The NBA season is hours away from starting. Every season there are surprises, game-changing moments, and plays that will never be forgotten. As we inch closer to tipoff for the NBA season, here are three intriguing storylines to be on the lookout for throughout the 2020-21 NBA season.
3. Christian Wood As Most Improved Player
My preseason MVP was Christian Wood. Although he only played one game, Wood had a stellar debut against the San Antonio Spurs as he scored 27 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. Wood who just attempted 8 shots per game last season will likely see a bump in minutes and usage per game. There is a good chance that Wood will start alongside newly added Houston Rockets center Demarcus Cousins. Wood is primed for a breakout year and has a chance to contribute to a solid Houston Rockets team. He could quickly become a premier center in the NBA.
2. Paul George’s Comeback Season
It’s not like Paul George had a bad season or anything. He averaged 21ppg, 5.7rpg, and 3.9apg throughout the 2020 regular season. However, once it became playoff time George was horrific. George had six games with 15 points or less and for a star caliber player like George, that’s unacceptable. During the NBA offseason, George signed a 5-year extension with the Los Clippers. George has stated numerous times that he has trained extremely hard in the offseason and is ready to come back in MVP form. Can he make the comeback?
1. Tight ROTY Race
It’s no secret that this year’s draft class was loaded with a ton of depth. There could be so many players in line to win ROTY this year. We could start all the way with players like Deni Avdija, Obi Toppin, or Killian Hayes. There are also bigger names like Lamelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and James Weisman. Even a guy like Bol Bol could win ROTY. While many people are expecting one of those players to win the award my dark horse picks would either be Isaac Okoro (the defensive stud from Auburn), or Malachi Flynn from San Diego State. Be on the lookout for a very controversial yet close and exciting race for ROTY.
