NBA Season Predictions: Sporting News experts make picks for 2024-25 season award winners, Finals and more

The 2024-25 NBA season is finally here.

It’s been four months since the Celtics were crowned NBA champions, and after a busy offseason, they’ll raise their 18th banner to usher in a new year in the NBA. With Boston on the throne, several teams are in position to put an end to the C’s title defense.

With an eye on competition, the 76ers signed Paul George, the Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Towns and the Thunder added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to a roster that finished first in the West last season. But will that be enough for any of these teams to compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy?

There are countless storylines to follow this season, including another intriguing race to win the MVP, a sneaky rookie class and a handful of rising stars poised for a breakout campaign.

Six members of The Sporting News’ global staff offered their opinions on the upcoming season, making recommendations for the NBA Cup, the season-ending awards and the 2025 NBA Finals.

Below is a breakdown of each selection and an explanation for the selection.

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MVP prediction

Winner: Luka Doncic (3)

Others receiving votes: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The case for Luka Doncic: You don’t have to look much further than Doncic’s role in leading Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals to understand his case for MVP honors.

Entering his seventh NBA season, Doncic is a five-time First Team All-NBA selection, showing how exceptional a performer he is in the regular season. Last year, Doncic led Dallas to 50 wins while averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds in 70 games.

With an improved roster from day one, is it so unrealistic to think Doncic could average a 30-point triple-double? As the other candidates have shown, it will be another tough competition to win the award, but Doncic putting up such eye-popping stats for a Mavs team that finishes at or near the top of the West could give him a valid reason , winning his first MVP title.

Rookie of the Year Prediction

Winner: Zach Edey (3)

Others receiving votes: Reed Sheppard (2), Stephon Castle

The case for Zach Edey: This year’s draft class may be a little unorthodox, but if the preseason is any indicator, Edey is poised to make an immediate impact on a winner.

Check out Edey’s performance of 23 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes of preparation to get an idea of ​​what to expect from him in his rookie season. It is unclear how much playing time he will see, but there is no denying that he will be extremely impactful and efficient on the floor.

Edey will benefit from the depth of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane and is a much-needed presence on the boards for Memphis. As Steph Noh of The Sporting News pointed out, many critics may have overlooked or overstated Edey’s unique potential. Don’t think about it too much.

MORE: What NBA Draft analysis missed about Zach Edey’s unique potential

Defensive Player of the Year Prediction

Winner: Victor Wembanyama (5)

Others receiving votes: Chet Holmgren

The case for Victor Wembanyama: Wembanyama is the best defender in the league and has what it takes to become the best defender of all time. It really is that simple.

After earning All-Defensive First Team honors as a rookie, Wembanyama is almost certainly destined to make the next leap to league Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore.

At 20 years old, Wembanyama has only scratched the surface of his defensive potential. As long as he meets the minimum number of games played, the discussion in the next few years could shift to who his runner-up will be. DPOY feels like Wembanyama’s award of winning every season for the foreseeable future.

RANKING THE NBA’S BEST DEFENSEMEN: 100-11 | 10-1

Points champion prediction

Winner: Luka Doncic (5)

Others receiving votes: Shai Gilgeous Alexander

The case for Luka Doncic: Is it possible that things will get easier for Doncic to score after he averaged a little less than 34 points per game in the 2023-24 season? With opposing defenses having more offensive threats to worry about, Doncic could actually impose his will in the 2024-25 season.

Doncic has one of the deepest balls in the NBA and can build on what he showed last season and take home scoring honors for the second straight season.

Most likely the first All-Star prediction

Winner: Victor Wembanyama (6)

The case for Victor Wembanyama: There’s a reason this was unanimous. He is the best young player in the league and will jump the queue to earn a well-deserved All-Star spot in 2025.

Wembanyama’s rookie averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks per game were All-Star numbers, but his team didn’t win much. His numbers will be even better this season and the Spurs will be much better too. Case closed.

