Here are three trends to watch and some stand-out player performances to keep an eye on as the 2024-25 NBA season progresses. Perhaps the most unexpected of these changes has been the fantastic emergence of rookie James. He, too, is close to making his own return to the court! He’s, as of this writing, fifth in rookie scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. What makes this all so impressive is the fact that he’s doing it while playing out of position at point guard on a very flawed roster.
And with only a few weeks left before he turns 19, James’s performance has wowed NBA Draft analysts. At his best Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers has been unstoppable every time he’s been healthy enough to get on the floor. That paints an optimistic picture of his team’s upside. The events this past year in the league overall has led to some serious questioning of the Dallas Mavericks. Even their star player, Luka Doncic, isn’t guaranteed to stay off of the trading block if captivating offers come in.
Rookie Standouts and Their Impact
James’s impact has been felt all over the floor, as he’s currently ranking in the team’s top-three players in nearly every major statistical category. He has a real chance to change games in so many ways. This skill has NBA-readyed him to be a haymaker in an early proving-to-be-best-in-class rookie class.
Although playing point guard isn’t his true calling, James being a triple threat minimizes the need to keep him in a box. His youth and the stress of being on a roster starved for clear identity and direction is playing with fire. Still, he remains focused on developing his game and contributing as much as possible.
“It’s got to get a little better, but the pieces aren’t changing,” – a West executive
The enthusiasm surrounding James is indicative of a pretty stellar class of rookie challengers for this year’s Rookie of the Year title. They have stepped up beautifully in their new-found roles as full-fledged NFL players, rattling off a historic start to the season. All signs point to this year’s draft class being one of the best in recent memory.
The Mavericks’ Dilemma
Dallas Mavericks opening themselves to a dangerous long-term position right now. So much so that rumors are swirling about potential trades involving their star player Luka Doncic. If the Mavericks are presented with really strong offers, exploring a trade for Doncic might be the best option on the table.
The narrative on Doncic should be understood in the context of a disappointing season for the Mavericks. Executives have been surprised that the average age of major participants, such as James and Leonard, is 37 years. This is indicative of a younger talent focus trend across franchises.
“Oklahoma City, Houston and Denver are really good,” – a West executive
The Mavericks’ early season woes have been a cause for concern throughout the league’s circles. Executives are questioning whether the current roster can compete effectively against younger teams that are quickly rising through the ranks.
Struggles for the Clippers
The other area where the Los Angeles Clippers’ struggles this season might be most focused in depth has been on pace and tempo. On top of that, they rank last in the league in fast break points, which has really limited their overall offensive potency.
Kawhi Leonard’s recent ankle sprain and significant foot inflammation have sidelined him from games, further complicating matters for the team. As he works his way back into rhythm, his play will be pivotal in helping the Clippers get their mojo back.
“They are bottom 10 in defensive rating and bottom 10 in net rating as I’m looking at it right now and they make the third-fewest 3s in the NBA,” – a scout
In fact, veteran players such as Brook Lopez, Nicolas Batum, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Chris Paul have failed to produce enough reliable performances. An unfortunate combination of injuries and failure to meet expectations from veteran players has left the Clippers scrambling to find answers.
The Rise of Oklahoma City Thunder
Part of the reason for their success is that the Oklahoma City Thunder have developed into one of the league’s most dynamic squads. This is a stark opposite to LA. They have been the runaway season winners with a ruthless 80-15 score. Their overall success, of course, has contributed to that, including a stellar point differential of plus-15.6 points per 100 possessions.
Part of the reason for their success relies on the chemistry of a deep, defensively responsible, balanced roster. And perhaps more importantly to analysts, they’ve found a system of play that plays entirely to their strengths and covers for their lack of weaknesses.
“Sometimes when they struggle on offense they hang their heads and slow down,” – an East coach
The Thunder’s ability to maintain focus and energy throughout games has set them apart from other teams that struggle with consistency. Given how well they’re playing, they’ve rapidly turned into playoff dark horses.
Notable Trends Among Other Teams
The Orlando Magic have created some noise as of late on the court, winning five of their last seven games. Their offensive performance has radically turned around, ranking in the top 10 during this stretch. This is an incredible turnaround when you consider they were first in pace last in the league last season.
In this revitalization, the acquisition of assistant coach Joe Prunty deserves a lot of credit. In particular, his direction on player movement and ball distribution helped lead to an overall increase in team offensive efficiency.
“Bane will settle in eventually. But you still have a ball-dominant, iso star in Paolo that doesn’t scream ball movement, player movement and getting open shots,” – a West executive
Even with these positive changes, people are worried about Paolo Banchero’s style of play. His desire to take over possessions most of the time can kill the flow of the team’s overall offense.
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