The 2015-16 NBA season is just 50 days away, so here are 50 things we’re excited about heading into this year.
1 The Thunder coming back healthy and ready to contend. – Jack
2 Seeing the Jazz take the next step and, potentially, making a push for a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference. – Zach
3 Victor Oladipo dunking on people all day long. – Chris
4 Seeing how the Clippers’ newly acquired depth fares in the postseason. – Ryne
5 Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley harassing opposing point guards for 48 minutes a night. – Jack
6. Anthony Davis and whatever he has coming next. -Matt
7 Gregg Popovich instructing the Spurs to repeatedly intentionally foul someone on a nationally televised game. – Ian
8 Seeing how the Warriors try and improve upon near perfection. – Taylor
9 ANOTHER YEAR OF GIANNIS, ANOTHER YEAR OF EUROSTEPS GYROSTEPS FROM THE 3-POINT LINE – Ryne
10 Jabari Parker being on the floor. – Matt
11 Will the Kings’ locker room make it to December without bursting into flames? – Taylor
12 A full season of the Stifle Tower starting. – Donnie
13 Rajon Rondo’s redemption tour with Sacramento. – Jack
14 Al Jefferson using drop steps and post moves like it’s 1994. – Chris
15 Kobe Bryant jaw-jutting, chewing his jersey, and getting buckets. – Ian
16 Reggie Jackson and Brandon Jennings somehow trying to play together. – Taylor
17 Kemba Walker crossovers. – Chris
18 Memphis continuing to grit and grind their way to a top seed in the West while everyone looks for ways to write them off. – Jack
19 Wild overreactions from Knick fans on everything Kristaps Porzingis does, good or bad. – Donnie
20 Camera shots of confused-looking Randy Wittman. – Taylor
21 Carmelo Anthony hitting daggers and putting up points like nobody’s business. – Chris
22 Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers reuniting in Los Angeles. – Jack
23 Oklahoma City getting LOUD. – Chris
24 October 29. 10:30 PM EST. TNT. Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks. – Jack
25 Kevin Durant, Chris Bosh, and Paul George returning to form. – Donnie
26 Seeing Julius Randle play. – Taylor
27 More teams going the small ball route that the Warriors used to win the title last year. – Zach
28 Rubio, KAT, and Wiggins playing together. – Ryne
29 Russell Westbrook dunking with so much force that the entire building shakes. – Chris
30 To see if Victor Oladipo is able to take the next step forward and see if he can put his name in the conversation of best shooting guards in the league. – Zach
31 Knicks fans wishing the destruction of their team less than a month into the season. – Chris
32 The Pacers seemingly entering the 21st century. – Wes G.
33 Tim Duncan continuing to do Tim Duncan things at age 70. – Taylor
34 Seeing if Aaron Gordon’s dominance in Summer League was more than just Summer League. – Chris
35 Kawhi Leonard dunking while expressing zero emotion. – Ian
36 Nikola Mirotic foul-drawing pump fakes. – Donnie
37 Gregg Popovich interviews. – Chris
38 Hassan Whiteside making a run at DPOY. – Wes G.
39 Andrew Wiggins floating through the air with ease. – Chris
40 Ty Lawson, James Harden and Dwight Howard. – Taylor
41 Rudy Gay being under-the-radar awesome in Sacramento. – Chris
42 Jusuf Nurkic “accidentally” stepping on someone and starting a shoving match. – Donnie
43 Finding out which retread coach and 2002 Kings reserve Vivek hires to next take the helm in Sacramento. – Wesley S.
44 John Wall flying down the floor in transition and doing something incredible. – Matt
45 Kyrie Irving or John Wall debates. – Chris
46 That random point guard that gets thrown into the Kyrie or Wall debate. – Chris
47 J.R. Smith breaking barriers and becoming the first athlete to like a model’s photo on Instagram during a sporting event. – Ian
48 Mario Hezonja getting in everyone’s face. – Taylor
49 A total unknown playing out of his mind one night. – Chris
50 The All-Star Game in the 6. – Wes G.