The 2024-2025 NBA season is officially here!

The Boston Celtics begin their quest for back-to-back titles against the New York Knicks to kick off the NBA season (7:30 p.m. ET). After a dominant run in the playoffs, the Celtics enter this season as favorites, but the intensity of the league competition won’t make it easy for a repeat in Boston.

The Knicks’ busy offseason, which included the signings of Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, has high title expectations in New York, while the Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George this offseason to maximize the flourishing of former MVP Joel Embiid. Will either candidate have enough star power to dethrone the Celtics in the Eastern Conference race?

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder will look to build on a memorable 2023-2024 season in which they became the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history. And OKC couldn’t hold on, adding key players like Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to bolster one of the deepest rosters in the league. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who face the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night (10 p.m. ET), are also among the teams with the Larry O’Brien Trophy in their sights after Anthony Edwards made a big leap forward last season. And despite the talent at the top of the conference, the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets could all make noise in the crowded West race.

Will it be Oklahoma City-Boston in the final? What other teams could crash the party? And which ones are most likely to be involved in transactions? Our NBA experts make their picks.

MORE: Preview of 30 teams | NBA rankings 100-51 | 50-11 | 10-1

Eastern Conference finals pick

Kendra Andrews: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Tim Bontemps: Celtics top 76ers in 6

Jamal Collier: 76ers over Celtics in 7

Chris Herring: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Baxter Holmes: Celtics over Knicks in 7

Tim MacMahon: Celtics over Bucks in 6

Bobby brands: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Dave McMenamin: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Kevin Pelton: Celtics top 76ers in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Celtics over Sixers in 7

André Snellings: Celtics top 76ers in 7

Marc Spears: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Michael Wright: Celtics over Bucks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks vs Celtics in 7

Final standings (Eastern champions): Celtics 12, Knicks 1, 76ers 1

Western Conference finals pick

Andries: Thunder over Mavericks in 6

Bontemps: Thunder over Nuggets in 6

Necklace: Thunder over Mavericks in 6

Herring: Thunder over wolves in 7

Holmes: Thunder over Timberwolves in 7

MacMahon: Thunder over Mavericks in 7

To notice: Sunbathing over the thunder at 7

McMenamin: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6

Pelton: Thunder over suns in 6

Shelburne: Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Snellingen: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6

Spears: Thunder over suns in 7

Wright: Thunder over Mavericks in 7

Youngmisuk: Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Final standings (West champions): Thunder 11, Timberwolves 2, Suns 1

NBA Finals picks

Andries: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Bontemps: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Necklace: 76ers over Thunder in 6

Herring: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Holmes: Celtics over Thunder in 7

MacMahon: Celtics over Thunder in 7

To notice: Celtics over Suns in 6

McMenamin: Celtics over Wolves in 5

Pelton: Thunder over Celtics in 7

Shelburne: Celtics over Thunder in 7

Snellingen: Timberwolves over Celtics in 7

Spears: Celtics over Thunder in 5

Wright: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Youngmisuk: Knicks over Thunder in 7

Final standings (NBA champions): Celtics 10, Thunder 1, 76ers 1, Knicks 1 Timberwolves 1

BONUS! The team most likely to be active in the trading market is _______

Andries: Heat

Bontemps: 76ers

Necklace: Heat

Holmes: Lakers

Herring: Lakers

MacMahon: Jazz

To notice: Warriors

McMenamin: Heat

Pelton: Pelicans

Shelburne: Warriors

Snellingen: Bulls

Spears: Warriors

Wright: Lakers

Youngmisuk: Bucks

Final count: Heat 3, Lakers 3, Warriors 3, Bucks 1, Bulls 1, Jazz 1, Pelicans 1, 76ers 1