With the 2023-2024 NBA season fast approaching, the world is waiting eagerly to see the spectacles the next year of basketball has in store.
As has been the case for many years, there are plenty of tantalizing stories waiting to be told. Despite not being a pre-written serial, the NBA is unintentionally one of the best long-running shows in history, with a cast of “characters” that includes heroes and villains, brash upstarts and wily veterans, generational superstars, and humble role players.
Over the years we have watched shocking upsets, unlikely comebacks, tragic collapses, personal rivalries, and shocking betrayals. From heated drama to standup-level comedy, the NBA has been unendingly entertaining for nearly a century, and I do not see that ending any time soon.
Sure there are some dips in quality and complaints from fans regarding “scripting,” but when a franchise has been around since 1946, it is bound to have a few hiccups along the way.
Most intriguing storylines for the 2023-24 NBA season
As we eagerly await the first tip-off of the new season on October 24th, here are some of the most intriguing storylines to pay attention to for the 2023-2024 NBA season, beginning with one of the league’s longest-enduring and immersing sagas.
Year 21 for LeBron James
After a summer full of questions regarding his future in the league, largely fuelled by his own musings, LeBron has since confirmed that he will be playing in the upcoming season. Whether you believe he was genuinely considering retirement or that this was all for show, the fact remains that every year since LeBron entered the league has been noteworthy in one way or another.
It almost doesn’t sound real that an athlete has been in the league for over two decades and is still performing at a level where no “top players in the league” conversation can be had without including the King’s name. Because of this, the Los Angeles Lakers will continue to hold aspirations of championship glory, as well as hold the attention of the NBA world, much to the chagrin of some. That being said, last year’s playoffs did provide supporters of the purple and gold some legitimate reasons for optimism.
The Los Angeles Lakers were only a few wins removed from a place in the NBA Finals last season, and potentially another title. That was in of itself a monumental feat given the state of the team earlier in the season. But for players like LeBron, “getting close” means about as much as not making the playoffs at all.
Despite his continued excellence, the fact remains the same: LeBron’s career is coming to an end. And in the King’s twilight years, every season has to feel like a championship or bust. Both for him and the organization he plays for. While it can be argued that the miracle run of these past playoffs was nothing but an anomaly, it will still be interesting to see where LeBron leads the Lakers. And then there’s the question of whether LeBron will remain in the city of angels for much longer.
Under his current contract, LeBron will be with the Lakers until 2025. With his son Bronny James getting closer to being an NBA draft pick, LeBron has openly stated for some time now that he is willing to go wherever he needs to be in order to play alongside his son. Combine both of these two facts in mind and it does feel like LeBron might be gearing up to leave the Lakers, which could leave them in a similar position to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat when James left.
You could argue that if Anthony Davis remains after the King’s departure, he could still lead the team to being respectable. That being said, no matter how good Davis is, losing a co-star like LeBron will surely be felt by the team. Which is why this next season is so vital. Another title could incentivize LeBron into staying on the Lakers for longer, whereas another disappointing elimination could speed up the sinking of the ship.
Will the King add another jewel to his crown while adorned in purple and gold? And for how much longer will his name be sung throughout the NBA world? Time will only tell.
As we wait to see the continuation of the King’s Saga, the league is also looking forward to the opening chapter of another player’s story…
The arrival of Victor Wembanyama
In one of my previous articles, I analyzed the play style of Victor Wembanyama in comparison to two of the most vaunted big men not just in the history of the San Antonio Spurs but the entire league, while trying to guess which one he would be more likely to follow in the footsteps of.
Whether he chooses to emulate one or both of San Antonio’s Titans or not, all eyes are on the generational prospect. And if his performance in this year’s summer league is any indication, the landscape of the league is about to shift in a big way.
Like all first picks before him, Victor Wembanyama will come into the league with eyeballs and expectations on him. However, few prospects have ever come into the league with the genuine, feverish fervor that the ‘French Phenom’ has garnered. In my time watching basketball, he is one of a very small number of players who have earned the “generational talent” and “game-changer” labels.
One of them was Zion Williamson. And we’ve all seen how that’s been going.
There’s an old saying that there are few burdens heavier than expectations. Not everyone can shoulder that burden. Sometimes it’s because they are unequipped to carry it. Sometimes they do not want to carry it. Yet the burden is placed on them all the same. When Andrew Wiggins came into the league he was nicknamed “Maple Jordan.”
