favorites, Wembanyama, salaries, Bronny… 10 questions before the three shots of the 2024-25 season

The NBA is back. Four months after the 18th coronation of the Boston Celtics, and two months after the success of Team USA in the final of the Paris Olympics, the North American league resumes its rights this Tuesday. Two posters for this first evening of the 2024-25 season, Boston-New York from 1:30 a.m. and LeBron James’ Lakers against Minnesota, at around 4 a.m. The NBA will be followed on beIN SPORTS and via the NBA League Pass.

Who are the favorites in the East…

To all honor, there is no reason to think that Boston cannot claim its own succession. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the entire sacred group in 2024 are going back for a ride. The GMs are also betting very heavily on the Celtics to win the cup. In the East, the Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard can dream, they who were eliminated in the first round by Indiana while their infirmary was full. With their Embiid/George/Maxey trio, the 76ers have, a priori, all the ingredients. To see if New York is invited into this conversation with the arrivals of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. The talent is there. Not necessarily the depth of the bench. To see for the integration of “KAT”.

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…And to the West?

In the West, it is difficult to give up on Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets, champions in 2023. Just as it is impossible not to mention the team that is on the rise, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder. Unhappy finalists in 2024, Luka Doncic‘s Mavs will want to return to the highest peaks. Without “KAT”, are the Timberwolves of Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert still in the race? For the Clippers, everything will depend on the health of Kawhi Leonard. After the failure of last season, the Suns are leaving for a tour with a fiery trio (and paid at a high price) composed of Olympic champions Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but also Bradley Beal. For LeBron James, time is running out. The King will turn 40 in December. “His” Lakers appear (at least) a notch behind the big names.

What objectives for Wembanyama and San Antonio?

With Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, the Spurs strengthened their squad during the offseason, it’s clear. All while knowing that this young squad can only improve each year. Enough to affirm that there will not be, this time, a series of 18 consecutive losses. This is obviously not enough to play for the title. “The goal is to reach the play-in or play-offs“, summarized Victor Wembanyama, member of the tournament’s five and silver medalist with the Blues at Paris 2024. In a Western Conference where it is not hard to find eight to ten stronger teams on paper, the objective play-in seems more realistic than the Top 6 and a direct ticket to the “post-season”. Progress, reach 30-35 victories, build, that’s the real objective in Alamo City.

As for “Wemby”, a first selection for the All Star Game is more than possible this time. Last year, he was too irregular at the start of the season to claim it. To see if San Antonio’s results will allow it to aim for other individual honors. At the end of his first campaign, he already finished in second place in the Best Defender rankings, behind Rudy Gobert. “If I like the team in all areas of the game, I should be in the conversation for all trophies. So it’s something that has to happen naturally“, he told the press.

How many French people on the starting line?

If Evan Fournier, Frank Ntilikina and Théo Malédon have (re)crossed the Atlantic towards the Euroleague, we will still find 14 French players in the NBA. Rudy Gobert (Minnesota) and Nicolas Batum (LA Clippers) are veterans. After a mixed first experience in Boston, Gerschon Yabusele (Philadelphia) is back in the North American league. The rest are young people who will seek to make a name for themselves, to be commented by Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta), Alex Sarr (Washington) and Tidjane Salaün (Charlotte), respectively numbers 1, 2 and 6 in the last Draft. The year of confirmation for Bilal Coulibaly (Washington), promising in 2023-24. Sidy Cissoko (San Antonio), Pacôme Dadiet (New York), Moussa Diabate (Charlotte), Armel Traoré (LA Lakers), Ousmane Dieng (OKC) and Rayan Rupert (Portland) will fight for the crumbs. With stints in the G-League, no doubt. Just a few days ago, the French contingent contained another element, Killian Hayes, injured and cut by Brooklyn. We should nevertheless find the former Detroiter in the G-League.

Who will be the highest paid players in 2024-25?

