5 Biggest questions about the new NBA basketball season

In the offseason there’s always exciting changes in the NBA that lead to a shifting landscape in the most exciting basketball league in the world. From superstar trades to young and exciting players joining the NBA through the draft, the teams and talent are sure to be stacked for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Here are the biggest questions that pundits and fans alike are hotly debating.

While some superstars were traded in the offseason to new teams, there’s a couple of big names that are in limbo as training camp for the new season looms. With the trade deadline in early February, whether these players get their requested trades or whether they stay with their current teams could be pivotal to how the season pans out, especially for two teams heavily linked to superstars.

Point guard Damian Lillard, known and loved for his half-court shots and “Dame Time” late-game three-pointers, has only played for the Portland Trailblazers since joining the NBA back in 2012. However, over a decade of loyalty hasn’t resulted in much success and it seems his patience with the organisation has finally worn thin (although still respectful) as he has requested a trade and asked to join Eastern Conference contenders the Miami Heat. Lillard potentially joining Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo is an exciting prospect, but whether the right trade can be put together for the Trailblazers (perhaps involving a third team for other assets) remains to be seen. But if he makes it to Miami, he could provide the Heat with the scoring they need to finally claim another NBA Championship.

Ten-time All-Star guard James Harden is seemingly always at the middle of drama in the last few seasons, demanding trades first from the Houston Rockets and then from the Brooklyn Nets. Now his situation at the Philadelphia 76ers has soured, after he openly stated on an Adidas press tour of China that 76ers president Daryl Morey was a “liar” and that he would “never be a part of an organisation that he’s a part of”. Stemming from contract disputes and stalled talks about a possible trade of Harden to the LA Clippers, it seems the disgruntled star might be returning to Philadelphia for an uncomfortable start to the season. If Harden can put this behind him though, playing alongside last season’s MVP Joel Embiid could still make the 76ers contenders, if the dysfunction is resolved.

After winning the NBA Championship in 2022-23, can the Denver Nuggets achieve one of the hardest accomplishments in basketball and repeat this season to claim the title back-to-back seasons, after winning it all for the first time in their history last season? Many pundits are tipping them to do just that though, with the 6ft11 Serbian centre and two-time MVP Nikola Jokić and point guard Jamal Murray leading the charge.  

However, it won’t be easily, as the talent in the Western Conference is phenomenal, with the loaded, superstar-filled Phoenix Suns, and the new look, championship experience of the LA Lakers (with LeBron James returning for his 21st season, making him only the sixth NBA player ever to reach that milestone) and Golden State Warriors set to make it interesting out west.

In the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks, who won their second-ever title in 2021 led by 7ft “Greek Freak” and back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokoumpo, and the Boston Celtics, featuring the young superstar duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, are favourites. One thing’s for sure, it's going to be an exciting, hard-fought season with some unforgettable playoff games.

One criticism of the NBA in recent seasons is that the regular season (before the playoffs) don’t mean as much, with some fans only becoming fully engaged once the playoffs start in April. That means that there’s six months of games where the standings are the only thing at play.

This season that changes with the inaugural In-Season Tournament. Tipping off on November 3, it will consist of two stages—group play (these games also count towards the regular season) and the knockout rounds. The semi-finals (December 7) and the championship (December 9) will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The knockout rounds see all 30 teams randomly drawn into groups to play each other, while the knockout rounds will be single-elimination games (unlike the playoffs, which are best of seven).

Although the success of the In-Season Tournament remains to be seen, it will be exciting to have games with high stakes just a month or so into the regular season.

Whether it’s formidable New Orleans power forward Zion Williamson battling injury problems or Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant’s gun-brandishing social media incidents leading to suspensions, young superstars have pressure on them to make this the season that they make their mark in the post-season and live up to their potential. Then there’s Australian Brooklyn Net Ben Simmons, who has a lot to prove after injury and mental health struggles that saw him traded from Philadelphia and has also prevented him reaching his former star status in Brooklyn.

There’s also pressure on the likes of superstar Kevin Durant at the Phoenix Suns, with people questioning whether he can win an NBA Championship while not playing alongside Steph Curry at the Golden State Warriors, after a spell at Brooklyn alongside Kyrie Irving ended unsuccessfully. However, with the Suns having a line-up that includes young superstar Devin Booker and having signed All-Star Bradley Beal, this season could be huge for Phoenix.

European players are also feeling the pressure this season, with Giannis Antentekuompo looking to win a second Championship at the Milwaukee Bucks, and if not then potentially looking for other destinations to take his considerable talents next season. Also, this season marks the arrival in the NBA of much-hyped, 19-year-old French star Victor Wembanyama. At 7ft4 but with a great shot, it’s sure to be a learning curve for Wemby at the San Antonio Spurs, but under the experienced Gregg Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs, he’s in the perfect place to live up to his potential. Will he become the next LeBron James?

Finally, there are three big trades that happened this offseason that I believe could be key to the success of their respective new teams.

“Point God” Chris Paul seems an odd fit at the Golden State Warriors—especially as he plays at a slower pace than his new teammates, his former teams have faced off against the Warriors in big playoff games in the past and his relationship with power forward Draymond Green has been famously fiery. However, his veteran experience, passing skils and lob-throwing could be key to unlocking another Championship for the Warriors, after winning four titles in eight seasons in recent years.

Another big move was the Boston Celtics trading away Marcus Smart, who seemed key to their culture and mindset, and signing 7ft3 Latvian player Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards. While he has a lack of post-season experience, Porzingis makes the Celtics bigger and, if some injury worries and chemistry work out, he could be key to Boston finally getting over the final hurdle to win another Championship, after losing to the Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals.

As I mentioned before, Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns, completing the “Big Three” of Booker, Durant and Beal, could make the Suns able to finally take down the defending Denver Nuggets, if they can get their chemistry right.

Whether you’re a dedicated fan or a newcomer, there’s plenty of reasons to enjoy NBA basketball this season. Let’s go!