Surpassing:NBA 2023-24 win totals: Predicting every team's record for the new season

Five consecutive NBA seasons,Surpassing five different champions: Toronto, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets.

Will the Nuggets repeat? Will one of those other teams win it again? Or will another team emerge as the sixth different champ in six consecutive seasons?

Who will play in the Eastern and Western conference finals? Is Boston-Milwaukee a lock in the East? How many teams in the West start the season with a legit chance to reach the conference finals? Four? Five? Six? More?

And what about MVP? Three players born outside of the U.S. (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid) have won the past five MVPs. Is someone else ready to win the award?

Here are USA TODAY Sports staff predictions for the 2023-24 season:

Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports NBA writer

East finals: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks

West finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns

NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Lakers

Champion: Celtics

MVP: Jayson Tatum, Celtics

Sixth Man of the Year: Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Lakers

Most Improved Player of the Year: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Coach of the Year: Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

Executive of the Year: Brad Stevens, Celtics

Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY Sports reporter

East finals: Bucks vs. Celtics 

West finals: Suns vs. Denver Nuggets 

NBA Finals: Bucks vs. Nuggets 

Champion: Bucks 

MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

Sixth Man of the Year: Chris Paul, Warriors 

Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs 

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Lakers 

Most Improved Player of the Year: Jordan Poole, Washington Wizards 

Coach of the Year: Mike Malone, Nuggets 

Executive of the Year: James Jones, Suns 

Scooby Axson, USA TODAY Sports reporter

East finals: Bucks vs. Celtics 

West finals: Suns vs. Nuggets 

NBA Finals: Bucks vs. Suns 

Champion: Bucks

MVP: Jayson Tatum, Celtics

Sixth Man of the Year: Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks

Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Heat

Most Improved Player of the Year: Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets

Coach of the Year: Mark Daigneault, Thunder 

Executive of the Year: Jon Horst, Bucks

Heather Tucker, USA TODAY Sports NBA editor

East finals: Celtics vs. Bucks

West finals: Nuggets vs. Suns

NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Suns

Champion: Celtics

MVP: Jayson Tatum, Celtics

Sixth Man of the Year: Derrick White, Celtics

Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Lakers

Most Improved Player of the Year: Tyler Herro, Heat

Coach of the Year: Will Hardy, Utah Jazz

Executive of the Year: Jon Horst, Bucks