played, and would be a major scoring threat for a team making a playoff push.

Victor Wembanyama’s Elite Defensive Season

One of those teams could be the San Antonio Spurs. A combination of Young with 2023-2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama seems like a match made in heaven, especially with the year Wemby could have in store.

Wembanyama was elite in his first season in the league, displaying not just scoring prowess, but remarkable athleticism for his 7-foot-4 frame. He was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. This season will be the year Wemby moves to the shortlist of greatest players in all of the league, seeming like a shoo-in candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and potentially even MVP if the Spurs can make a run to the playoffs.

The Suns Finally Compete

The Phoenix Suns didn’t need to overhaul their stacked offensive weaponry this past offseason, but there was need for some tweaking to their chemical makeup. That’s why they went out and hired NBA Championship-winning head coach Mike Budenholzer to replace Frank Vogel.

Even so, more was needed to get the Suns to the NBA Finals. Devin Booker looked outstanding in the Olympics, Kevin Durant still remains a prolific scorer, and Bradley Beal carries a high ceiling despite a down year last season. The Suns added a great ball distributor in guard Tyus Jones, and appear more well-rounded to win now despite a questionable future with few draft picks. They should find themselves as a top seed in the Western Conference.