The NBA season is officially over, and it was an interesting one. There were surprises, disappointments and non-stop action on and off the court.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first franchise championship after defeating the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. They were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who claimed the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award along with the scoring title and NBA Finals MVP. They are the second-youngest team to win the title.
With the Thunder’s victory, teams across the league are examining how to get better this offseason. Given everything that happened this season, here are the main takeaways.
The era of the superteam
The days of relying solely on three stars to win a championship are over. The Phoenix Suns’ superteam, featuring Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, missed the playoffs despite having the highest payroll in the league. Their three main stars accounted for the majority of their team’s cap space, which triggered several restrictions that limited their roster construction.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) penalizes teams for overspending, thereby limiting the formation of superteams and shifting the focus towards player development. It forces teams to build balanced rosters and not rely on two or three players to win a title because they will be penalized severely as seen with the Phoenix Suns.
Teams like the Thunder and the Houston Rockets have well-rounded rosters that don’t depend solely on their star players. The Boston Celtics, with the third-highest payroll, won the 2023-24 NBA championship thanks to contributions from role players.
The importance of depth
The Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 and were led by their star Tyrese Haliburton. They showcased the value of a balanced roster in surviving tough series, winning against the New York Knicks and exceeding expectations.
Teams such as the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers struggled outside their starting five because of the lack of scoring and defensive effort coming from their bench hurt their playoff chances. Teams can’t only rely on their starters because injuries happen, so you need capable backups. Both the Thunder and Pacers had excellent depth all season, which helped them reach the NBA Finals.
Injuries
This season saw numerous injuries among star players, affecting both the regular season and the playoffs.
Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL on March 4, preventing the Dallas Mavericks from making a playoff push. Dejounte Murray also suffered the same injury, which derailed the New Orleans Pelicans’ season on Jan. 31.
Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles on June 22 during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Jayson Tatum suffered the same injury during Game 4 of the semifinals against the New York Knicks on May 12. Lastly, Damian Lillard tore his Achilles tendon on April 27 in Game 4 of the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. These three players all suffered the same injury during the postseason, which is rare, and it ended their teams’ championship aspirations.
Other stars like Stephen Curry injured their hamstring on May 6 in Game 1 of the semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Aaron Gordon got the same injury in Game 6 of the semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 15. LeBron James suffered a knee sprain on April 30 in Game 5 of the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. These injuries cost the team a chance to advance further into the postseason.
The regular season still matters
You need great team chemistry and continuity for the regular season, like the Thunder had.
The Thunder’s 68-win season earned them the best record in the NBA. They finished in the top three in both offense and defense.
They set the record for the best net rating in NBA history at plus 12.8, broke the single-season scoring record and recorded the most double-digit wins in a season.
The Celtics and Cavaliers also surpassed 60 wins but disappointed in the playoffs despite strong seasons. The same goes for the Houston Rockets, who won 52 games and finished second in the Western Conference.
A new era is emerging
For the second year in a row, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant weren’t in the conference finals. These icons have defined basketball for over a decade and are nearing the end of their careers.
New faces like Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson are enjoying recent playoff success. Teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons are now contenders.
Young players are taking over the league. As the veteran generation moves on, the league will grow and showcase fresh talent.
What to expect next season
Free agency is in full swing, highlighted by a historic seven-team trade sending Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Desmond Bane was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Orlando Magic, along with numerous other trades and signings.
This offseason is critical for many teams, particularly with the recovery of star players and salary cap considerations. As teams load up for the next season, only time will tell if these moves will help them win titles and build legacies.
Until then, we’ll have to wait until October for the buzzer to signal the start of a new season.
