With the new year nearly here, we are taking some time to look into our glass ball and make wild NBA predictions for what will be some of the biggest stories in 2024.
The last year has been a fascinating one in the Association. The Denver Nuggets finally brought home their first NBA title. The Sacramento Kings have emerged as a legitimate force in the West. Jalen Brunson is growing into the New York Knicks’ first legitimate superstar since Carmelo Anthony and the legendary Golden State Warriors dynasty seems to be slowly crumbling.
Related: NBA Power Rankings – Evaluating all 30 teams heading into the new year
With 2023 nearly in the books and more than half a season left to play in the 2023-24 schedule, it has us wondering what unexpected chapters will be written in the story of the NBA in the new year. Well, look no further as we play the role of basketball Nostradums and make some major predictions for the top storylines in 2024.
10 wild NBA predictions for 2024
Memphis Grizzlies roar back to land a top-four seed in Western Conference
With Ja Morant suspended for the first 25 games of the season and Steven Adams out for the rest of the year, the Memphis Grizzlies have struggled mightily to end 2023. However, with the two-time All-Star back in the fold they have unsurprisingly caught fire. Expect that to continue in 2024 as Memphis goes from the bottom to near the top of the Westen Conference standings by the end of the season.
Kawhi Leonard will shockingly remain healthy for the rest of the season and playoffs
Five-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard has been dogged by injury woes for much of his career, and he has only played in 70 or more games in two seasons. However, after playing in just 52 games last season, expect him to surpass that number in 2023-24 and surprisingly stay healthy through the playoffs. Up until the Los Angeles Clippers are bounced in the second round.
Related: NBA standings: Latest division and conference leaders in 2023-24 NBA season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets more MVP votes than Luka Doncic
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has quietly become one of the best young players in the league. Heading into 2024 he is only behind reigning MVP Joel Embiid and Mavericks star Luka Doncic for the league lead in scoring. With this young OKC team on pace to earn a top three said at the end of the season, the man known as SGA will no longer fly under the radar.
Our NBA predictions see Gilgeous-Alexander getting a lot of love from MVP voters in the spring and actually getting more votes than Doncic.
Golden State Warriors trade away at least one of the Big 3
The cracks in the Golden State Warriors dynasty that began last season have become fissures heading into 2024. Klay Thompson looks old, and Draymond Green still can’t control his emotions or his fists. With the team not playing well this season and or expected to be a title contender, we predict at least one of their legendary “Big 3” will be on other teams before the season is over.
Toronto Raptors will somehow talk themselves into not trading Siakam or Anunoby
Many around the basketball world were surprised when the Toronto Raptors did not trade any of their star players last season despite being a team that was barely competing for a playoff spot. That will be their situation again in 2024 and in these NBA predictions, we expect team president Masai Ujiri will somehow talk himself out of making a big trade again in February.
Los Angeles Lakers miss the postseason for the third time in Lebron James era
Heading into 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to be in trouble. Despite reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, they are barely holding on to a playoff spot and there are some serious threats behind them in the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzles. We predict those teams will pass LA in the standings and the Lakers will miss the postseason for the third time in the Lebron James era.
Boston Celtics get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs
The Boston Celtics have reached at least the second round of the playoffs in six of the last seven years. For as good as they are sooner or later bad luck comes for all teams. Boston has been able to avoid it for quite some time but that will come to an end in the new year and they will deal with some surprise adversity that leads to an early ouster in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
The Celtics are bounced in the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have been one of the big surprises this season. Similar to the Kings last year, they have been led by an elite offense. Expect them to make some trade deadline moves to bolster their defense and end up being the team that eliminates Boston from the postseason.
Philadelphia 76ers reach the 2024 NBA Finals
Following a tumultuous offseason, many expected this to be a down year for the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they have been outstanding and Tyrese Maxey continues to grow into a legitimate star. In a year when the hopes were lowered, look for them to finally get back to the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks finally trade for Donovan Mitchell but in the summer
The New York Knicks potentially making a blockbuster trade to get another legitimate star to go alongside Jalen Brunson has been a goal for the organization for the last year. Well, in 2024 they will finally get that star and it will be Donovan Mitchell. However, that trade won’t happen until after this season.