2023-24 NBA and Utah Jazz Season Predictions from the SLC Dunk staff

With the beginning of the 2023-24 NBA season, the SLC Dunk staff continued their annual tradition of attempting to predict the upcoming season. Check out last season’s (mostly inaccurate) predictions here. The league is wide open this year, and the Jazz could end up anywhere in the Western Conference standings. Our predictions might be as inconsistent as 2014 Alec Burks, but like him, we’re letting them fly.

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League Awards

MVP

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Calvin: Nikola Jokic

James: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Sven: Nikola Jokic

Jason: Jayson Tatum

Riley: Jayson Tatum

Anthony: Nikola Jokic

Tavan: Luka Doncic

Lake: Nikola Jokic

Jeff: Nikola Jokic

Nate: Luka Doncic

Zach: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Sam: Luka Doncic

Jordan: Giannis Antetokounmpo

MVP runner-up

Calvin: Giannis Antetokounmpo

James: Nikola Jokic

Sven: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Jason: Nikola Jokic

Riley: Nikola Jokic

Anthony: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Tavan: Nikola Jokic

Lake: Jayson Tatum

Jeff: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Nate: Nikola Jokic

Zach: Stephen Curry

Sam: Nikola Jokic

Jordan: Nikola Jokic

Defensive player of the year

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Calvin: Giannis Antetokounmpo

James: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Sven: Evan Mobley

Jason: Anthony Davis

Riley: Evan Mobley

Anthony: Bam Adebayo

Tavan: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Lake: Victor Wembanyama

Jeff: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Nate: Kawhi Leonard

Zach: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Sam: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Jordan: Anthony Davis

Rookie of the year

Calvin: Victor Wembanyama

James: Victor Wembanyama

Sven: Victor Wembanyama

Jason: Victor Wembanyama

Riley: Victor Wembanyama

Anthony: Victor Wembanyama

Tavan: Victor Wembanyama

Lake: Victor Wembanyama

Jeff: Victor Wembanyama

Nate: Scoot Henderson

Zach: Chet Holmgren

Sam: Victor Wembanyama

Jordan: Victor Wembanyama

Sixth man of the year

Calvin: Bobby Portis

James: Chris Paul

Sven: Immanuel Quickley

Jason: Immanuel Quickley

Riley: Derrick White

Anthony: Immanuel Quickley

Tavan: Norman Powell

Lake: Norman Powell

Jeff: Malik Monk

Nate: Eric Gordon

Zach: Chris Paul

Sam: Yuta Watanabe

Jordan: Immanuel Quickley

Coach of the year

Calvin: Chris Finch

James: Frank Vogel

Sven: Joe Mazzula

Jason: Mark Daigneault

Riley: Tom Thibadeaux

Anthony: Mike Malone

Tavan: Mark Daigneault

Lake: Mark Daigneault

Jeff: Mike Malone

Nate: Will Hardy

Zach: Quin Snyder

Sam: Adrian Griffin

Jordan: Gregg Popovich

Clutch player of the year

Calvin: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

James: Nikola Jokic

Sven: Anthony Edwards

Jason: Damian Lillard

Riley: Jayson Tatum

Anthony: De’Aaron Fox

Tavan: Damian Lillard

Lake: Jayson Tatum

Jeff: Damian Lillard

Nate: Damian Lillard

Zach: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Sam: Donovan Mitchell

Jordan: Damian Lillard

Most Improved Player

Calvin: Anfernee Simons

James: Austin Reeves

Sven: Tyrese Maxey

Jason: Cade Cunningham

Riley: Tyrese Maxey

Anthony: Anthoney Edwards

Tavan: Tyrese Maxey

Lake: Cade Cunningham

Jeff: Walker Kessler

Nate: Cade Cunningham

Zach: Tyrese Maxey

Sam: Mikal Bridges

Jordan: Jeremy Sochan

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League Standings and Playoffs

