The year 2023 brought us incredible moments including seeing the Denver Nuggets win their first-ever championship and LeBron James breaking the all-time scoring record. The year 2024 will likely be no different as 10 major events are expected to occur.

Utilizing a mix of predictions and basketball analysis, the 10 biggest NBA predictions for 2024 are named and while some of them might be expected, there could be some bold ones that might seem shocking to imagine.

1. Boston Celtics Will Win 2024 NBA Championship

The Boston Celtics are predicted to be the NBA champions. Barring some injuries to key players such as Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics have everything they need to win a title although their depth chart leaves a little to be desired. The additions of Porzingis and All-NBA defense member Jrue Holiday have boosted the team on the court, as they hold the best record in the NBA this season (26-6).

Ranking sixth in offense and third in defense, the Celtics have one of the best teams in the league on both ends of the court and have no excuses to not make the Finals and win it all. According to our prediction, the Celtics will finally win the NBA title and raise banner number 18 by the end of the year. Dealing with disappointments including a 2022 Finals loss and an Eastern Conference Finals defeat last year, it is time for Boston to get over the hump with massive credit going to Brad Stevens and the front office for bringing in reinforcements.

2. Los Angeles Lakers Will Lose In First-Round

The Los Angeles Lakers had high expectations entering this season since they made the Western Conference Finals last year. LeBron James has yet to deal with Father Time and Anthony Davis is one of the most dominant players in the world. The likes of Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura are also excellent contributors on both ends of the court.

However, the Lakers have too many problems that cannot be ignored. Only ranking 17th in offense and 16th in defense, the team struggles to earn wins against top contenders and that won’t translate well into the postseason. James has been solid individually by averaging 25.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game and Davis is adding 25.0 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, but it won’t be enough. Darvin Ham might be on the coaching hot seat, and finishing with the 6th to 7th seed might mean the Lakers have to play teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets which will lead to a first-round exit.

3. Golden State Warriors Dynasty Will Be Over

The Golden State Warriors are a play-in team this season and they will find a way to make the tournament because you can never count out Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the Warriors system. That being said, they won’t make it to the playoffs. The Warriors simply do not have what it takes to be a playoff contender, ranking 9th in offense and 19th in defense. With an innate ability to stop teams, the Warriors won’t be able to defeat some of the hungry teams that will make the play-in tournament.

That also means the Warriors dynasty will be over this year. Curry is nearly 36 years old, Thompson is only averaging 16.7 points on 37.7% from three, and Green is dealing with what seems to be some mental health issues that have led to three ejections so far. With so much discontinuity and the fact that Andrew Wiggins has been a disappointment, it might be time to close the book on the Warriors dynasty that has captured four NBA championships.

4. Joel Embiid Will Win The MVP Award

Joel Embiid will solidify his case as one of the greatest 76ers players of all time by winning his second-straight MVP award this year. There is no doubt that Joel is a regular-season performer far more than a playoff star, but that should not take away from the fact that he is a future Hall of Famer. He is posting 35.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game this season and is the frontrunner for the MVP award. Even if the 76ers won’t be winning an NBA title this year, Embiid has been dominant.

With two scoring titles and two MVPs to his name, it is hard to name 76ers stars beyond Allen Iverson and Julius Erving ahead of Embiid among the all-time rankings for the franchise. At the very least, his second MVP award will place Embiid as a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer at only 29 years old. Adding in a guaranteed 7th All-Star selection and 6th All-NBA selection this season, Embiid will have one of the most impressive resumes of his generation.

5. Victor Wembanyama Win Rookie Of The Year

Chet Holmgren is the Rookie of the Year favorite for a slight majority of voters since the Oklahoma City Thunder have the second seed in the Western Conference, but Victor Wembanyama will find a way to win the trophy even if the San Antonio Spurs only have five wins on the season so far. Wembanyama is the real deal and his numbers have been impressive considering he has been in a losing situation. Averaging 18.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, Wembanyama is a budding superstar.