There will be five in the very select club of players at $50 million and above in 2024-25, Bradley Beal (Phoenix, $50.2 million), Kevin Durant (Phoenix, 51.2), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia, 51. 4), Nikola Jokic (Denver, 51.4) and the executioner of the Blues in the final of the Olympic Games, Stephen Curry (Golden State, 55.8). There will be 15 in this case in 2025-26, including two who have a player option (Butler, James). As for the season that will begin, Jaylen Brown (Boston, 49.7), Devin Booker (Phoenix, 49.2), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York, 49.2), Paul George (Philadelphia, 49 .2) and Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers, 49.2) complete the Top 10. LeBron James (LA Lakers, 48.7) is not far behind. The first Frenchman in this ranking, Rudy Gobert appears in 15th position with $43.8 million over 2024-25. Second Frenchman, “Wemby” will receive $12.8 million.

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What are the biggest moves of the offseason?

Quadruple NBA champion with the Warriors (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022), Klay Thompson joined Dallas to help Luka Doncic’s team aim for the stars. Stars that the Nuggets have already touched, having won the title in 2023. They have enlisted the services of Russell Westbrook in order to move back to the top of the food chain. After grabbing Mikal Bridges, New York went “all in” by attracting Karl-Anthony Towns, in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Less bench and flexibility for the years to come, more talent. This is more or less the Knicks’ strategy. Enough to be at the level of the best, within an Eastern Conference where Boston and Milwaukee are still there. With the reinforcement of Paul George, Philadelphia also appears at the top of the pile.

In the West, Dejounte Murray should further strengthen New Orleans’ defense, while Oklahoma City made two good picks to fill its bench with Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso and Sacramento added a touch of experience with DeMar DeRozan. Speaking of experience, 39-year-old Chris Paul lands here. He arrives in San Antonio with former Warriors winger Harrison Barnes, champion in 2015. It can’t hurt.

What are the dates to check off in the calendar?

End of the regular season on April 13, 2025, start of the play-offs on April 19 and first date of the NBA Finals on June 5. Please note that the play-in will take place from April 15 to 18. The NBA Cup final will take place on December 17 in Las Vegas. As is customary, NBA fans will be treated to a festive program for Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20). The All Star Game will take place on February 16 in San Francisco. Last but not least, Wembanyama’s Spurs will play Indiana on January 23 and 25 in Paris.

Son of LeBron James, will Bronny manage to make his mark with the Lakers?

It seems complicated… For the first time in NBA history, a father and his son will share the same jersey, that of the Lakers. The LA club has indeed acceded to the wishes of LeBron James by selecting Bronny with the 55th choice of the last Draft. In the opinion of many observers, however, the former USC student is not yet ready for the NBA. Others wonder if he ever will. Some, the most optimistic, see him as a future as a good defensive player coming off the bench within the Association. A priori, Bronny, 20 years old, should spend most of his time in the G-League, but rest assured: you will be kept informed of his every move. The King’s son will be closely scrutinized by the US media and fans, he who has 8 million followers on Instagramtwice as many as “Wemby”.

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Which star has the most to prove this season?

Hampered by injuries over the last two years in the play-offs, Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to turn the corner with Milwaukee, like Damian Lillard. Speaking of injuries, can Kawhi Leonard still assume star status with the Clippers? Finalist with Dallas last spring, Luka Doncic, must prove that he can take the final step. There is also Ja Morant, who must resume the course of his career with Memphis after a long suspension due to deviations off the floor. But if there is one name to put forward, it is that of Joel Embiid. MVP of the regular season in 2022-23 and Olympic champion with Team USA, the future former player of the France team signed an extension worth $193 million over three years this summer. A contract to assume. The 76ers, who have not reached the Eastern Conference finals since… 2001, attracted Paul George. Embiid therefore no longer has an excuse.

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What is the next French nugget?

If the 2024 Draft was announced as one of the weakest in recent years, the specialist inESPN Jonathan Givony is (very) complimentary about the class of 2025: “This is the best group of prospects I’ve seen in my 20 years of covering the Draft“. Currently, Duke student Cooper Flagg is the favorite for No. 1 status in the 2025 Draft. Guys like Airious Bailey, Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe are also announced in the Top 4. Unlike Wembanyama in 2023 and Risacher, in 2024, Nolan Traoré will perhaps not be number 1 in the 2025 Draft. The young (18 year old) leader from Saint-Quentin, however, appears in fifth position in the draft forecasts.ESPN. An explosive leader, skillful from afar, with high-level game vision. It’s not just the NBA that is salivating, the Blues staff too. Said Traoré was summoned by Freddy Fauthoux for the next rally, as was strong winger Noa Essengue, 17 years old and who plays for Ulm.