For the second year, Flashscore offers you its ranking of the 100 most anticipated players of the 2024/2025 NBA season. Quite a few thirty-somethings between places 30 and 21, veterans hungry for revenge.
Five years since Kawhi Leonard arrived with great fanfare at the Clippers. And as a result, only one conference final, reached… while he was injured. Physical fragility – 2017 was his last season with more than 70 games – became a running gag, which cost him the majority of the first round of the playoffs and the Olympic Games. Here he is at 33, without Paul Georgeand not sure of starting the season on time. We doubt we will see him return to the very, very high level, unless pride takes over.
Stats 2023/2024 : 23.7 points, 41.7% from three points
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 25 points minimum / 70 matches minimum / candidate All-NBA First Defensive Team
It’s been a year, Buckets had just come off a legendary playoff campaign, which had allowed the Heat to slip into the final. On a cloud, he fell back to earth, like his team. Miami missed its shot, and its leader fell back in the hierarchy. If it is normal that Bam Adebayo take the reins, Butler must justify their status and salary. Especially since he is still chasing a ring as he enters the last phase of his career at 35.
Stats 2023/2024 : 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5 assists
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 23 points / 8 rebounds / 8 assists
Here again, a collective and individual disappointment. However, the leader slightly increased his stats on a regular basis, but in the playoffs, he was clearly not at the level of the title season in 2023, and the consequence was that Denver had to abandon its dreams of a double even before the finals conference. We have to get back into the fight, the Canadian has extended, Denver is counting on him, it’s up to him to get things back on track.
Stats 2023/2024 : 21.2 points, 6.5 passes
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 25 points / 8 passes / candidate All-Star
One of the transfers of the summer. After 5 frustrating years in Los Angeles, head to Philadelphia for PG13. You might think he was on the decline, but he signed a huge contract to give himself one last chance at the title alongside Joel Embiid et Tyrese Maxey. But of course, we will have to make this golden trio work. And since the agreement with Kawhi Leonard never really operated at full capacity, one can doubt the success of the company.
Stats 2023/2024 : 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 25 points / NBA All-Defensive First Team / All-Star
Here is a player that the change of franchise did not disrupt. After 8 seasons in Toronto, Spicy P discovered Indianapolis and joined a young but ambitious team, and by bringing his consistency and energy, he added the piece that sent the Pacers to the conference finals. Perfect lieutenant of Tyrese Haliburtoncomplementary to Myles Turnerhe will be a key asset for a team that will have to do the hardest part this season: confirm.
Stats 2023/2024 : 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 25 points / 10 rebounds / All-Star
The dragster further increased his stats last season and confirmed that he belonged to the elite of the league’s leaders. Problem, Sacramento, after finally finding the playoffs in 2023, moved back last season and missed the postseason. The competition is of course ruthless, but the fact of being expected played a role. Now, his individual brilliance must be transformed into collective results. This is how you become a superstar.
Stats 2023/2024 : 26.6 points, 5.6 passes
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 28 points / 8 passes / All-NBA Team
The transfer from last offseason. The duo with Giannis Antetokounmpo had to break everything, but apart from the benches in the infirmary, there was nothing on the horizon in an extremely disappointing season. Give me Dolla not getting any younger, getting injured more and more, which cost him part of the first round of the playoffs. The time for revenge has come, but does he have enough pride for it? The clock is ticking, and at 34, still no ring.
Stats 2023/2024 : 24.3 points, 7 passes
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 28 points / 9 passes / All-Star holder
Domino effect of the trade Lillard, Holiday landed in Boston via Portland. And his arrival brought everything the Celtics board hoped for: defense, experience, management, and especially the locker room. Of course, his stats have dropped from when he played lieutenant of the Greek Freak in Milwaukee. But what he brought went beyond that, especially in defense. Some will believe it was a coincidence that Boston finally won the title as soon as it arrived, but we don’t, since that was already the case with the Bucks. The ultimate role player/veteran.
Stats 2023/2024 : 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 16 points / All-NBA First Defensive Team
The comparison is possible with a player like Trae Young. Ice Trae is undoubtedly a better player individually speaking, but for three seasons, he has achieved nothing collectively speaking. Not to mention some defensive limitations and his reputation for coach killer. Nevertheless, he remains in the elite of NBA leaders, but his aura will diminish with each failed season of the Hawks. It is therefore time to show your leadership qualities, otherwise you risk slipping down the hierarchy.
Stats 2023/2024 : 25.7 points, 10.8 passes
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 28 points / 12 assists / direct qualification for the playoffs
Finally, it’s time for the French phenomenon who has already delighted the NBA in its first season. Everything has been said about the beginnings of Wemby, future star, future face of the NBA, without a doubt. The Frenchman wants to go fast, and this therefore requires a collective ascent. San Antonio offered him Chris Paul to work pick’n’roll, but above all to join in the race for playoffs. It’s hard to believe it for this season, but it will happen quickly regardless, like the fact that the Habs will possibly be Top 10 next year. We are expecting a big number this season.
Stats 2023/2024 : 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks
Reasoned objective 2024/2025: 25 points / 12 rebounds / 4 blocks / five by five / All-Star / All-NBA Team