He will find a way to overtake Holmgren as the weeks and months pass and the Spurs should win at least 12 more games throughout the season. While the Frenchman cannot be judged on team record because he doesn’t have a player like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by his side, his numbers and raw impact have been more than impressive. With an award to his name already, Wembanyama can start building what could be a first-ballot Hall of Fame resume one day.

LeBron James’ goal for the final years before retirement is to play with his son, Bronny James. The Lakers would be the best situation for this to happen since the James family already live in Los Angeles with Bronny certainly being a prospect for the USC Trojans. As LeBron is 39 years old and looking towards an impending retirement after at least two or three years, a chance to play with his eldest son would be an incredible story to follow.

Knowing LeBron James and how he has a tendency to get what he wants more than speaking things into existence, it will be very possible and likely that Bronny ends up on the Lakers in 2024. LeBron will sign a one-year deal with the team and Bronny will be taken as a second-round draft pick by the Lakers to create one of the most exciting and interesting storylines in NBA history. The fact that LeBron will play long enough to play with his son and also form yet another storyline for the iconic Lakers franchise will only boost his legacy.

7. Warriors Will Trade Draymond Green In The Summer

Time is likely up for Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors. Green has been ejected three times this season and seems to be more trouble than he is worth considering he is nearly 34 years old and suffering from decreased production on the court. This season, Green is averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game and his numbers will continue to decline as he gets older.

Considering he signed a 4-year, $100 million deal, Green is certainly overpaid and there will only be a few teams interested in his services because he can always help a title contender. The Warriors need to re-tool quickly since the dynasty is over, and moving Green along with players such as Andrew Wiggins could be the best way forward. Expect the Lakers to be interested in Green’s services because the player is somehow best friends with LeBron James and the team needs some toughness and defensive energy.

8. Paul George Leaves The Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are another franchise at risk of seeing their championship-contending team come to a rebuild. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both have player options next season meaning there is a ton riding on the performances of this season. Adding James Harden to the squad has made it a win or busy season this year but that won’t change what is to come: a Clippers failure to win a title and the imminent departure of Paul George.

We anticipate that George will not re-sign with the Clippers and will return back to his original spot: with the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers need another star player to actually contend in the Eastern Conference and Paul George could be the perfect sidekick to Haliburton. In fact, George might even lead the team in scoring while Haliburton controls the ball. With talents such as Myles Turner, Bruce Brown, and Bennedict Mathruin, the Pacers could become a contender if George decides to return back to the franchise that took him No. 10 overall in the 2010 Draft.

9. Pistons Win No. 1 Overall Draft Pick

The Detroit Pistons have been somewhat of an embarrassment to the NBA this season, tying the record for the longest losing streak of 28 games. With only three wins on the season, the Pistons cannot seem to play competitive basketball with any team ranking 27th in offense and 25th in defense. Other than Cade Cunningham (23.5 PPG and 7.3 APG), there isn’t much hope on the roster and every player should be made available in trade talks to get the ship back on track.

Head coach Monty Williams has been heavily scrutinized because he received a $78.5 million extension and has not changed life for the Pistons on the court. However, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. The Pistons are very likely to receive the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft which could mean prospects Ron Holland or Matas Buzelis coming to try to save the franchise. The season is already over for Detroit so the goal should be to have the worst record in the NBA (and not break any records in the process) while continuing the development of budding star Cade Cunningham.

Zion Williamson’s time in New Orleans could be coming to an end soon and quite frankly, both parties should file for an NBA divorce. Williamson has not set the league on fire like many of us expected, having played only 141 games over five seasons. Despite being the former No. 1 overall pick and the most hyped prospect since LeBron James, Zion Williamson has failed to produce enough despite making two All-Star Teams in his career.

It seems that the Williamson-Knicks relationship is being kindled and it might be time for a blockbuster deal to happen. The Knicks have already made a shocking trade to move on from RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby, and one final piece could be Williamson who can form a new Big Three alongside Anunoby and star point guard Jalen Brunson. The first movement in this case would be the big man requesting a trade from the Pelicans, seeking a new change, and the Pelicans striking a deal that nets him Julius Randle and some first-round picks. A player of Williamson’s capabilities belongs in Madison Square Garden and that might get him on track with his weight and overall health.