When the 2023-24 NBA season tips off on Tuesday, fans will be treated to an extraordinary opening night featuring four Finals MVPs and five of the NBA’s all-time 75 greatest players. This star-studded event promises to give us a glimpse into the highly competitive Western Conference.
The two games scheduled for opening night are the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors.
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These matchups will showcase the talents of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and Anthony Davis – players who were not even in the league when the NBA announced its 50 greatest players in 1996. These five players alone represent 20% of the 25 new players on the prestigious list.
Adding to the excitement, the league’s next list of the top 100 players is expected to include the two-time NBA MVP and 2023 Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, who will likely crack the top 50. Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Devin Booker could also find themselves on this list in the future.
However, the significance of these games goes beyond individual accolades. The Nuggets, Lakers, Warriors, and Suns are all legitimate title contenders this season. The Nuggets, fresh off their 2023 championship, have proven their ability to compete at the highest level.
The Lakers, with their 2020 championship pedigree, boast a star-studded roster led by LeBron James. The Warriors, with four titles in the past nine seasons, are always a force to be reckoned with. And the Suns, last season’s finalists, have shown tremendous growth and potential.
But these four teams are not the only ones to watch out for in the loaded Western Conference. The Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Clippers have the talent to make deep playoff runs given the right circumstances.
The New Orleans Pelicans, especially with the electrifying Zion Williamson, were one of the top teams in the West last season when healthy. The Dallas Mavericks, led by the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, are also strong contenders.
The rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, and the higher expectations for the Minnesota Timberwolves further contribute to the fierce competition in the West.
As new ESPN NBA analyst Bob Myers aptly puts it, “The West is so hard because there’s such a thin margin for error.” Myers, who served as Golden State’s top basketball executive for a decade, understands the challenges and intensity of the Western Conference.
He acknowledges the Denver Nuggets as a standout team, given their recent success and the exceptional talent of Nikola Jokic. However, beyond the Nuggets, the competition becomes more intense and unpredictable.
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With the NBA’s star-studded opening night featuring four Finals MVPs and a preview of the crazy competition in the Western Conference, basketball fans are in for a thrilling start to the 2023-24 season.
The games on TNT will undoubtedly showcase the incredible talent and fierce determination of these teams as they battle for supremacy in one of the most challenging conferences in NBA history.