When Ben Simmons was drafted, many analysts touted him as potentially being the successor to LeBron. Before Zion Williamson had even stepped onto an NBA court, he was being lauded as the next contender in the ‘GOAT debate.’ While these players didn’t live up to their potential, one has to wonder whether being given all those expectations was a matter of “too much, too soon” and whether that played a role in them feeling like even larger disappointments. Over the years we’ve seen star prospects be the victims of career-derailing injuries, fall to the wayside because of subpar performances, or simply because they just weren’t good enough.
I hope this is not the case with Victor, and I am optimistic about his career. At the same time, I am keeping my optimism in check while I, along with the rest of the NBA, wait to see the giant enter his rookie year in the NBA.
From a young star looking to forge a new history, we turn to a franchise looking to make it repeat itself…
The championship run of the Nuggets was the culmination of several stories, each of which is worthy of a documentary.
The fall and rebuild of Jamal Murray. The rise of Nikola Jokic as one of the greatest players to ever grace the hardwood. The faith and vision of head coach Michael Malone are being rewarded. The combined efforts of every single member of the team working in unison to win the first title in the franchise’s history.
Call it recency bias, but the Nuggets’ championship run is one of the best feel-good stories in all of sports. And while Denver cannot replicate the magic of that run, they can certainly replicate the end result.
But will they?
On paper, the team is practically identical, albeit with a few pieces missing such as Jeff Green and Bruce Brown. The core of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and two-time MVP Nikola Jokić has remained, all in excellent condition. Add to that the superb coaching of Michael Malone, and it feels like all the important pieces needed to win another chip are present. Looking at the rest of the league, there haven’t been too many shifts that have earmarked another team as one that can upset the Nuggets. At least in my eyes.
Barring anything unforeseen, I think the Nuggets have a serious shot of being two-time champions this time next year. But now they’ve got a target on their backs. The rest of the teams in the league are aware of how good they are, and will likely try to make moves specifically to beat the defending champions.
It is also worth noting that Golden State were the champions before the Nuggets, only to get eliminated in the second round of last year’s playoffs. Their roster was largely unchanged too. Clearly, the Nuggets repeating is far from a guarantee. As such, it’ll be exciting to see if they can do it, or if they’re felled by another contender.
Which brings us to one final storyline. A tale of patience wearing thin, and lost loyalty…
In the NBA, there are few constants. For better or worse, Damian Lillard and his loyalty to the Portland Trailblazers has been one of them.
Through thick and thin, the superstar guard has been steadfast in his position. No matter how loud the rumor mill would buzz, Damian Lillard would remain devoted to the franchise. Through all the roster changes, Lillard has always done his best to make it work in the pursuit of a championship.
It was almost laughable how loyal Damian Lillard was to Portland, an organization that frankly has done little to maximize the guard’s best years.
But every person’s loyalty can eventually wither into dust. And Damian Lillard seems to have finally lost his patience with Portland. And just in case anyone thought this was merely rumors or a stray quote taken out of context, Lillard recently confirmed that he did indeed request a trade. Ironically, the superstar went on to say that he did not want to speak too much about his current situation.
It feels akin to loudly letting the cat out of the bag, but then not wanting to talk about it while it runs around the room.
Needless to say, the request is a massive deal for the league. It’s not every day a player of Damian Lillard’s caliber requests a trade openly. Despite his age, Lillard is still playing at a high level and as such will command a premium from any team wanting to acquire his services. I can already imagine several teams wanting him and benefitting from a player like Lillard on their roster, including the Raptors, the 76ers, and of course the Miami Heat, Lillard’s preferred destination.
The response from management has also been richly ironic, specifically from general manager Joe Cronin who has said that he is looking to exercise patience in the trade market and that he is willing to wait for the ‘right deal’ to come around, even if it takes him deep into the regular season.
Now I’m no general manager of a major league basketball team, but I can’t help but feel that this lackadaisical approach regarding Damian Lillard since he was drafted is exactly the reason he wants to leave. Time and time again the Trail Blazers had opportunities to build around their star guard, and every single time they’ve done little to nothing in that regard. The closest they got to being competitive with Dame was when he was paired with CJ McCollum.
Once his backcourt partner was gone, Lillard must have seen the writing on the wall. This team has refused to get better. They refused to strike when the iron was hot. And even now, when every passing day will likely reduce the amount of leverage they have, the front office is content to sit by and wait for some fairytale trade that will almost assuredly never come.
But hey, at least they’re consistent. Consistently frustrating. Ultimately, it will still be interesting to see what becomes of Damian Lillard. To Scoot Henderson, I hope you don’t face the same frustration and futility that Lillard has in “Rip City.”
What storyline are you most looking forward to seeing play out this upcoming season? Share your thoughts with us below or across social media.