The best basketball league in the world starts on October 23rd. into the new season. At the start of the season, the sports show looks at the Eastern and Western Conference the NBA. Who is the favorite, what happened in the summer and where are the absolute superstars playing?
At the Olympics, the old figureheads of the NBA showed everyone again. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant played big and led the self-proclaimed “Avengers” to the gold medal.
But the generational change has long since begun in the NBA and is likely to take another big step this season. LeBron James will be 40 years old this season and, at least that’s what it looks like, the Lakers’ leader would need a top-class team in order to advance into title-relevant spheres. But that’s exactly what he’s missing.
O Captain! My Captain…
Despite all his strengths, partner Anthony Davis is probably not a viable number one option in the NBA, and he will not take over the steering wheel of his aging captain either. The play-in tournament seems to be the closest port to which the Lakerswhich also features LeBron’s son Bronny on the roster, will arrive with their aging superstar at the helm.
LeBron’s congenial Olympic partner Stephen Curry has a similar experience. In Golden State The best three-point shooter of all time simply lacks the support to repeat previous successes. In addition, Curry’s long-time partner Klay Thompson said goodbye to Dallas after tough contract negotiations.
The last of the Olympic heroes is Kevin Durant. In Phoenix, the 35-year-old still has the best chance of crawling up the river of time. Together with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, he forms a superstar triumvirate and his supporting cast can also look for sensible additions such as Point Guard Tyus Jones can definitely be seen.
However, there are traditionally question marks behind Durant’s health status and so when you look at the past, you still feel the latent urge not to dwell on it Suns to bet.
Coming of age among the (not quite so) “young wild ones”
On the other hand, the young wild ones in the league are turning the wheel of time mercilessly forward. What they all have in common is that, upon closer inspection, the “young wild ones” are no longer that young.
Luka Doncic played in his first NBA Finals in Dallas at the age of 25. In his seventh season, the Slovenian is likely to win both the NBA title and the MVP-Award hunting. Even with half the yield, it would be impossible to imagine the discussion about the currently best basketball player in the world without him.
Anthony Edwards jabbed his Minnesota Timberwolves last year until the Conference Finals before. Slowly but surely, the 23-year-old is becoming the US face of generational change. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo came from New York for ex-partner Karl-Anthony Towns, and an attack on the finals seems to be in order Shooting Guard and his wolf pack possible again.
Will “SGA” lead Oklahoma City to the title?
The last of the not so young wild ones plays in Oklahoma. At 26, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has also finally left the age of promising future behind him. 30.1 points and over six assists per game almost made the Canadian the league’s MVP last season.
Die Thunder were already number one in the West last year, but they failed to prove that they were real title contenders in the playoffs. This year, however, the Thunder have hardly anyone who can hold a candle to them in terms of talent and roster depth.
The three question marks
Aside from the generational conflict, some teams in the conference also raise exciting questions. Ja Morant, one of the heirs to the throne, actually plays in Memphis, but after gun scandals and a long injury break, the exceptional athlete first has to find his place in the league again. That the Grizzlies knocking on the top, but is by no means ruled out.
This is somewhat less likely in Sacramento and New Orleans. The New Orleans Pelicans With Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Dejounte Murray, there are many players on the roster who like to have the ball. Finding a balance here will be a big challenge.
Sacramento has brought in a star in DeMar DeRozan, but DeRozan’s strength is the offense, while the Californians’ big weaknesses are actually in the Defense lay.
Bloodletting in Denver
The Denver Nuggets are also difficult to predict this year. Nikola Jokic is a three-time MVP and is currently considered by many to be the best in the world, but the number 15 team has lost important role players. With the Serb actually capable of anything, the question must be raised as to whether his supporters have the caliber to play for the title. Exit open…
They fumble in the no man’s land of the conference Clippers around. With Paul George, Kawhi Leonard’s co-star was lost to Philadelphia and there are few other reasons not to classify the Clippers as mediocrity.
If Leader Leonard is in full health, he is one of the best in the world, but the silent one Forward will be out for some time due to his persistent knee injury. It seems questionable how healthy and fit he will be again.
Project Reconstruction at the bottom of the Conference
The Basement of the West is being rebuilt in Houston, Utah, Portland and San Antonio. One of the most promising construction sites in the league is currently underway in Houston with Jalen Green and Alperen Sengün.
Under coaching legend Gregg Popovich, Victor Wembanyama, who is in many ways the greatest player of his generation, is maturing in San Antonio. The 2.26 m tall Frenchman brings with him basketball skills that the world has never seen before.
Utah and Portland are still navigating their reconstruction. The Trail Blazers It seems that they have not yet found the savior of the future in Scoot Henderson and in Utah, Lauri Markkanen is a more than capable star in an otherwise young team, but at the age of 27 his peak phase has actually already come.
The final changing of the guard is imminent
The generational change in the NBA has been progressing inexorably for years and the Western Conference could be the scene of the final changing of the guard next season. While the Lakers won the title with LeBron in 2020 and Curry’s Warriors in 2022, their time seems to be over.
In the coming season, the former figureheads will probably be removed from the NBA ship. Edwards, Doncic and Co. bring the necessary gravitas on and off the field and will be motivated to the nines to stick their faces on the bow.