POSITIONAL RANKING: PG | SG | SF | PF | C

Eastern Conference Winner Prediction

Winner: Boston Celtics (5)

Others receiving votes: New York Knicks

The case for the Celtics: Boston is the class of the East and basically everything the Eastern Conference participants did was aimed at catching up with the Celtics. Still, it won’t matter.

The gap between the Celtics and the rest of the conference remains incredibly wide and they should Return to a second straight Eastern Conference title.

Western Conference Winner Prediction

Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder (6)

The case for the Thunder: Another unanimous choice among employees.

After finishing first in the West last season, Oklahoma City essentially rebounds with two key additions: Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to perform at an MVP level again, rising stars Holmgren and Jalen Williams will make another leap, and the Thunder boast one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the league. After learning the hard lesson of what it takes to win in real time last year, OKC is ready to overcome the hurdle and get to the Finals in 2025.

MORE: Winning totals and best bets for the 2024-25 NBA season

NBA champion prediction

Winner: Boston Celtics (4)

Others receiving votes: New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder

The case for the Celtics: After a historically dominant run for the NBA title in 2024, the Celtics are back and might even be better than the year before.

Gone is the pressure to break the franchise’s championship drought. And even though the team is now being targeted as defending champions, that pressure seems to be welcomed at every level, from head coach Joe Mazzulla to the All-Star duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to the rest of Boston’s roster.

With every rotating piece returning from the championship run, the C’s will look to repeat last year’s success on a similar but different journey. Based on what we saw last year, it’s hard to imagine anyone beating this team four times in seven games.

More NBA predictions for this season

Best record: Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder (3 out of 6 votes each)

Top Fantasy Players: Nikola Jokic (4 out of 6 votes)

NBA Cup winners: Six different answers

All-Star 2023 will most likely take a step back: Kawhi Leonard (3 out of 6 votes)

Most effective new acquisition: Alex Caruso, Paul George (2 out of 6 votes each)

The team most likely to outperform Vegas: New Orleans Pelicans, 46.5 wins (2 of 6 votes)

Team most likely not to reach Vegas: Minnesota Timberwolves, 52.5 wins (2 of 6 votes)

Complete voting results

voters	MVP	ROY	DPOY	Points champion
Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay)	Anthony Edwards	Stephon Castle	Chet Holmgren	Luka Doncic
Benyam Kidane (@BenyamKidane)	Luka Doncic	Reed Sheppard	Victor Wembanyama	Luka Doncic
Gilbert McGregor (@GilMcGregor_)	Shai Gilgeous Alexander	Reed Sheppard	Victor Wembanyama	Luka Doncic
Steph Noh (@StephNoh)	Luka Doncic	Zach Edey	Victor Wembanyama	Luka Doncic
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Zach Edey	Victor Wembanyama	Luka Doncic
Jed Wells (@JedWells23)	Luka Doncic	Zach Edey	Victor Wembanyama	Shai Gilgeous Alexander

Team predictions

voters	NBA Cup	Best record	Eastmaster	Westmaster	NBA champion
Carlan Gay	Washington Wizards	Boston Celtics	Boston Celtics	Oklahoma City Thunder	Boston Celtics
Benyam Kidane	Oklahoma City Thunder	Oklahoma City Thunder	New York Knicks	Oklahoma City Thunder	New York Knicks
Gilbert McGregor	Minnesota Timberwolves	Boston Celtics	Boston Celtics	Oklahoma City Thunder	Boston Celtics
Steph Noh	Philadelphia 76ers	Boston Celtics	Boston Celtics	Oklahoma City Thunder	Boston Celtics
Scott Rafferty	Memphis Grizzlies	Oklahoma City Thunder	Boston Celtics	Oklahoma City Thunder	Oklahoma City Thunder
Jed Wells	New York Knicks	Oklahoma City Thunder	Boston Celtics	Oklahoma City Thunder	Boston Celtics