With the 2024-25-25 NBA season coming up, it’s time to make predictions! Will there be a new champion this year? Our writers weigh in.
Who will win the East?
Vincent Goodwill: Celts. It won’t come as easy as last year, the primrose road laid out perfectly for the barely challenged Celtics. But trusting the Knicks or 76ers seems like too difficult a task for now, and who knows if the Bucks can muster true consistency beyond tempting stretches. The Celtics are motivated enough and certainly complete enough to get through the gauntlet and be ready for June.
Kevin O’Connor: Celts. They brought everyone back and could be even better this coming season thanks to their still young core. I expect them to win 60+ games as the deepest, best team in the East again.
Dan Devine: Celts. They return the entire rotation of the team that reduced the league last season. They know how to play Joe Mazzulla’s style now, and he seems intent on pushing the boundaries of it even further. Despite being champions with contracts exceeding $300 million, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have chips on their shoulders, and with all due respect to Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and Paul George, I have yet to find a better top six. I’m not saying Boston is unbeatable. I just don’t pick anyone in the East to beat them.
Ben Rohrbach: Celts. What did the East do to close the 14-game gap between Boston and the No. 2 seed? The 76ers added Paul George, who is already injured, and the Knicks dealt Karl-Anthony Towns, who, according to one league source, is not his coach’s biggest fan. Maybe one of them will challenge the Celtics to more than a five-game series this time.
Tom Haberstroh: Celts. The only question mark is Kristaps Porziņģis, but they should steamroll the East just like they did last season. Even if everything breaks right in Milwaukee, Philly or New York, the Celtics have enough ammunition to withstand a push from the lower level.
And Titus: Celts. Most (serious) Eastern Conference contenders have gained wing depth to match Boston’s duo of Tatum and Brown — but it won’t matter. The backfield has too many holes and question marks to take down a team like the Celtics. Remember that the Celtics went 12-2 in the playoffs before reaching the NBA Finals last season. They own the East.
Who will win the West?
Rohrbach: Thunder. They are the most complete team in the West. At the very least, the Towns trade will take some time for the Timberwolves to get used to. The Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The mavericks have too many problems on defense. Meanwhile, OKC has added two of the NBA’s best role players to fill the few holes that last season’s 57-win team had left.
Haberstroh: Thunder. You can argue that every contender in the West has taken a step back this offseason except for the Thunder. OKC added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein while the rest of the roster edged closer to their best. The Hartenstein wound will sting, but like ripping off a bandaid, it will only hurt for a while.
Title: Mavericks Last season was no fluke, and having a dynamic duo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving leading an improved supporting cast of floor spacers and defenders will help the Mavs return to the Finals. OKC doesn’t have the experience, the Suns aren’t reliable and Memphis and Minnesota aren’t ready yet.
O’Connor: Thunder. They won 57 games last season and solved both of their problems by adding Caruso and Hartenstein. With Sam Presti sitting on a mountain of assets, they can also make any acquisition they need.
Goodwill: Timberwolves. It’s too tempting to go with the Thunder, and it’s no surprise they’re favorites. At this point, it’s a coin toss. Bringing in Edwards, Chris Finch and even Rudy Gobert seems a little risky, but they will round themselves into postseason form even with the increased attention after last year’s success. In truth, one can imagine five teams playing in June. It’s only in this simulation that betting on a 23-year-old’s stamina seems smart — if you can ever be smart with a 23-year-old.
Divinely: Thunder. They stress-tested their core last postseason, found its weaknesses and bolstered them with two of the best role players in the NBA. Progress is not always linear; in this case, however, I think it will be exponential.
Who will be the NBA champions?
O’Connor: Celts. I’ll take them over the Thunder in 6. Boston has been through it before, and has the pieces to match OKC. If this team is indeed the matchup, however, it likely won’t be the last time they meet in the NBA Finals.
Divinely: Thunder. Boston vs. Oklahoma City will be one hell of a Spider-Man showing Spider-Man meme: two teams that play 5-out to drive-and-kick, that can play double-big without sacrificing spacing and playmaking, that can downsize without being too much small on the perimeter, and who have shooting, passing, driving, cutting, screening and defensive steel at every position. But one of those Spider-Men is a little older and just played a 101-game season; one of them is younger, deeper and maybe just a little hungrier. OKC wins the race for the prize; up to the forefront.
Goodwill: Celts. Matchups, matchups. It seems that Boston is ordered to be here, while the West will be a gauntlet. Getting adequate rest through the marathon could be the key, along with home advantage. Tatum and Brown, individually motivated, could instigate another title against whoever is on the other side. Durability and health are key reasons why there hasn’t been a repeat champion since the 2018 Warriors. The C’s are healthy enough at the top to support, and probably, arrogant enough to do it again and rub it in everyone’s faces.
Haberstroh: Thunder. They upgraded their wing defense and strengthened in the middle. I don’t see any holes with this team. I’m afraid the Celtics won’t have the stamina to drive it back. The Thunder will be ready.
Title: Celts. It’s chalky, but Boston is another ring away from impending dynasty conversations. The road through the Western Conference is rough — and seeing Boston as the final boss to win a ship is even worse. Boston arguably has the best-built roster in the league and is committed to doing whatever it takes to win. Celtics in 6 with Jayson Tatum winning Finals MVP.
Rohrbach: Celts. They have the league’s best starting lineup by a wide margin. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are 26 and 27 years old respectively, and the Olympics gave both reasons to keep their motivation after winning a championship. Given the chance that Kristaps Porzingis could be healthy for the playoffs and Tatum could come out of his shooting spree, the Celtics could very well be better, and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
