5 increasingly bold NBA predictions for the highly anticipated 2024–25 season

1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will win his first NBA MVP

Gilgeous-Alexander was the runner-up for the award last season, as he led the Thunder to the number one seed in a tough Western Conference. With the team around him improving with the acquisitions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, I expect OKC to finish as the one seed again, only this time, SGA breaks through and adds his first MVP award to his resume.

Gilgeous-Alexander further established himself as one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA, as he averaged 30 PPG on 53 percent shooting and had a true shooting percentage of 64 percent. He had 51 games of 30 or more points. 

He was also a great two-way player for the Thunder, as he was near the top of the league in deflections and loose balls recovered. All of this led to another All-NBA first team for Alexander and he is just getting started.

The West will likely be tough again, but OKC has one of the best rosters in the conference. Their unique blend of versatility on both ends of the floor will lead to a highly successful season, with SGA leading the way and becoming the franchise’s third MVP winner and first since Russell Westbrook in 2017.