The Ultimate Guide: Unveiling the Hidden Secrets of the 2023-24 NBA Season

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is back, following an exciting offseason filled with blockbuster trades and the emergence of a generational talent. Anticipation is high for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Before the start of the new NBA season, it is crucial to have a grasp of the various developments such as the introduction of the mid-season tournament and numerous teams aiming for the championship. Hence, here is a comprehensive guide to ensure you are well-informed.

How to watch

The 78th NBA regular season will begin on Tuesday, October 24, running until Sunday, April 14, 2024.

The Play-In tournament, a mini-tournament held between teams ranked between seventh and 10th in each conference, will take place from Tuesday, April 16 to Friday, April 19, next year. The playoffs officially commence on Saturday, April 20, and the first game of the 2024 NBA Finals will be held on Thursday, June 6.

The league's first-ever In-Season tournament is scheduled to be held from Friday, November 3 to Saturday, December 9, culminating in the final match held in Las Vegas.

Throughout the season, the games will be televised on TNT, ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, and ESPN Radio in the United States. Internationally, the games will be broadcasted on NBA TV and NBA League Pass.

Two horse race?

The dominant talking point of the NBA offseason was what color jersey Damian Lillard would be putting on this season.

After spending 11 years with the Portland Trail Blazers, the 33-year-old player requested a trade during the summer, expressing a desire to seek out new challenges beyond Oregon. Surprisingly, despite speculation that he wanted to join the Miami Heat, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, resulting in a power shift across the entire league.

Teaming up with two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lillard forms a formidable offensive duo that not only elevates the Bucks to championship contenders but also positions them as the favorites to win it all. This trade has brought excitement and optimism, erasing some of the disappointment from last season when the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat.

The team did suffer the loss of Jrue Holiday in the three-team deal - eventually, he was traded from the Trail Blazers to the Boston Celtics. Nonetheless, the combination of Lillard and Antetokounmpo will pose a formidable challenge for opposing defenses.

Antetokounmpo dribbles the ball during a game against the Lakers.

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE/Getty Images

The duo expressed high praise for their future prospects ahead of the season following their first preseason game together on the Bucks' court. "I've never experienced this level of openness before. In addition, I've never seen any player being double-teamed from the very beginning of a game," revealed the Greek Freak in response to Milwaukee's preseason victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN.

Lillard expressed his thoughts on the matter during the post-game interview with ESPN, stating, "It's incredible to have another player who is so dominant on the court. He can truly take control of a game and secure a victory for us. From the very beginning, the opposing team attempted to pressure and restrict me, but they failed to account for Giannis, who was the recipient of my passes."

Lillard further added, "It's almost amusing to think that they continued to employ this strategy throughout the entire game. We were more than prepared to face it. The way I see it, we could have kept executing plays like this indefinitely. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

Antetokounmpo high-fives Lillard before the start of a preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sarah Phipps/AP

The Bucks main opponent in the Eastern Conference is likely to be the Celtics, who themselves are coming off the back of a disappointing playoff defeat to the Heat.

Boston's title aspirations are led by the dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. After years of near-misses, many believe that this could be their best chance to overcome obstacles and secure the organization's first NBA championship since 2008. Additionally, the presence of Holiday and Kristaps Porziņĝis on the roster only strengthens their chances. While second-year head coach Joe Mazzulla still has room for improvement in his decision-making during crucial moments, Boston is expected to make a serious push for the title due to its talented and star-studded lineup.

The Celtics and the Bucks, two of the most star-studded teams in the Eastern Conference, are anticipated to face off in an epic battle for a spot in the NBA Finals.

Holiday dribbles during the second half of the Celtics' preseason game against the New York Knicks.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Notably, the Philadelphia 76ers and the reigning MVP Joel Embiid may have a different perspective on this matter. However, the Bucks and the Celtics could present formidable challenges in the Eastern Conference.

Wide open?

In the Western Conference of the NBA, a contrasting narrative unfolds.

The Denver Nuggets, reigning champions, commence their quest to defend the title with immense determination. The team is led by the formidable duo of two-time MVP, Nikola Jokić, and the skilled Jamal Murray.

Despite their title-winning success, the team has experienced significant departures in Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, raising concerns about its roster's depth.

Nonetheless, Denver maintains a strong foundation with Jokić and Murray leading the offense. Their partnership has proven to be the NBA's most formidable two-man offensive force, although Antetokounmpo and Lillard may challenge that assertion this year.

But the Nuggets face tough competition in a conference filled with talented teams who are ready to capitalize on any mistakes made by the current champions. The Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, and Dallas Mavericks all have their own aspirations and legitimate reasons to believe that this could be their year.

