The Warriors, like the plethora of prime time games on their The 2024-25 NBA season schedule showsare still one of the most watchable teams in the league.
But will Golden State’s viewership translate into victories?
ESPN published a column The NBA’s predictions for the 2024-25 season are excellent, and it’s safe to say the Warriors are bullish. Here’s how the network, based on its experts’ votes, sees Golden State’s season potentially playing out:
Team Turnaround: Which Teams Will Take a Big Step Forward?
1. Memphis Grizzlies: 63 points (42% of first-place votes)
2. San Antonio Spurs: 48 points
3. Golden State Warriors: 18 points
4. Phoenix Suns: 14 points
T-5. Milwaukee Bucks: 9 points
T-5. Philadelphia 76ers: 9 points
T-7. Houston Rockets: 6 points
T-7. Orlando Magic: 6 points
T-7. Sacramento Kings: 6 points
10. Brooklyn Nets: 5 points
T-11. Charlotte Hornets: 1 point
T-11. Miami Heat: 1 point
T-11. New Orleans Pelicans: 1 point
T-11. Portland Trail Blazers: 1 point
ESPN expects the Warriors to be a better product.
Last season, of course, Golden State finished 46-36 and missed the NBA playoffs for the first time with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all healthy.
Curry is presented at Paris 2024 Summer Olympics Golden State’s team, which now has less Thompson and more role players like Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson, still needs to improve.
Team Turbulence: Which Team Will Fall This Season?
1. Los Angeles Lakers: 53 points (43% of first-place votes)
2. Los Angeles Clippers: 25 points
T-3. Atlanta Hawks: 19 points
T-3. Chicago Bulls: 19 points
T-5. Denver Nuggets: 12 points
T-5. Milwaukee Bucks: 12 points
7. Miami Heat: 10 points
T-8. Golden State Warriors: 7 points
T-8. Phoenix Suns: 7 points
10. Dallas Mavericks: 6 points
11. Brooklyn Nets: 5 points
12. Philadelphia 76ers: 4 points
T-13. Houston Rockets: 3 points
T-13. New York Knicks: 3 points
T-13. Washington Wizards: 3 points
While some ESPN staffers expect the Warriors to thrive next season, others expect them to fail.
However, compared to the votes received by the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, the Warriors do not seem to have such a negative perception.
Which player will be named to the All-Star Game for the first time?
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs: 101 points (90% of first-place votes)
2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder: 30 points
3. Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks: 20 points
4. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets: 13 points
5. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: 9 points
6. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers: 7 points
7. Buddy Hield. Golden State Warriors: 3 points
T-8. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat: 1 point
T-8. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets: 1 point
Hield was one of the best marksmen throughout his eight years NBA career.
The Warriors acquired him in a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, likely replacing Thompson.
Hield averaged 12.1 points per game and 2.8 assists in 25.8 minutes per game in 2023-24. He shot 40 percent — exactly — for his career on three-pointers, averaging three per game.
Which star will have the biggest impact on his new team?
1. Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers: 68 points (48% of first-place votes)
2. Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks: 40 points
3. Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder: 31 points
4. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings: 24 points
5. Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs: 16 points
6. Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks: 9 points
Thompson ended his 13-year Warriors career with an 0-of-10 shooting nightmare in an NBA Play-In Tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings.
The four-time NBA champion had a terrific Season 2023-24averaging 17.9 points per game and shooting 38.7 percent from the perimeter.
Who knows what version of Thompson the Mavericks will get?
Dallas, beaten in the 2024 NBA Finals by the Boston Celtics, thinks it has obtained the perfect third star to add with Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić.
Warriors fans, at least, might feel like Thompson isn’t what he once was; even with an insurmountable love for the future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
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