Toronto, LA Lakers, Milwaukee, Golden State, Denver and Boston - six different teams won the NBA ring in the previous six seasons, and analysts predict that this season will not be marked by another team, but that the Celtics could defend the throne.
On the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, the new, 79th season of the strongest basketball league in the world begins, and it opens with duels between Boston and New York, and the Lakers and Minnesota.
After 64 triumphs in the regular part of the previous season and only three defeats in the playoffs, according to analysts, Boston is without competition in the East. They are the best team, with the greatest potential and continuity and a big star - Jayson Tatum. So now it's time for another question - can Tatum finally win the MVP title?
But even the mighty Celtics are not without flaws - Kristaps Porzingis is still recovering from a foot injury, his return is planned around Christmas, while Al Horford he is 38 years old. Even so, there is a big gap between the Celtics and the other teams in the Eastern Conference.
The new NBA season, the 14th in his career, begins i Nikola Vucevic, who has been part of the Chicago Bulls since 2021. Vučević remained in Bulsi, even though it was written about his departure on several occasions. But, on the other hand, he left demar derozan (to Sacramento), and the main question is when the era will end Zeka Lavina in Bulls. Lavin signed a five-year, $215 million contract two years ago, but has not contributed to the team's growth. And Chicago, claims "Yahoo", cannot progress while Lavin is in the team.
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In the East, according to experts, this season will not be as exciting as in the West, where last season the best was led by Dallas Luka Dončić. The Slovenian representative played the end of the previous season injured, and marked last season's playoffs, as he became the first player to have the best figures in all columns - points, rebounds, assists and steals. He also showed improvement in defense, so before the new season, we are waiting to see if he can lead the Mavericks to a ring?
Dončić and Dallas will have competitors for these awards Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. After winning three MVP titles in the previous four years, this season Jokić has the opportunity to once again confirm his status as the best in the world. They won four MVP awards each LeBron James i Want Džembrlen, one more Michael Jordan i Bill Russell, while he is in first place with six awards Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
On the eve of the season, the Nagitsi were without Kentavius Caldwell-Poupa, who went to Orlando, and he arrived Russell Westbrook. The dilemma, if not the biggest one for Denver, is whether they will Jamal Murray manage to stay healthy for the entire season...
Okahoma finished the regular part of the last season in 1st place, Shay Gilges-Alexander was a candidate for MVP and will be on the shortlist this year. With the Canadian representative, Thunder will try to win the first final after 2012.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota to its first conference final since 2004. This season, by leaving Karl Anthony Towns "wolves" became - Edwards' team. But, being the young star of the team means more pressure and a greater challenge.
He is starting his 22nd career season in the NBA LeBron James. This summer he got his wish, the Lakers traded his son Brony, and father and son were together on the field for the first time against Phoenix in the preseason.
- I love what I do. But I don't need to achieve anything more. I have everything - said James recently.
The regular part of the season lasts until April 13, 2025. The play-in starts two days later, the play-off on April 19, and the final on June 5.
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