We are one sleep away NBA Fans!
The Boston Celtics open the 2024-25 season raising yet another banner to the rafters and face off against the New York Knicks, a team well and truly in the Championship hunt this season.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will have a chip on their shoulder, with Tatum practically a DNP during the Olympics, and Jaylen Broen not selected, a slap in the face to two of the best in the league.
New York made some serious moves in the off season in an attempt to take the next step and move into the Eastern conference elite when the time is right.
Mikal Bridges was the first move the Knicks made, teaming him back up with his former Villanova stud Jalen Brunson.
The next move sent some shock waves around the league, with Karl-Anthony Towns traded to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, moving them to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
KAT makes his way to New York after being part of a very successful 1-2 punch with Anthony Edwards on their way to a Western Conference Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
All players involved in the big move will be taking part in opening night, with game 2 featuring Minnesota travelling to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.
LeBron and the Lakers look for further improvement on their 1st round exit to the Denver Nuggets last season, and it will be a family affair at that, with son Bronny James entering the equation. They’ll become the first father son duo in the NBA - and if JJ Reddick can get it out of the way on opening night that’ll be much appreciated!
Anthony Edwards had an outstanding Olympics campaign, and will look to take his game to the next level and potentially shoot for an MVP if the Timberwolves have another big season.
Saturday features last season’s Eastern Conference Round 2 match up between the Knicks and Pacers at the Garden. Indiana will be looking to go one further this season and get themselves into the NBA Finals, getting back young star Benedict Mathurin from injury. Tyrese Haliburton will also want to show everyone just how good he is, and he wasn’t just on Team USA for show! His match up with Jalen Brunson will be a good one, given Brunson will want to show everyone how he should’ve been in that USA team!
The Lakers host the Phoenix Suns in the afternoon window and Phoenix will also want to overcome a terrible round 1 showing against the Timberwolves last season.
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are coming off an off season filled with Olympic Gold in Paris, and believe they’ve got what it takes to not only win the Pacific, but make a deep run in the West. Bradley Beal will be key to this team, given he missed a lot of time last season and the Suns need every bit of him and more if they’re going to succeed this season.
We finish on Sunday with the Bulls facing the OKC Thunder in Chicago. Josh Giddey gets to show OKC what they’re missing, moving him on for Alex Caruso. Giddey has a chance to expand his game in Chicago, given the team doesn’t have the same title aspirations as OKC, which benefits his game more than anything else!
It should be a great first week of hoops, and a season we’ve all been waiting for. Plenty of Nike Swingman Jerseys in stock and more to come to kit up for the NBA Season ahead!
Season Predictions below:
NBA Champs: Dallas Mavericks
NBA In-Season (NBA Cup) Tournament Winner: Sacramento Kings
MVP: Luka Doncic
Drop your thoughts and opinions on your predictions for the upcoming season!
Bauky