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NBA season predictions: Will anyone unseat Boston? Who wins MVP?

No NBA team has repeated as champion since Golden State did it in 2017 and 2018, and no America-born player has won MVP since James Harden in 2018.

Will that change this season? Boston is in great position to repeat with its returning core led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

The MVP is another story. Tatum and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards are the U.S. players best positioned now to compete for the award, but the favorites were still born outside of the U.S. – Dallas’ Luka Doncic, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

But that’s why the games are played. Who will reach the NBA Finals? Who will win the title? MVP? Rookie of the Year? Sixth Man of the Year? Coach of the Year? Most Improved? Clutch Player?

There is not universal consensus. However, every expert, except one, on this panel picked Boston to win the East and return to the Finals, and every expert, minus one, predicted San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama will win Defensive Player of the Year.

USA TODAY Sports staffers Jeff Zillgitt, Scooby Axson, Lorenzo Reyes and Heather Tucker, along with USA TODAY Network NBA writers Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis; Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star; Jim Owczarski of the Journal in Milwaukee; and Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, make their predictions:

NBA predictions for the 2024-25 season

2024-25 Eastern Conference finals

Jeff Zillgitt: Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers

Scooby Axson: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Lorenzo Reyes: Boston Celtics-New York Knicks

Damichael Cole: Boston Celtics-New York Knicks

Dustin Dopirak: Boston Celtics-New York Knicks

Jim Owczarski: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Duane Rankin: Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers

Heather Tucker: Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers

2024-25 Western Conference finals

Jeff Zillgitt: Oklahoma City Thunder-Denver Nuggets

Scooby Axson: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Lorenzo Reyes: Denver Nuggets-Oklahoma City Thunder

Damichael Cole: Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns

Dustin Dopirak: Oklahoma City Thunder-Denver Nuggets

Jim Owczarski: Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns

Duane Rankin: Dallas Mavericks-Minnesota Timberwolves

Heather Tucker: Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns

2024-25 NBA Finals

Jeff Zillgitt: Boston Celtics-Oklahoma City Thunder

Scooby Axson: Boston Celtics-Minnesota Timberwolves

Lorenzo Reyes: New York Knicks-Denver Nuggets

Damichael Cole: Boston Celtics-Oklahoma City Thunder

Dustin Dopirak: Boston Celtics-Denver Nuggets

Jim Owczarski: Boston Celtics-Oklahoma City Thunder

Duane Rankin: Boston Celtics-Minnesota Timberwolves

Heather Tucker: Boston Celtics-Phoenix Suns

2024-25 NBA champion

Jeff Zillgitt: Boston Celtics

Scooby Axson: Boston Celtics

Lorenzo Reyes: Denver Nuggets

Damichael Cole: Oklahoma City Thunder

Dustin Dopirak: Boston Celtics

Jim Owczarski: Oklahoma City Thunder

Duane Rankin: Boston Celtics

Heather Tucker: Boston Celtics

2024-25 NBA MVP

Jeff Zillgitt: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Scooby Axson: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Lorenzo Reyes: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Damichael Cole: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dustin Dopirak: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Jim Owczarski: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Duane Rankin: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Heather Tucker: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year

Jeff Zillgitt: Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards

Scooby Axson: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Lorenzo Reyes: Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

Damichael Cole: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Dustin Dopirak: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Jim Owczarski: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Duane Rankin: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Heather Tucker: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

Jeff Zillgitt: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Scooby Axson: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Lorenzo Reyes: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Damichael Cole: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Dustin Dopirak: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Jim Owczarski: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Duane Rankin: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Heather Tucker: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Jeff Zillgitt: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Scooby Axson: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Lorenzo Reyes: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Damichael Cole: Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

Dustin Dopirak: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Jim Owczarski: Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

Duane Rankin: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Heather Tucker: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year

Jeff Zillgitt: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Scooby Axson: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Lorenzo Reyes: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Damichael Cole: Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

Dustin Dopirak: Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Jim Owczarski: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Duane Rankin: Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

Heather Tucker: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of the Year

Jeff Zillgitt: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks

Scooby Axson: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Lorenzo Reyes: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Damichael Cole: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dustin Dopirak: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Jim Owczarski: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Duane Rankin: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Heather Tucker: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year

Jeff Zillgitt: Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics

Scooby Axson: Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

Lorenzo Reyes: Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

Damichael Cole: Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks

Dustin Dopirak: Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies

Jim Owczarski: Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic

Duane Rankin: Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics

Heather Tucker: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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