The 2024-25 NBA season has long had the feel of a transitional year for the league, full of different diverging possibilities.
For a league defined by dynasties more than any other, we just came off a stretch with six different champions in six years, only the second such instance in NBA history. And this season offered contradictory evidence for what might come next -- whether it be more of the same parity, a return to the old era of hegemons, or some third option that defies easy classification.
For instance, we're coming off a top-heavy regular season in which the No.