Predicting the 5 Most Improved Teams for 2024-25 NBA Season

Most NBA teams aim to get better every season.

Franchises want their offseason moves to make a quick impact and prove they've learned from past mistakes.

As we look ahead to the 2024-25 campaign, five teams have real potential to take a leap forward.

Some of these teams had a rough go last season.

One was hit hard by injuries, while another lost its star player and slid down the standings.

One team is also set to improve with another year under its coach's system.

Let's dive in.

2023-24 Record: 49-33 2023-24 Western Conference Standing: No.

6 2024 Postseason Result: Round 1 Loss to Minnesota (0-4) The Phoenix Suns' 2023-24 season did not go as planned.

Phoenix had championship aspirations after trading for Bradley Beal, creating a big three between him, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

Those aspirations, however, disappeared rather quickly with Beal playing only 53 games.

The idea was that Beal and Booker would tag team ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities.

Both did an admirable job, but it came at a cost, as being responsible for both began to wear down Booker.

Phoenix chose not to address the ball-handling and playmaking roles last offseason.

But that's a difference between the summer of 2023 and 2024, with the Suns recently signing Monte Morris and Tyus Jones, who will both let Booker and Beal focus on their scoring.

By the way, coaching is another significant change that should improve this Suns team.

Under new coach Mike Budenholzer, it is safe to assume the Suns will attempt way more threes.

Last season, the Suns were 25th in three-point attempts.

But when Bud coached the Milwaukee Bucks, they were regularly in the top five in attempts.

With the new guards making it easier for the stars and a coach who will encourage the team to shoot more threes, it is hard not to see the Suns as an improved team that could be a real problem in the Western Conference.

2023-24 Record: 27-55 2023-24 Western Conference Standing: No.

13 2024 Postseason Results: N/A Everyone's favorite "no one is talking about them" team (but everyone is actually talking about them) is the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis was snakebit last season.

Ja Morant, Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane all missed large amounts of time with injuries, which was the story of their year.

Unsurprisingly, Memphis is on this season's most improved list.

If Morant returns to his 2022-23 form, when he averaged 26.2 points and 8.1 assists, the Grizzlies should be a legitimate threat out West.

The Grizzlies' improvement goes beyond just getting healthy, though.

Last season, Jaren Jackson Jr.

got to expand his role.

The team found diamonds in the rough in GG Jackson and Vince Williams (unfortunately, both will start this season injured).

Both players should be able to show what they learned on a competitive team.

Another big difference makerand we mean big will be Zach Edey.

The 7'4", 305-pound rookie will be a fascinating piece for Memphis who should be a great screener for Morant and who hopefully holds up on defense.

But again, health is the main factor here.

If the injury bug stays away, the Grizzlies will be the biggest turnaround team this season.

2023-24 Season Record: 22-60 2023-24 Western Conference Standing: No.

14 2024 Postseason Results: N/A Wembanyama-mania took over San Antonio the moment the Spurs won the lottery in May 2023.

Victor Wembanyama's rookie season was nothing short of amazing.

There were highlights almost every night.

He did everything on his way to Rookie of the Year and even won a few votes for Defensive Player of the Year.

Of course, even with all of that, it did not net the Spurs many wins.

That will change this season.

In 2023-24, the Spurs were the youngest team in the NBA with an average age of 23.52 .

San Antonio addressed that this summer by bringing in two veterans, Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes.

The team IQ should only go up from last season with the addition of these veterans.

Also, there were times last season when guards struggled getting the ball to Wembanyama.

San Antonio was a below-average pick-and-roll team, 24th in points per possession when the ball went to the roll man and 23rd when the ball-handler kept it.

That is where adding Paul specifically will help San Antonio.

The Point Gawd, in a pick-and-roll role with Wembanyama, will be tough to cover.

More importantly, he will get Wemby the ball in the spots he needs.

Additionally, having Barnes on the roster gives Gregg Popovich the perfect power forward to stretch the floor and play Wemby at center.

In the end, the Spurs may not be a playoff or play-in team in 2025.

But they will win more games than the 22 they won last season.

2023-24 Season Record: 41-41 2023-24 Western Conference Standing: No.

11 2024 Postseason Result: N/A The Houston Rockets were the surprise team in the West last season.

They made a small run for the 10th seed before falling out of the race late in the year.

But they finished .500, and that was a great starting point for what comes next.

With another year under coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets should be a play-in team at the very least.

Houston is loaded with talent on the roster.

They have a good mix of veterans and young players, from Fred VanVleet to Alperen Sengun.

The key for the Rockets will be finding their offense.

In 2023-24, they were 10th in defensive rating but 20th in offensive rating.

This is where rookie Reed Sheppard can come in off the bench to provide some firepower.

If Houston's offense can make a slight improvement while the defense stays at the same pace as last season, the Rockets will lift off into the postseason.

2023-24 Season Record: 47-35 2023-24 Eastern Conference Standing: No.

7 2024 Postseason Result: Round 1 Loss vs.

New York Knicks (2-4) The Philadelphia 76ers had a subpar regular-season record last year because of Joel Embiid's injury.

This season, it is clear that Embiid will follow a load management plan, but unlike last year, the Sixers are better prepared to make up the difference.

The Sixers made the biggest splash in the offseason by signing Paul George away from the LA Clippers.

That is a massive upgrade over Tobias Harris.

George is a legitimate No.

2 option on most NBA teamshe'd even be a No.

1 option on some.

Philadelphia is a deeper team this year than last.

Tyrese Maxey leaped to stardom in 2023-24 with two backups in Kyle Lowry and Reggie Jackson.

They have a long list of wing role players, from Kelly Oubre Jr.

to Caleb Martin.

Daryl Morey has also finally found a legitimate backup center in Andre Drummond.

This is the best Sixers team Joel Embiid has been on, and even on nights he is resting, they have the tools to win games without him.

Don't overthink the 76ers.

They will be better this season..

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