The NBA raises the curtain next morning with the spotlights pointing in a clear direction. A rookie has eclipsed all the megastars and has captured attention in a way that has not been seen since the emergence of Zion Williamson, almost five years ago. Unicorn, alien, extraterrestrial, the adjectives are not exhausted to describe Victor Wembanyama, a supernatural specimen that threatens to dominate the best league in the world in the medium term. His physical and technical conditions are extraordinary. A 2.24m player had never been seen. move like a point guard, score like a forward and post and block like what he should really be, a center. Having fallen into the hands of Greg Popovich, one of the best coaches in history, and in one of the franchises that best works with young talent, San Antonio, expectations have even higher about his true potential.
However, San Antonio does not enter the shortlist of favorites this year, a list headed by the Denver Nuggets as last year’s champion. Serbian Nikola Jokic is the leader of a team that has been successful since Jamal Murray’s recovery from injury. They will be the rival to beat in a season in which several teams have been greatly strengthened to attempt the assault on the ring.
The most talked-about transfer on the market was that of Damian Lillard, who joined Giannis Antetokouwmpo in Milwuakee. The shooting guard has left Portland, where he has played his entire career, and has not been able to choose a place with greater ambition. The Bucks are the favorites in the Eastern Conference even ahead of the Boston Celtics, who have added Jrue Holiday to accompany Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Porzingis and Derrick White. In this shortlist, we must always take into account the Miami Heat, with the incombustible Jimmy Butler as their flagship.
In the West the fight is much more open. After the Nuggets, several teams appear with serious options and that have been well reinforced, such as the Phoenix Suns, who have Kevin Booker, Kevin Durant and the newcomer Bradley Beal. A roster of superstars with whom they have rebuilt a project that failed to win the ring. Chris Paul has gone to the Warriors, where Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and company will once again be candidates for everything when the playoffs arrive. The big unknowns will be the Lakers of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks of Luka Doncic and the eccentric Kyrie Irving.
The main novelty this season is a new competition called NBA In-season Tournament that will be played by all franchises between November and December and that will crown a champion after playing in the group stage and direct knockouts. Finally, the All-Star will be held on February 18, 2024 in Indianapolis. The competition starts this morning with a Denver Nuggets-Lakers (01:30 a.m.).
