What does this NBA season leave us with?

There 2022-2023 season ended by following a common thread that we’ve been carrying with us since the start of the season: a relentless uncertainty that has reigned from day one to last of this strange foreign basketball year.

But we also had the opportunity to discover new heroes, to look to the future with high hopes and above all to enjoy the emotions that only this game can give; What were the best things this season left us with?

denver nuggets win

Already in the first days of the season i denver nuggets They sent a clear message: This was the right year to get serious.

the return of Jamal MurrayQuietly in the regular season and then surprising in the playoffs sparked the enthusiasm that was missing in a group that consolidated around huge numbers the past two years Nikola JokicSimply the best player in the league.

Also, with a very strong roster brilliantly managed by a super Mike Malone and the contract situation already in place for the future, get ready to see more of their successes in the years to come.

End of Miami Heat cycle?

To counteract the Nuggets’ success, there are Miami HeatThose who lost the finals but dominated the East, lined up with giants Boston and Milwaukee.

Here the future is much less clear: Jimmy Butler At 34 he was the hero of this team, but he is too lonely to have won the coveted ring; After years of market stagnation, the feeling that hovers in Florida is that it’s time to forcefully revamp the roster, adding a scorer of 25-30 points per evening who could be called damian lillard (Kyrie Irving would also be free, a stoic franchise set on the human values ​​of players like the Heat would hardly bet on him).

In short, Butler and Erik Spoelstra are sure, the rest will be written.

Suns, Celtics and 76ers continue to climb

Despite an impressive roster featuring Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid, among others, these franchises have been hanging in the balance of promising contenders for years, showing they have the potential to pay off if a few adjustments are made.

Of these, expect significant changes, especially starting with the arrival of two former NBA champions such as Bench in Phoenix and Fila. Frank Vogel

And nick nurse,

However, for Boston, the main issue is and remains the future. jaylen brownThat should tell us a lot, if not everything, about the next few years of the Celtics.

Lakers return in style

After two years of overall mediocrity, i Los Angeles Lakers They managed to qualify for the playoffs and reached the conference finals after a horror first half of the season.

Anthony Davis seems to have returned to its highest level, Lebron James It is still the same phenomenon of the last 20 years and given new vitality by Austin Reeves (Which should be completely renewed) and the partners have allowed us to eliminate the inconvenient Memphis Grizzlies and the reigning champions of the Warriors.

next season, which will probably belast Dance This team will undoubtedly be at the highest level of the league to attempt to win Del Rey’s dream fifth title.

the future is in good hands

Never has anyone felt like this year that a change of basketball era is imminent: jason tatum eventually became one of the top 3-4 faces of the league, luka doncic (despite an indecent Dallas) it will certainly already be from next year, Anthony Edwards shown that he has all the criteria to get there and paolo bancaroThe one who emerged alone from an arguably unforgettable draft class seems to have the skill and charisma needed to truly rise to the top.

the future will lead us Victor Vembanyama And scooter hendersonwho will set the NBA on fire next year with their generational talent, just waiting to be showcased at basketball’s highest level.

Apart from all this, new rules For load management into the regular season (and trust us, we’ll quickly realize how important they are), uncertainty about the future ja morant And all the big news coming soon has us very hopeful for the next season, which is going to be even more beautiful and exciting.