With the 2022-23 NBA regular season tipping off this month, an analysis is in order regarding the biggest storylines for the season. These storylines revolve around teams, players, coaches, etc. The following analysis lists each storyline and explains why each might be pivotal this season.

5. Same superstars, new digs

The 2022 offseason featured a plethora of players joining new teams. Some of the most notable players wearing new digs this season include Dejounte Murray, now on the Atlanta Hawks, Donovan Mitchell, now on the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rudy Gobert, now on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Of the three teams, both the Hawks and Timberwolves made the playoffs with the Cavaliers losing to the Hawks in the play-in tournament. With each team adding a bona fide superstar to their rosters, expectations will be sky-high for these teams.

4. Which sophomore player will improve the most?

The 2021-22 NBA draft was considered extremely deep, and the tight Rookie of the Year race displayed that. Aside from last year rookie sensations Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes, who won Rookie of the Year, it will be interesting to see which second-year players improve the most. Some players to watch include the Indiana Pacer’s Chris Duarte, who averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Josh Giddey, who averaged 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, and the New Orleans Pelicans Herbert Jones, who averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

3. Will the Golden State Warriors repeat after practice punch?

The Golden State Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals, defeating the Boston Celtics 4-2, for their fourth championship in 8 years. With a healthy Klay Thompson and much of the championship roster intact, the Warriors are in a fantastic position to repeat as champions. However, after a fight at practice that included Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole, it will be interesting to see if their chances at repeating are affected in any way. Poole apparently seems to be putting the situation behind him, saying, “we’re going to play basketball” and signing a four-year, $140 million extension.

The team also started their title defense with a 123-109 win at home over the Los Angeles Lakers, with reigning Finals MVP Stephen Curry totaling 33 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists.

2. Ime Udoka’s suspension

The Boston Celtics suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 NBA season because of “multiple” policy violations. Assistant Joe Mazzulla will take over as interim head coach for the 2022-23 season. The suspension came after a months-long investigation by an outside law firm that discovered multiple violations of team policies. At a news conference, Owner Wyc Grousbeck said, “We go to great lengths…to run the organization with the central core value of respect and freedom in the workplace from harassment or any unwelcome attention.”

After making it to the NBA Finals in last season—albeit losing 4-2 to the Golden State Warriors—the Celtics will have to adjust to playing under Mazzulla as well as increased expectations. It will be interesting to see how the team responds to their new head coach and whether Udoka returns after his suspension officially ends June 30 of next year.

The Mazzulla era got off to a good start with a 126-117 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers in which Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 70 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists.

1. The Victor Wembanyama race

Every draft class has a player many assume will be consensus no. 1 overall pick. Victor Wembanyama looks to be that player in the 2023 NBA draft. The 7’3″ French product is considered to be one of the best European prospects of his generation. The 18-year-old currently plays for Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A and has been drawing a lot of hype. Wembanyama has so much potential that NBA analyst Richard Jefferson, who was teammates with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers, said that if he and James were in the same draft class, Wembanyama would be the no. 1 pick. James has also bought into the hype calling the French phenom a “generational talent” and “more like a unicorn”.