With the celebration of the Labor Day holiday starting this weekend, basketball fans are a month away from the start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season. Also, after a pretty active offseason, there was a lot of roster reshaping this summer. These new rosters will be tested under the grind of an 82-game season. As a result, some teams have a lot more to prove than their counterparts, as they prepare for the start of the season in October.
3 NBA Teams With A Lot To Prove This Season
Phoenix Suns
After being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first-round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns have a lot to prove this season. Especially, their “Big Three” of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. They have not really had a chance to work on their chemistry because of injuries. This may be the final season that this trio will be together. It will be up to Durant, Booker, and Beal to work out their chemistry and fit on the court. Drama between superstar pairings either make or break playoff-contending teams. If they can solve these chemistry issues and share the scoring responsibilities equally, the Suns should be able to be a title contender in the loaded Western Conference.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks were able to acquire Mikal Bridges over the summer. As a result of his acquisition, they have one of the best defensive pairings in the league between Bridges and OG Anunoby. Additionally, the Knicks still have a lot to prove entering this season. They will have to figure out the pecking order between their star players, and work on their team chemistry. Especially, during the ups and downs of an 82-game season in the Eastern Conference.
It will be up to Jalen Brunson to make sure that everyone eats in New York. He will have to continue to improve his playmaking skills to create high-percentage shooting opportunities for his teammates. If the Knicks can work out these issues, they should be able to be a championship contender this season.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers were the most active team during this offseason. They were able to land the biggest free agent available in Paul George, along with adding some bench depth, and re-signing Tyrese Maxey. As a result of these moves, Daryl Morey has constructed the best roster in the Joel Embiid era from top-to-bottom. Now the Sixers have a lot to prove, as they need to win at least one championship in the next four years with the hype surrounding them.
George is the perfect superstar to pair with Embiid and Maxey, because he does not necessarily need the ball in his hands to create a shot for himself. If George, Maxey, and Embiid can improve their chemistry, figure out the scoring pecking order, and commit to sacrificing individual success for team success, then the Sixers will be in great shape to win their first championship since 1983.
The 2024-25 NBA Season will be filled with surprises, but for these three teams, they have to at least make a deep playoff run to justify the money spent by each team respectively on roster improvements. If they do not do that, then they will have a lot of questions to answer at the end of this season.
