NBA 2023-24: Five storylines to watch this season
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama celebrates after a basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace in the first half of an NBA preseason game on Oct. 9 in Oklahoma City. Credit: AP/Sarah Phipps
1. The Wemby era begins
Victor Wembanyama has arrived as the most hyped prospect since, well, ever (LeBron James might have been the last, but in 2003 the iPhone hadn’t been invented — nor had Twitter, er, X arrived). He has delivered hints already of the strange package of talent his 7-4 frame possesses but how he handles the rigors of the regular season for San Antonio is worth watching.
2. Player empowerment arrives … and ends?
Damian Lillard and James Harden set a disturbing tone this summer by publicly demanding trades. Lillard eventually got his way, kind of, after Portland general manager Joe Cronin resisted the calls to send him to his preferred destination of Miami, instead moving him to Milwaukee where he can contend for a title. Harden remains in limbo.
The Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard tosses some balls as he poses for a picture during the team's media day in Milwaukee on Oct. 2. Credit: AP/Morry Gash
3. LeBron’s last stand?
Now in his 21st season and turning 39 in December, James is still doing things that players his age just shouldn’t be able to do. But how much longer does he have with 1,421 games logged already — along with 282 postseason games? He has talked of wanting to play with his son, Bronny, who is a freshman at USC.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James smiles during the team's media day on Oct. 2 in El Segundo, Calif. Credit: AP/Ryan Sun
4. The Ja and Zion question
Zion Williamson and Ja Morant were the easy picks for the top two spots in the 2019 NBA Draft, but they are approaching crossroads in their careers in strange ways. The potential remains, but Williamson has been dogged by injuries and weight issues. Morant was already reaching the status of the next face of the NBA — until his face began appearing with guns on social media last season. He will start the season on a 25-game suspension.
The New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson, left, and the Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke; AP
5. No rest until . . .
The NBA has put into effect a rule, or a request, or a plea to its players and teams to halt the load management that has become fashionable in recent years, devaluing the regular season. The league issued a set of rules that seem almost unenforceable, so as the NBA heads into broadcast negotiations the hope is that all sides cooperate. The most obvious effort is the implementation of the In-season tournament which will culminate in a Las Vegas trip in December for the final four teams, even if the financial incentive is a small fraction of most salaries.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a news conference before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between Golden State and the Boston Celtics in San Francisco on June 2, 2022. Credit: AP/Jeff Chiu
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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