With the emergence of new stars, thrilling highlights, broken records, and league shattering trades, the 2023-2024 NBA regular season was a wild ride from start to finish. In just over two weeks, the last games of the season will be played and the quest for the Larry O’Brien trophy will begin. But before we look to the playoffs, there is a lot to unpack concerning the 2024 season, not enough for a measly 500 words. Luckily, the Wire sports department is here to provide a quick summary of all four quarters and beyond.
Before the games even started, the action of the 2024 season unofficial tipoff in summer, starting with the draft. With the first overall pick, the Spurs selected Frenchmen Victor Wembanyama, who took the league by storm, setting rookie records bigger than even his 7 ‘4 frame. Other notable rookies include Scoot Henderson of the Trailblazers, Brandon Miller of the Hornets, and Chet Holmgren of the Thunder (drafted in 2022 but sat out his first season due to injury). The offseason activity kept churning through July and September with trades and free agency moves that are still creating ripples. The biggest headlines include Damian Lillard to the Bucks, Bradley Beal to the Suns, and Chris Paul to the Warriors. Some of these moves have panned out well, like Lillard, while others have been slower to work out, like Beal. In October, the offseason shenanigans would finally be fully displayed with the beginning of the regular season.
Over the course of 6 months of play, many teams and players have beamed while others have blundered. The top performers include the Nuggets, Celtics, Thunder, and Timberwolves, all achieving 40-win seasons. These teams will all see a high seed come April. Meanwhile, the Pistons and Wizards are already prepping for the offseason having done historically bad, both with less than 15 wins at this point in the season. Some notable names include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic, all among the best of the best across this year’s play, making the MVP race a tight one. In other news, the inaugural NBA in-season tournament went down in Vegas last November with the Lakers bringing home the hardware. Basketball fans saw some of the most thrilling games in years on brightly colored courts. Season #78 had many memorable moments but perhaps the most notable one is Lebron James reaching 40 thousand total career points. Spanning from 2003 to 2024, Lebron has been both the unstoppable force and immovable object of the NBA. With playoffs rapidly approaching, there’s no telling what April through June will have in store for basketball fans.
Heartbreak and triumph, wins and losses, swishes and dunks, every year the NBA bestows us with a riveting display of basketball. Once again, fans across the globe are reminded of the glorious gift that is this game.
