After two weeks of league play, let’s take a look at the NBA’s early hierarchies and unpack some of the narratives that will shape the campaign ahead.
Cream of the crop:
Coming off their 18th NBA championship in franchise history and the entirety of their rotation that raised the Larry O’Brien trophy last season intact, the Celtics are shaping up to be strong contenders to repeat in 2025. A starting lineup that features some of the best two-way players in the NBA — Derrick White and Jrue Holiday — is spearheaded by upper-echelon talents in the league with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, all of whom are firmly in their prime. The icing on the cake is centre Al Horford, who is performing at a level rarely seen in a 38-year-old. Kristaps Porzingis will also continue to be a game-changer upon being reintegrated into the lineup after injury. All in all, the Celtics will be hard to beat. Â
In 2019, the Thunder departed with their MVP point guard Russell Westbrook and nine-time all-star guard Paul George by way of trade. Choosing to invest in the future, a hellbent general manager sought to restore the organization’s status as an annual contender. They forewent win-now players in search of projects to develop, and acquired as many draft picks as seemingly possible. Acquired in the chaos was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, runner-up in last season’s MVP voting, and a projected perennial contender in the race going forward. With Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, a future all-star centre in Chet Holmgren stretching the floor, and Lugentz Dort’s smothering defence, the Thunder’s young core will be looking to garner more valuable playoff experience in pursuit of their championship aspirations.Â
Anthony Edwards took the league by storm last season and??, at 23, is seemingly emerging as the new face and personality of the NBA. In his fourth year in the league last season, Edwards led his team to the Western Conference Finals, cruising past the loaded Phoenix Suns and beating the then-defending champion Denver Nuggets in seven games. With the Timberwolves trading away Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle in the off-season, there were questions about how Randle’s historic ball dominance would fare with Edwards and the team in Minnesota, but so far the squad seems to have meshed well. With the Ant-Man continuing to blossom, Randle excelling in his new environment, and four-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert protecting the paint, the T-Wolves are emerging as fan favourites to make another big splash in the year ahead.
Luka Don?i? and Kyrie Irving: arguably one of the most skilled and talented backcourts in the league’s history, who in their first season together led the Mavericks to the NBA Final, ultimately falling to the dynasty-chasing Boston Celtics. Now contributing to these offensive titans is the addition of a future hall-of-fame sharpshooter in Klay Thompson, further increasing their already elite floor spacing. As the team continues to establish its newfound defensive-oriented identity, lockdown wing defence from P.J. Washington, and a quickly developing Daniel Gafford protecting the rim and finishing at a high percentage around it, will keep the Mavs primed for another deep playoff run.Â
Under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers have emerged as one of the NBA’s most efficient teams to start the season, boasting the league’s second best offence and fifth-best defence. The team’s success stems from remarkable shooting efficiency and masterful rotation management, with no player exceeding 30 minutes a game. The previously questioned frontcourt pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen has silenced critics, showing strong two-way impact. Darius Garland has rekindled his all-star form in limited minutes, while Mitchell’s selective shot-taking benefits from the team’s improved depth. Though their current shooting numbers are likely unsustainable, Atkinson’s strategic minute management suggests room for adjustment once inevitable regression occurs.Â
Honourable Mentions:
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks provided viewers with some seriously exciting basketball last year. With the acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges in the off-season, the buzz around New York will plausibly continue to grow.
Anthony Davis continues to prove himself a top-10 player in the NBA. New head coach, JJ Reddick, has refreshed the team with new life. And yes, LeBron James is still him.Â
The most expensive team in the NBA looks to piece together a promising scoring trio in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
