LeBron James is not winning the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Victor Wembanyama will be the most powerful rookie since James entered the league in 2003.
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Chris Paul will finally win it all, thanks to CP3 oddly joining the same Golden State Warriors team that already includes Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Some of these 2023-24 NBA predictions are bold.
Others are crazy.
Here is talkSPORT’s preview of a drama-packed season that will have basketball fans spinning from October through June.
The King is done in Los Angeles
Don’t worry, obsessed Lakers fans: James isn’t going anywhere.
But he’s past his prime and eating snacks on the bench.
James is also officially the oldest guy in the league and Los Angeles didn’t do enough this offseason to help a 38-year-old king successfully get through an 82-game season and four playoff rounds.
James is still a great player and Anthony Davis can still be a powerful force, whenever he’s healthy.
It’s hard to see the Lakers getting out of a loaded Western Conference, though, and it’s even harder to imagine James winning it all with Los Angeles in 2023-24.
Earning a ring during a season that was played in coronavirus bubble will still be James’ greatest accomplishment with the Lakers.
Wembanyama will be the king of San Antonio
When’s the last time someone had this much talent and polish, and was just 19 years old?
Never.
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Wemby is already ready made for the social media age of X highlights, TikTok quickies and Facebook eyeballs.
Now, all the young French phenom has to do is stay healthy and play for a good NBA team.
The Spurs went 22-60 last season, which is one of the main reasons that they were able to follow up David Robinson and Tim Duncan with the NBA’s greatest hope since James took his high school talents to Cleveland.
Wemby is going to take over San Antonio.
But will the 7ft 4in athletic freak be able to bond with grumpy Gregg Popovich?
He’s crankier than ever, will turn 75 in January, and recently joked that Steve Kerr is an a******* when the Warriors coach said that Wemby had rejuvenated ol’ Pop.
All Wembanyama has to do is remain on the hardwood and be the opposite of Chet Holmgren’s rookie season.
Wemby’s awesome talent will take care of the rest.
James Harden will regret calling Daryl Morey a liar
As the flashiest sports league in America prepared to tip off a new 82-game campaign on Tuesday night, one of the sport’s most dangerous modern scorers was in self-imposed exile.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said during a promotional event in August. “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
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Two months later, the former Thunder/Rockets/Nets star was still with the Philadelphia 76ers, although he’d been a no show at preseason practices and games.
Harden has become the NBA’s biggest drama king.
He’s no longer a top player, believes he’s better than he really is, and has burned multiple coaches, front office executives and once-close teammates.
Harden will probably get traded again.
But if he ever wins a ring, it won’t be in a way that NBA fans respect.
Kevin Durant will regret leaving the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty
Speaking of former Oklahoma City superstars…
Paul is out in Phoenix.
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Bradley Beal, who has one of the worst contracts in the NBA, is in with the Suns after another playoff disappointment.
Phoenix overhauled its roster after trading for the displeased Durant, who forced his way off a Brooklyn superteam that never was.
There’s no doubt that KD is one of the best talents in league history.
It’s also doubtful that Durant will win it all again without Curry, Thompson and Green sharing all the postseason weight.
The Greek Freak and Dame Time will be must-see TV
Giannis Antetokounmpo has already won an NBA title and now has floor-spacing sharpshooter Damian Lillard as his new teammate.
Lillard also hates the Warriors.
Throw in a $186 million contract extension that could keep Antetokounmpo as a Buck for life in small-market Milwaukee, and Greek Time will go primetime as a drool-worthy combo this season.
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The Bucks will emerge from the Eastern Conference to face a familiar franchise that has already seen it all.
Antetokounmpo and Lillard were made for each other.
The NBA will benefit from having both superstars playing for the same team in Wisconsin.
CP3 wins it all before turning 40
It was one of the weirdest moves in recent NBA history.
But after 82 games, an in-season tournament, a play-in tournament and four playoff rounds, Paul should be a perfect fit for the Warriors’ fifth world title since Curry, Thompson, Green and Kerr joined forces.
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There will be drama.
There will be season-long question marks.
But Paul has everything to play and sacrifice for, and Golden State still wants one more ring for its dynasty case.
Bring a 39-year-old CP3 off the bench and turn the Warriors into an unstoppable force again in time for the NBA Finals in June.
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