ChatGPT’s Forecasts For The 2024-2025 NBA Season

Artificial intelligence has been around for a long time now, but it’s largely remained in the background of our lives. That all changed about two years ago with the introduction of ChatGPT, and has only gained steam ever since — at this point, it seems destined to take over our lives, both professional and personal. 

But what about sports? Can AI make predictions as well, and as creatively as a human can? Well, let’s put it to the test. We asked ChatGPT to make some pertinent predictions about the upcoming NBA season, and here’s what it had to say. 

Here’s the Prompt

“Make some NBA predictions for me, please.

Can you tell me: 

1. What will the top five teams (record wise) be in the league during the 2024-2025 season?

2. Which team will win the championship, and who will they beat?

3. Who will win MVP, and why?

4. Are there any blockbuster trades that will change the landscape during the season? If so, who do you think will be traded, and what will be the implications?”

Here’s the Projections it Returned

Sure! Here are some detailed NBA predictions for the 2024-2025 season:

Top Five Teams (Record-wise)

1. Denver Nuggets: With Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in their prime, the Nuggets will dominate the regular season. Their depth and cohesion, along with the emergence of younger players like Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon's consistent play, will make them the team to beat.

2. Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo will continue to lead the Bucks with his all-around game, supported by a strong roster featuring Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and a deep bench.

3. Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will continue their upward trajectory, while the addition of Kristaps Porziņģis will add another layer to their offensive arsenal. The Celtics' defensive versatility and depth will ensure a strong regular season performance.

4. Phoenix Suns: The Suns' high-powered offense, led by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, will be a nightmare for opponents. Their ability to score from anywhere on the court will secure them a top-tier record.

5. Golden State Warriors: With Stephen Curry still performing at an elite level and a healthier roster, the Warriors will be back among the top teams. The integration of younger players like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, along with the veteran leadership of Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, will make them formidable.

Championship Prediction

Winner: Denver Nuggets  

Runner-up: Boston Celtics

The Nuggets will win the championship, showcasing their depth and versatility. Nikola Jokić will dominate the Finals, and the Nuggets' well-rounded team will outlast the Celtics in a hard-fought series. The Celtics will put up a strong fight, but the Nuggets' depth and Jokić's brilliance will be the deciding factors.

MVP Prediction

Nikola Jokić: The Joker will continue to amaze with his unique skill set, averaging a near triple-double while leading the Nuggets to the best record in the league. His consistent excellence and impact on both ends of the floor will earn him another MVP award. His vision, scoring, and rebounding will set him apart from the competition.

Blockbuster Trades

1. Joel Embiid to the Miami Heat

Details: 

• Philadelphia 76ers receive: Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, multiple first-round picks

• Miami Heat receive: Joel Embiid

Implications:

• Miami Heat: Acquiring Joel Embiid will instantly make the Heat a top contender in the Eastern Conference, providing them with a dominant inside presence to complement Jimmy Butler.

• Philadelphia 76ers: This trade would signal a rebuild for the 76ers, but acquiring Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro along with multiple first-round picks sets them up well for the future. The young talent and draft capital will provide a strong foundation for the next phase of their development.
  

2. Zach LaVine to the New York Knicks

Details: 

• Chicago Bulls receive: RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, multiple first-round picks

• New York Knicks receive: Zach LaVine

Implications:

• New York Knicks: Acquiring Zach LaVine will give the Knicks a dynamic scorer and playmaker to pair with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. His offensive prowess will make the Knicks a more formidable team in the Eastern Conference.

• Chicago Bulls: This trade would provide the Bulls with young talent in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, along with future draft picks to help them rebuild or retool around their remaining core.
  

3. Karl-Anthony Towns to the Atlanta Hawks

Details: 

• Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Clint Capela, De'Andre Hunter, multiple first-round picks

• Atlanta Hawks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns

Implications:

Atlanta Hawks: Adding Karl-Anthony Towns will provide the Hawks with a versatile big man who can stretch the floor, rebound, and score in various ways. Pairing him with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray will significantly boost the Hawks' playoff prospects.

Minnesota Timberwolves: This trade would allow the Timberwolves to build around Anthony Edwards, adding a solid center in Clint Capela, a versatile forward in De'Andre Hunter, and future draft picks to continue their rebuild.

These trades would drastically change the landscape of the NBA, creating new powerhouses and setting up rebuilding teams with promising futures.

Well, How Did it Do?

Honestly, this isn’t terrible — although it does have that classic AI staleness and predictably cliche, cringe tone, which we’ll forgive, for now. 

Starting from the top down, this top five prediction is pretty realistic and reasonable through the front half, but the second half…not so much. 

Assuming that the Suns’ redundant, offensively-leaning roster will sort things out enough to get into the top 5 is extremely optimistic, and putting top five expectations on a 35-year-old (albeit aging gracefully) Steph Curry is also idealistic at best. 

Champion prediction — reasonable, and I agree. 

MVP prediction — this one is a bit of a wildcard year-to-year, but this is the best bet.

Blockbuster trades — Despite recently being given the ability to browse the internet to inform its answers, the AI got some details wrong here, including certain names that are no longer on these teams respective rosters. 

Aside from that, only one of these trades (LaVine) is even remotely realistic, as both of these other contenders are highly unlikely to swap out their star big men. 

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