Goodbye offseason, hello NBA basketball
After one of the most exciting offseasons in league history, the NBA is officially back this week.
This summer saw some of the league’s most explosive players change franchises, effectively changing the league’s landscape forever. In Los Angeles, Anthony Davis joined Lebron’s Lakers, while Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard teamed up with Paul George on the Clippers. Also in the west, longtime Thunder franchise player Russell Westbrook joined former teammate James Harden in Houston. In the East, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving formed a super-duo in Brooklyn in hopes of competing with the league’s other super teams.
The Pelicans’ exciting rookie Zion Williamson. (Photo by NBC Sports)
The NBA Draft in June brought plenty of new faces into the league, including arguably the most revered college prospect of all time, Zion Williamson. Williamson will be joining former second overall pick Lonzo Ball in New Orleans in hopes of bringing the Pelicans to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Steve Kerr’s Golden State Warriors dynasty has been left out of many championship predictions for the upcoming season due to their loss of Durant. However, with the addition of guard D’Angelo Russell and with Klay Thompson returning at the end of the season, the Warriors could be dangerous come playoff time with one of the most intimidating backcourts in the league.
Reining NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Photo by NBC Sports)
Last season’s MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to lead his Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Finals this season. After earning the conference’s best record last season, they fell to the eventual championship winners in the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals.
An interesting team to watch could be Dallas, where last year’s rookie of the year winner Luka Doncic is now joined by former New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis. The duo should result in an explosive combo, with Doncic measuring in at 6-foot 7-inches and playing guard and small forward, and the 7-foot 3-inch Porzingis guarding the rim at the center position.
Meanwhile, former top picks Joel Embiid, picked third overall in 2014, and Ben Simmons, picked first in 2016, look to bring a title back to Philadelphia for the first time since 1983. Ben Simmons’ style of play has been under fire over the past year due to his jump shot inaccuracy, especially from outside the three-point arc. He has yet to make a three-pointer in his career, missing all 17 that he has attempted. “He’s worked hard on it. We support Ben, I believe in Ben. We want him to shoot, he’s going to shoot. He’s going to shoot the right shots,” said Elton Brand, general manager for the 76ers.
No matter what a team’s outlook for the season is, excitement and mystery lays ahead, with surprises around every turn until June.
(Feature photo courtesy of ESPN.)
