Boston Celtics

The Celtics secured the 18th championship in franchise history, propelled by a talented roster and a sustained stretch of good health. The offseason acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis proved impactful, despite the associated injury risk that each player carries.

While he managed to play 57 games during the regular season, Porzingis could not shake the injury bug completely. Lower extremity issues continued to be a problem as he missed regular season action with strains of his calf and hamstring. He missed 10 straight postseason games after straining his soleus and suffered a unique injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Porzingis tore the medial retinaculum in his ankle and missed both Finals games in Dallas. He managed to return for Game 5, helping Boston secure the title-clinching win. Days later he underwent surgery to address the problem.

Now the Celtics will begin their title defense without Porzingis as enters the season still recovering from the procedure. Still Boston remains the prohibitive favor to win the 2024-25 championship but may still need a repeat performance from Art Horne, Patrick Chasse, and the rest of the Celtics medical staff to secure back-to-back titles.