30 reasons to be excited for the 2017-18 NBA season

With the 2017-18 NBA season nearly upon us, it’s time to take a look at the 30 biggest reasons to be excited about the return of professional basketball.

Let’s not bury the lede: Only one team wins the NBA championship every season, and in 2017-18, it’s probably going to be the Golden State Warriors again. Not to take the wind out of anyone’s sails, but they’re on the path to becoming the greatest dynasty since Michael Jordan‘s Chicago Bulls — and could potentially even surpass them a few years from now.

However, professional basketball has always been one of the most predictable sports leagues. Before any given season, you can usually peg the 2-4 most likely title favorites. This isn’t March Madness or the NFL Playoffs, where a perfectly timed hot streak can carry Cinderellas to their Prince Charming; in a seven-game playoff series, the best team usually wins out.

However, the start of a new season is always cause for celebration, from the league’s title contenders down to the bottom-feeders. From superstars on the rise to highlight plays to young players getting developmental minutes, every fanbase has something to look forward to.

Those more temporary thrills wear off at some point, usually when the end to each team’s season closes in. But after a summer of manic player movement, the NBA landscape is as different and intriguing as it’s ever been.

From new super-teams to an exciting rookie class to all these personnel changes across the league, it’s time to take a look at the 30 biggest reasons to be excited about the upcoming 2017-18 NBA season.