NBA 2023-24 win totals: Predicting every team's record for the new season
Five consecutive NBA seasons, five different champions: Toronto, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets.
Will the Nuggets repeat? Will one of those other teams win it again? Or will another team emerge as the sixth different champ in six consecutive seasons?
Who will play in the Eastern and Western conference finals? Is Boston-Milwaukee a lock in the East? How many teams in the West start the season with a legit chance to reach the conference finals? Four? Five? Six? More?
And what about MVP? Three players born outside of the U.S. (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid) have won the past five MVPs. Is someone else ready to win the award?
Here are USA TODAY Sports staff predictions for the 2023-24 season:
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports NBA writer
East finals: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
West finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns
NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Lakers
Champion: Celtics
MVP: Jayson Tatum, Celtics
Sixth Man of the Year: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Lakers
Most Improved Player of the Year: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Coach of the Year: Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
Executive of the Year: Brad Stevens, Celtics
Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY Sports reporter
East finals: Bucks vs. Celtics
West finals: Suns vs. Denver Nuggets
NBA Finals: Bucks vs. Nuggets
Champion: Bucks
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Sixth Man of the Year: Chris Paul, Warriors
Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Lakers
Most Improved Player of the Year: Jordan Poole, Washington Wizards
Coach of the Year: Mike Malone, Nuggets
Executive of the Year: James Jones, Suns
Scooby Axson, USA TODAY Sports reporter
East finals: Bucks vs. Celtics
West finals: Suns vs. Nuggets
NBA Finals: Bucks vs. Suns
Champion: Bucks
MVP: Jayson Tatum, Celtics
Sixth Man of the Year: Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Heat
Most Improved Player of the Year: Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets
Coach of the Year: Mark Daigneault, Thunder
Executive of the Year: Jon Horst, Bucks
Heather Tucker, USA TODAY Sports NBA editor
East finals: Celtics vs. Bucks
West finals: Nuggets vs. Suns
NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Suns
Champion: Celtics
MVP: Jayson Tatum, Celtics
Sixth Man of the Year: Derrick White, Celtics
Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Lakers
Most Improved Player of the Year: Tyler Herro, Heat
Coach of the Year: Will Hardy, Utah Jazz
Executive of the Year: Jon Horst, Bucks