No NBA team has repeated as champion since Golden State did it in 2017 and 2018, and no America-born player has won MVP since James Harden in 2018.
Will that change this season? Boston is in great position to repeat with its returning core led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The MVP is another story. Tatum and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards are the U.S. players best positioned now to compete for the award, but the favorites were still born outside of the U.S. – Dallas’ Luka Doncic, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
But that’s why the games are played. Who will reach the NBA Finals? Who will win the title? MVP? Rookie of the Year? Sixth Man of the Year? Coach of the Year? Most Improved? Clutch Player?
There is not universal consensus. However, every expert, except one, on this panel picked Boston to win the East and return to the Finals, and every expert, minus one, predicted San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama will win Defensive Player of the Year.
USA TODAY Sports staffers Jeff Zillgitt, Scooby Axson, Lorenzo Reyes and Heather Tucker, along with USA TODAY Network NBA writers Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis; Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star; Jim Owczarski of the Journal in Milwaukee; and Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, make their predictions:
NBA predictions for the 2024-25 season
2024-25 Eastern Conference finals
Jeff Zillgitt: Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers
Scooby Axson: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Lorenzo Reyes: Boston Celtics-New York Knicks
Damichael Cole: Boston Celtics-New York Knicks
Dustin Dopirak: Boston Celtics-New York Knicks
Jim Owczarski: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Duane Rankin: Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers
Heather Tucker: Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers
2024-25 Western Conference finals
Jeff Zillgitt: Oklahoma City Thunder-Denver Nuggets
Scooby Axson: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Lorenzo Reyes: Denver Nuggets-Oklahoma City Thunder
Damichael Cole: Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns
Dustin Dopirak: Oklahoma City Thunder-Denver Nuggets
Jim Owczarski: Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns
Duane Rankin: Dallas Mavericks-Minnesota Timberwolves
Heather Tucker: Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns
2024-25 NBA Finals
Jeff Zillgitt: Boston Celtics-Oklahoma City Thunder
Scooby Axson: Boston Celtics-Minnesota Timberwolves
Lorenzo Reyes: New York Knicks-Denver Nuggets
Damichael Cole: Boston Celtics-Oklahoma City Thunder
Dustin Dopirak: Boston Celtics-Denver Nuggets
Jim Owczarski: Boston Celtics-Oklahoma City Thunder
Duane Rankin: Boston Celtics-Minnesota Timberwolves
Heather Tucker: Boston Celtics-Phoenix Suns
2024-25 NBA champion
Jeff Zillgitt: Boston Celtics
Scooby Axson: Boston Celtics
Lorenzo Reyes: Denver Nuggets
Damichael Cole: Oklahoma City Thunder
Dustin Dopirak: Boston Celtics
Jim Owczarski: Oklahoma City Thunder
Duane Rankin: Boston Celtics
Heather Tucker: Boston Celtics
2024-25 NBA MVP
Jeff Zillgitt: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Scooby Axson: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Lorenzo Reyes: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Damichael Cole: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dustin Dopirak: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jim Owczarski: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Duane Rankin: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Heather Tucker: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year
Jeff Zillgitt: Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards
Scooby Axson: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Lorenzo Reyes: Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Damichael Cole: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Dustin Dopirak: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Jim Owczarski: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Duane Rankin: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Heather Tucker: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Jeff Zillgitt: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Scooby Axson: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Lorenzo Reyes: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Damichael Cole: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Dustin Dopirak: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Jim Owczarski: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Duane Rankin: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Heather Tucker: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Jeff Zillgitt: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Scooby Axson: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Lorenzo Reyes: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Damichael Cole: Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
Dustin Dopirak: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Jim Owczarski: Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
Duane Rankin: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Heather Tucker: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year
Jeff Zillgitt: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Scooby Axson: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Lorenzo Reyes: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Damichael Cole: Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets
Dustin Dopirak: Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
Jim Owczarski: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Duane Rankin: Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Heather Tucker: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of the Year
Jeff Zillgitt: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
Scooby Axson: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Lorenzo Reyes: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Damichael Cole: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dustin Dopirak: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Jim Owczarski: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Duane Rankin: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Heather Tucker: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year
Jeff Zillgitt: Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Scooby Axson: Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
Lorenzo Reyes: Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
Damichael Cole: Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks
Dustin Dopirak: Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
Jim Owczarski: Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic
Duane Rankin: Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Heather Tucker: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
