By Arjun Gala
After an eventful summer break, 24 October will see the 78th NBA season tip off with reigning champions Denver Nuggets taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. It will mark the end of an active off-season, which saw the powerhouses of the league make significant moves to strengthen their rosters.
Most notably, the blockbuster trade of Damian Lillard shook players and fans alike, as Lillard’s clutch and eye-catching play was brought to Milwaukee. His playing style will complement fellow superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo superbly, but the defensive loss of Jrue Holiday may prove to be bigger than expected as the franchise push for their third ring.
The Boston Celtics, however, will greatly enjoy the tenacity and game intelligence that Holiday brings, as they continue to search for their first Championship since 2008. Celtics General Manager Brad Stevens doubled down on this in the off-season, giving Jaylen Brown a five-year, $304 million contract – the richest deal in NBA history. With this, the pressure is on the duo and sophomore head coach, Joe Mazzulla, to deliver when it matters most.
The Denver Nuggets celebrated their first Championship win with a lacklustre off-season, instead trusting their superstar centre Nikola Jokic to deliver once again. Whilst they remain one of the favourites for this season, key players Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will have to play an integral role once again in the defence of their title.
The most exciting team of the new season will no doubt be the offensive juggernaut that is the Phoenix Suns. Their newly formed big three of Booker, Durant, and Beal will strike fear in every opposition, but could be exploited defensively. Similarly, the superstar backcourt of the Dallas Mavericks will be a liability when facing talented perimeter opposition, as Luka Doncic continues to push his team through the competitive Western Conference.
In California, three teams look to the new season with Championship aspirations. The 2022 winners, Golden State Warriors, stick with their homegrown stars of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, but are now looking towards experience rather than youth to push their ageing core. The acquisition of 38 year-old Chris Paul, whilst puzzling to many, may become the key to their fifth ring of this last decade, with CP3 still possessing the quality to ensure the Warriors do not falter in the previously disappointing non-Steph minutes. Further south, the Clippers seem content with their depth, hoping that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can finally enjoy an injury free season and fulfil Clipper fans’ dreams of a Championship. LeBron and the Lakers will hope their off-season additions can provide some buoyancy amid the troubles they have experienced since their 2020 Championship, as King James reaches his twilight years with dreams to play with his son wherever he may end up.
Last season’s MVP Joel Embiid will be looking to recover from the 76er’s disappointing second round exit in the 2023 playoffs, however, his environment may continue to fail him. Former MVP teammate James Harden appears to be disillusioned with the process, as coach Doc Rivers once again displayed his tactical shortcomings in their key game seven loss to Boston in May.
Like any other year, this NBA season will enjoy more narratives throughout. The rookie season of 7’4” (2.24 m) Victor Wembanyama will be interesting to follow closely, as his skill level breaks the expectations for a player of his height. Meanwhile, 2019 draftees Zion Williamson and Ja Morant will hope to return to their explosive form after their injury woes and controversial ban, respectively.
In addition to all of this, the inaugural mid-season tournament, due to begin 3 November, will provide anxious curiosity for players and fans alike, with both hoping for more electrifying entertainment. The extra 67 games added to the season may, however, be detrimental to players’ health. The condensed 2020 season had already caused a significantly higher incidence of injury over the last few years compared to the previous four seasons, and increasing the burden on players when the schedule was due to return to ‘normal’ could be dangerous.
We can look eagerly towards this season, anticipating ups and downs for our favourite teams and players, and new records to be broken, culminating in the ruthless elation of the playoffs and come June, a new NBA Champion.
