Most Hyped NBA Season since…

Mark Stein at ESPN is reporting a deal that would send Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey is heating up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5610989

We will have to wait and see how this plays out, but the point I want to look at is the anticipation we have coming into this NBA season. The entire offseason of the NBA has been eventful and intriguing.

If Carmelo leaves, honestly even if he doesn’t, we’re looking at the most hyped season of basketball since….I don’t know. 1996 certainly came with a lot of hype with Jordan coming back to the Bulls for a full season after his comeback in 95 ended with a loss in the playoffs.

I’ll leave that question up for debate. Let’s look at the reasons this season is so intriguing, and then I ask you: When’s the last time (if ever) an NBA season has been this highly anticipated?

1. Miami Heat

In case you haven’t heard, this guy LeBron James, the best basketball player in the world changed teams. He brought with him another all-star Chris Bosh and will be joining a champion and one of the top 5 players in the league, Dwyane Wade.

I don’t need to say much else, because it has all been said. Nonetheless, this new trio will have people watching and talking all year long.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

The defending champs are going for a three peat. If they succeed it would be Phil Jackson’s fourth three peat. Take a second and get your head around that. How many coaches would do anything to have won four NBA championships and this guy could have won three in a row four times? Crazy.

Not to mention, Kobe Bryant trying to get his sixth championship, and the possibility of a Lakers/Heat final.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

While the sports world has turned on LeBron and decided the Heat will be the bad guy, everybody has fallen in love with Kevin Durant. He was unbelievable for team USA in the FIBA world championships, and his teammate Russell Westbrook also stood out.

This team has more young talent than anyone in the league, and Durant looks ready to take a step into the elite level of NBA stardom, if he hasn’t already.

4. The other contenders

The Celtics made it to game 7 of the finals last season and have stacked their front line with some more veterans and will likely make another run. Where Carmelo goes will certainly add another level of intrigue to the season. Chicago looks ready to take a leap after adding Boozer to an already tough team. Also don’t forget Dwight Howard and the Magic.

As we wait and see what happens with Carmelo, this NBA season can’t come soon enough for sports fans. Training camps begin next week and soon we will get to see how all this plays out.

So the question is, when have we had a more hyped season than 2010-11?

Mark Stein at ESPN is reporting a deal that would send Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey is heating up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5610989

We will have to wait and see how this plays out, but the point I want to look at is the anticipation we have coming into this NBA season. The entire offseason of the NBA has been eventful and intriguing.

If Carmelo leaves, honestly even if he doesn’t, we’re looking at the most hyped season of basketball since….I don’t know. 1996 certainly came with a lot of hype with Jordan coming back to the Bulls for a full season after his comeback in 95 ended with a loss in the playoffs.

I’ll leave that question up for debate. Let’s look at the reasons this season is so intriguing, and then I ask you: When’s the last time (if ever) an NBA season has been this highly anticipated?

1. Miami Heat

In case you haven’t heard, this guy LeBron James, the best basketball player in the world changed teams. He brought with him another all-star Chris Bosh and will be joining a champion and one of the top 5 players in the league, Dwyane Wade.

I don’t need to say much else, because it has all been said. Nonetheless, this new trio will have people watching and talking all year long.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

The defending champs are going for a three peat. If they succeed it would be Phil Jackson’s fourth three peat. Take a second and get your head around that. How many coaches would do anything to have won four NBA championships and this guy could have won three in a row four times? Crazy.

Not to mention, Kobe Bryant trying to get his sixth championship, and the possibility of a Lakers/Heat final.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

While the sports world has turned on LeBron and decided the Heat will be the bad guy, everybody has fallen in love with Kevin Durant. He was unbelievable for team USA in the FIBA world championships, and his teammate Russell Westbrook also stood out.

This team has more young talent than anyone in the league, and Durant looks ready to take a step into the elite level of NBA stardom, if he hasn’t already.

4. The other contenders

The Celtics made it to game 7 of the finals last season and have stacked their front line with some more veterans and will likely make another run. Where Carmelo goes will certainly add another level of intrigue to the season. Chicago looks ready to take a leap after adding Boozer to an already tough team. Also don’t forget Dwight Howard and the Magic.

As we wait and see what happens with Carmelo, this NBA season can’t come soon enough for sports fans. Training camps begin next week and soon we will get to see how all this plays out.

So the question is, when have we had a more hyped season than 2010-11?