The Suns have a strong belief that they can pose a significant challenge to the Nuggets for the championship title. This confidence has been further bolstered by the addition of Bradley Beal, who joins the already impressive lineup of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Last season, Durant joined the team towards the end, leaving little time for proper coordination on the court, especially due to injury setbacks. However, with a full offseason to prepare and the inclusion of Beal in their roster, expectations are high for head coach Frank Vogel, who is in his first year with the team. The team is anticipated to compete for the prestigious Larry OBrien trophy.

The other Western teams have reasons for optimism as they are led by star players. However, they also face uncertainties. The Grizzlies will face challenges with star point guard Ja Morant's absence for the first 25 games of the season. He was suspended due to "conduct detrimental to the league" after a video on Instagram Live went viral, showing him seemingly displaying a gun while in a vehicle with others. This incident occurred just two months after his previous suspension for a similar video.

The Clippers have struggled to find success since the arrival of their two star players, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, due to their ongoing and persistent injuries. The same can be said for Zion Williamson and the Pelicans.

After a breakthrough season last year, where they finally made the playoffs after a 17-year drought, the Kings will be looking to replicate that success. However, with minimal changes made to their team, the question remains whether their continuity will be advantageous or if it will allow other teams to catch up.

The Warriors, Lakers, Timberwolves, and Mavericks are all filled with high expectations for the season ahead. However, each team faces its own set of challenges that need to be addressed before the season kicks off. With such talented rosters, the conference has become highly competitive, and every game carries significant playoff implications.

Rookies to keep an eye on

The anticipation for the next crop of NBA rookies is always buzzing, but this year, it has reached unprecedented heights, largely thanks to the emergence of one individual: Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama emerged as a highly regarded prospect from France, triggering a fierce competition among NBA teams last season to secure the chance to draft him. Eventually, the San Antonio Spurs emerged victorious in the draft lottery for the 2023 season, granting them the opportunity to select Wembanyama as their first pick. This acquisition led him to join forces with esteemed coach Gregg Popovich in the vibrant city of San Antonio.

The level of excitement surrounding the arrival of this potential generational talent hasn't been seen since LeBron James joined the NBA in 2003. As a result, Spurs TV games have become significantly more intriguing propositions than they were before.

Wembanyama dunks the ball during the game against the Heat.

Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

Many have already predicted that Wembanyama will win the Rookie of the Year award because of his impressive preseason performances. However, he could face tough competition from Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Holmgren, who was chosen by the Thunder in last year's draft, was unable to play his rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury in his right foot that occurred before the 2022 training camp started.

Consequently, the 7'1" center would become eligible for the Rookie of the Year accolade. Judging by the promising displays he has exhibited during preseason and the Summer League, it is evident that he has the potential to become a formidable opponent after being away from the game for a year.

Following their encounter in the preseason, the two players have already begun to establish a rivalry. Holmgren contributed 21 points and nine rebounds, while Wembanyama scored 20 points during the Thunder's victory over the Spurs. Throughout the game, their direct confrontations frequently pitted them against each other.

However, there was a standout moment during the game when Wembanyama demonstrated his strength by overpowering Holmgren to score a basket and draw a foul. Flexing his muscles while Holmgren was on the floor, replays revealed that Wembanyama's head accidentally made contact with Holmgren's head. As a result, Holmgren later took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to comment, "The headbutt is an unstoppable move for sure." With both players occupying similar positions, their ongoing rivalry promises to be a fascinating head-to-head battle as they navigate their careers in the NBA.

Elsewhere, there are several other promising newcomers that fans should pay attention to. Specifically, Scoot Henderson is aiming to step into Lillard's shoes with the Trail Blazers, while the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, were selected by the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons respectively in the following draft picks.

A format change

The NBA has announced the introduction of a new annual competition called the In-Season Tournament, set to debut during the 2023-24 season. This tournament aims to offer all 30 teams a chance to compete and will take place between Friday, November 3, and Saturday, December 9. The NBA hopes that this tournament will give players and teams an additional opportunity to secure victories, engage fans in a fresh manner, and generate heightened interest in the early stages of the regular-season schedule.

All 30 teams have been divided into five-team groups according to their performance in the previous season. Each team will play four games against the other teams in their group on tournament nights, which are held every Tuesday and Friday from November 3 to 28. The only games played on these nights will be the In-Season Tournament group games, except for November 7, which is the national Election Day in the US.

From the group stage, eight teams will move forward to the knockout stage, where there will be single-elimination games in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game.

Teams will be vying for a prize pool and the prestigious NBA Cup in the new In-Season Tournament. The tournament will also honor an MVP and an All-Tournament team.

With the exception of the final game, all matches in the tournament will contribute to the teams' regular-season standings.