NBA : The Seven Contenders of the 2024-2025 Season

Boston Celtics: 19-5

Over 50% of the Celtics' shots have been from beyond the arc this season. Jayson Tatum averages 3.8 threes a game, Derrick White 3.6, Jrue Holiday 2.6, Jaylen Brown 2.5, Al Horford 2.3, and Peyton Pritchard has more threes than Steph Curry. Pritchard's 89  threes this season is third in the NBA, tied with Donovan Mitchell.

If Kristaps Porziņģis stays healthy and the Celtics continue to shoot over 37% as a team, they should repeat. The Cavaliers and Knicks are the only teams in the East that pose a real threat. 

Cleveland Cavaliers: 21-4

The Kenny Atkinson Cavaliers started the season 15-0 before losing to the Celtics in the NBA Cup. The Cavs have four legitimate all-star candidates.

Donovan Mitchell is proving himself to be a future hall of famer, Darius Garland and Jarret Allen are playing like all-stars again, and Evan Mobley has the third-best odds for Defensive Player of the Year while shooting a career-best 40% from three.

Caris Levert and Jerome have been phenomenal off the bench. Levert ranks 9th in assists off the bench, and Jerome ranks third in True shooting. 

Thunder: 18-5

The Thunder are the one seed in the West, sitting nicely at 18-5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is proving himself to be a top-five player in the league, averaging 30 points on 50% shooting from the field, five rebounds, and six assists for the second straight season

The story of the Thunder's season has been the development of Jalen Williams. If the season ended today, Jalen Williams would be on an all-star team—the 23-year-old averages 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Williams had to play center with Chet Holgrem and Isiah Hartstien on the injured reserve. Williams is only listed at 6'6" but held his own during the stretch. The team's record speaks for that. 

Isiah Hartsein finally made his Thunder debut. He's playing the best basketball of his life, averaging 12 points and 13 through 8 games. 

If Chet Holgrem can get healthy, the Thunder will be my pick to come out the West. 

Mavericks: 16-8

The Mavericks are back with a vengeance after falling short in the NBA finals last year. 

 Luka Donic's efficiency is slightly down from last year, but it doesn't matter when Kyrie Irving is the second option. Irving is almost on pace to have his second 50/40/90 season. He's averaging 25 points per game on 50 shooting % from the field, 47% from three, and 88 from at the line. The only players in NBA history to average 50/40/90 splits multiple times are Larry Bird, Steve Nash, and Kevin Durant. 

The Mavericks' success in the playoffs will be decided by their X factors: Derrick Lively, Klay Thompson, and PJ Washington. We already know what Irving and Doncic are capable of, but if these players show up in the playoffs, the Mavericks should return to the finals.

Suns: 12-11

Kevin Durant has managed to become underrated for the first time in his career. In year 17, Durant is having his most efficient season, averaging 26 points on a career-best 61% True shooting percentage. 

The problem is when Durant doesn't play. The team's record is 1-9 when he doesn't play. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal can't carry the load alone, even with the off-season addition of Tyus Jones. The Suns' lack of depth was their biggest problem last year, and it still looks to be the case. 

If Durant stays healthy, this is a top-five team. 

Knicks : 14-9

The Knicks went all in this year, re-signing OG Anunoby to a max contract, trading multiple first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, and trading for all-star Karl Anthony Towns. I know it's too early to say, but the Knicks hit the jackpot on all these trades, especially Towns. 

The Towns and Jalen Brunson experiment couldn't be working any better. The duo has a combined average of 50 points per game. OG Anunoby is shutting out every team's best player while shooting the lights out from three, 38%. Mikal Bridges is the odd man out of the three. He's struggled to settle into his role with the offense, shooting a career-low 32% from three. 

Bench Players like Deuce Mcbride and Cam Payne have stepped up during Bridge's shooting slump, but if he doesn't pull it together, they don't stand a chance against the Cavaliers and Celtics 

Bucks: 12-11

After a historically bad start to the season at 1-9, the Bucks have lost only two games to climb back up the standings to 12-11

The Superstar duo of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo is finally living up to the hype. Giannis is averaging 32 points on 60% from the field to go along with 11 rebounds and six assists. Dametime is playing like his old self, hitting 3.5 threes a game on 37%.

Similar to the Suns, the Bucks' lack of depth will be their downfall. Khris Middleton might have returned from injury, but I don't think it will be enough. The Bucks have other solid role players like Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, and Taurean Prince, but other than that, their lack of young talent is glaring. The team's average player age is the highest in the league, at 28.

The Bucks need to figure it out sooner or later because Giannis might be gone if they don't make a deep playoff run this year.