October 22, 2024
The headlights come back on Nba: the 2024/25 season kicks off on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, at the TD Garden, where the reigning champions of Boston Celtics they will face the New York Knicks in the appetizer of the possible leitmotif on the east coast. In Italy, the rights of the season NBA 2024-2025 belong to Sky Sport, which broadcasts the matches via satellite and in streaming on the NOW TV platform. To follow all the matches of the tournament in streaming, you can subscribe to NBA League Pass.
It will be season number 22 for LeBron James in the league: after the third Olympic gold in his career and the record for points scored in the NBA, The King goes hunting for new records.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
Central Division
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast Division
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
Boston remains solid around coach Pezzulla and Jayson Tatum, re-proposing the group that dominated the last playoffs with a score of 16 wins in 19 games. The only flaw in the quintet is that for Al Horford every year a year passes (now there are 38). But of the other four, the only one who hasn’t won Olympic gold in Paris is the MVP of the last Finals (Jaylen Brown).
Let’s move on to Manhattan, where the big seasonal news is hidden: for the first time since the days of Patrick Ewing (1990s), perhaps even more than the Anthony-Stoudemire blaze (2013), the Knicks appear at the starting line as authentic contenders for the title. All thanks to one trade colossal, which brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York at the – however demanding – price of Randle and DiVincenzo. Let’s then add the arrival of Mikal Bridges on the other side of the Hudson River and the genius of Jalen Brunson will be able to count on a choir up to par.
The other great rival for the ring remains Milwaukee, which after last season’s flop – second consecutive exit in the first round – will start again on tiptoe and with less pressure. It could prove to be an advantage: the spark between two giants of the parquet like Lillard and Antetokounmpo has yet to strike, the addition of Gary Trent Jr. from Toronto will give freshness to a roster that is no longer very young.
Western Conference
Northwest Division
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
Pacific Division
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
Southwest Division
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
In the West we start again from Jokicand not just because he’s the MVP for the third time in the last four seasons. In the last one his Nuggets they were surprised in the playoffs by the aggressive T’Wolves, but it risks being one of those healthy burns: the roster is there, Murray and Porter Jr. will have to keep up with the pace of the Serbian, the slightly old creativity of Russell Westbrook (coming from the Clippers) can mix things up from the bench. They dream too Maverickswho came close to triumphing last season. Doncic and his teammates welcome Klay Thompsonwho leaves Golden State for the first time in his career: given the recent numbers, new motivations were urgently needed. Exclamation point also for Oklahoma: Caruso’s experience and Hartenstein’s weight under the basket strike a chord with the young Thunder. Ninety bet instead for Minnesotawho risks big with Towns’ farewell: if Julius Randle manages to make up for the Dominican, the feeling is that Gobert and co (DiVincenzo factor) might even have gained in defence.
One step below the big ones we find i Lakerswhich have already set a record for the annals: the almost forty-year-old Lebron and the twenty-year-old Bronny will be the first father-son duo to play in the NBA in the same season and on the same team. If beyond marketing and suggestions it becomes an added technical value (James Jr.’s growth was interrupted by serious health problems), the yellow-purple Los Angeles will go back to having fun. But in any case as an outsider, also because JJ Redick – an infallible shooter for two decades – is an absolute newcomer as a coach. Change on the bench also Phoenixwhere Mike Budenholzer will be called upon to raise the performance of a stellar trio (Durant, Booker, Beal) so far only on paper. Headlights focused on the rise of Memphiswho after a year decimated by injuries is finding his best again Ja Morant: Becoming the loose cannon of the playoffs is a goal within reach. Same goes for the Kingswho had missed the post-season but have all it takes to return to the top: DeMar DeRozan is the experienced joker needed for a team that has the guarantee of Mike Brown on the bench. More secluded, but still in contention among the best eight, New Orleans and Golden State: Dejounte Murray from Atlanta is a great coup for the Pelicans, where Zion Williamson is increasingly the franchise man, while the separation of the Splash Brothers is a symptom of re-foundation at the Warriors, who however will always be able to rely on Steph Curry.
NBA 2024-25: season dates
The top six teams in each conference qualify for the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the teams in 7th to 10th place compete in the Play-In Tournament to assign the last two places.
The 2024/25 NBA championship season takes place in five phases:
- Regular season: each team plays 82 games, the top six in each conference qualify for the Playoffs.
- NBA Cup: In-season tournament with a group stage and a knockout stage.
- Play-In: The teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference compete in a single-elimination playoff for the final two playoff spots in their respective conference.
- NBA Playoffs: The eight teams from each Conference that have gained access to the NBA Playoffs face each other in three best-of-7 direct elimination series, the winner of each Conference advances to the Finals.
- NBA Finals: The two winners of the NBA Playoffs in the Eastern and Western Conferences face each other in a best-of-7 final to decide on the NBA title.
The 2024/25 NBA season begins the night of Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 October with the opening match between Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.
Below, all the key dates for the upcoming season.
- October 22: start of the 2024/25 NBA regular season
- November 12: start of the NBA Cup
- December 17th: finale NBA Cup
- February 6: trade deadline
- February 14: All Star Week NBA 2025
- February 16: NBA 2025 All Star Game
- April 13: end of the 2024/25 NBA regular season
- April 15th: NBA Play-In Tournament 2025
- April 19th: start of the 2025 NBA Playoffs
- June 5th: start of the 2025 NBA Finals
2024-10-22 06:07:00