NBA champions

Set Number: X163696 TK1

Calvin: Denver Nuggets

James: Milwaukee Bucks

Sven: Milwaukee Bucks

Jason: Milwaukee Bucks

Riley: Boston Celtics

Anthony: Phoenix Suns

Tavan: Milwaukee Bucks

Lake: Los Angeles Lakers

Jeff: Milwaukee Bucks

Nate: Utah Jazz

Zach: Denver Nuggets

Sam: Phoenix Suns

Jordan: Milwaukee Bucks

1st seed in the Western Conference

Calvin: Denver Nuggets

James: Oklahoma City Thunder

Sven: Denver Nuggets

Jason: Denver Nuggets

Riley: Denver Nuggets

Anthony: Denver Nuggets

Tavan: Denver Nuggets

Lake: Los Angeles Lakers

Jeff: Denver Nuggets

Nate: Phoenix Suns

Zach: Denver Nuggets

Sam: Denver Nuggets

Jordan: Denver Nuggets

1st seed in the Eastern Conference

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Calvin: Boston Celtics

James: Boston Celtics

Sven: Boston Celtics

Jason: Boston Celtics

Riley: Boston Celtics

Anthony: Boston Celtics

Tavan: Boston Celtics

Lake: Boston Celtics

Jeff: Boston Celtics

Nate: Milwaukee Bucks

Zach: Boston Celtics

Sam: Milwaukee Bucks

Jordan: Boston Celtics

Western Conference champions

Calvin: Denver Nuggets

James: Phoenix Suns

Sven: Los Angeles Lakers

Jason: Denver Nuggets

Riley: Denver Nuggets

Anthony: Phoenix Suns

Tavan: Denver Nuggets

Lake: Los Angeles Lakers

Jeff: Denver Nuggets

Nate: Utah Jazz

Zach: Denver Nuggets

Sam: Phoenix Suns

Jordan: Denver Nuggets

Eastern Conference champions

Calvin: Milwaukee Bucks

James: Milwaukee Bucks

Sven: Milwaukee Bucks

Jason: Milwaukee Bucks

Riley: Boston Celtics

Anthony: Milwaukee Bucks

Tavan: Milwaukee Bucks

Lake: Boston Celtics

Jeff: Milwaukee Bucks

Nate: Boston Celtics

Zach: Milwaukee Bucks

Sam: Boston Celtics

Jordan: Milwaukee Bucks

Surprisingly good team

Calvin: Minnesota Timberwolves

James: Utah Jazz

Sven: Orlando Magic

Jason: Oklahoma City Thunder

Riley: New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony: Sacramento Kings

Tavan: Minnesota Timberwolves

Lake: Indiana Pacers

Jeff: Oklahoma City Thunder

Nate: Houston Rockets

Zach: Atlanta Hawks

Sam: New Orleans Pelicans

Jordan: Indiana Pacers

Surprisingly bad team

Calvin: Golden State Warriors

James: Memphis Grizzlies

Sven: New Orleans Pelicans

Jason: Philadelphia 76ers

Riley: Phoenix Suns

Anthony: Dallas Mavericks

Tavan: Miami Heat

Lake: Philadelphia 76ers

Jeff: Dallas Mavericks

Nate: LA Clippers

Zach: Dallas Mavericks

Sam: Philadelphia 76ers

Jordan: Miami Heat

Darkhorse contender

Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Calvin: Sacramento Kings

James: Oklahoma City Thunder

Sven: Minnesota Timberwolves

Jason: Cleveland Cavaliers

Riley: Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony: Miami Heat

Tavan: New Orleans Pelicans

Lake: Oklahoma City Thunder

Jeff: Sacramento Kings

Nate: Cleveland Cavaliers

Zach: Oklahoma City Thunder

Sam: Miami Heat

Jordan: Brooklyn Nets

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Utah Jazz Predictions

Utah Jazz record

Calvin: 38-44

James: 44-38

Sven: 40-42

Jason: 35-47

Riley: 42-40

Anthony: 33-49

Tavan: 37-45

Lake: 33-49

Jeff: 40-42

Nate: 56-26

Zach: 33-49

Sam: 35-47

Jordan: 30-52

Playoffs, Play-in, or Lottery?

Calvin: Lottery

James: Playoffs

Sven: Play-In Tournament

Jason: Lottery

Riley: Play-In Tournament

Anthony: Lottery

Tavan: Lottery

Lake: Lottery

Jeff: Play-In Tournament

Nate: Playoffs

Zach: Lottery

Sam: Lottery

Jordan: Lottery

How many All-Stars will the Utah Jazz have?

Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

Calvin: 1

James: 1

Sven: 1

Jason: 0

Riley: 1

Anthony: 1

Tavan: 1

Lake: 0

Jeff: 1

Nate: 2

Zach: 0

Sam: 1

Jordan: 0

How many All-NBA players will the Utah Jazz have?

Calvin: 0

James: 1

Sven: 1

Jason: 0

Riley: 1

Anthony: 0

Tavan: 0

Lake: 0

Jeff: 1

Nate: 1

Zach: 0

Sam: 1

Jordan: 0

How many All-Defensive team players will the Utah Jazz have?

Calvin: 1

James: 1

Sven: 0

Jason: 0

Riley: 0

Anthony: 0

Tavan: 1

Lake: 0

Jeff: 1

Nate: 1

Zach: 1

Sam: 1

Jordan: 0

Breakout Utah Jazz player

Calvin: Kris Dunn

James: Keyonte George

Sven: Keyonte George

Jason: John Collins

Riley: Ochai Agbaji

Anthony: Keyonte George

Tavan: Keyonte George

Lake: Keyonte George

Jeff: Walker Kessler

Nate: Collin Sexton

Zach: Keyonte George

Sam: Keyonte George

Jordan: Ochai Agbaji

Over/Under 1.5 trades involving the Utah Jazz this season?

Calvin: Over

James: Over

Sven: Over

Jason: Under

Riley: Under

Anthony: Over

Tavan: Over

Lake: Over

Jeff: Over

Nate: Under

Zach: Over

Sam: Over

Jordan: Over

The first Jazz player traded

Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images

Calvin: Talen Horton-Tucker

James: Talen Horton-Tucker

Sven: Talen Horton-Tucker

Jason: Talen Horton-Tucker

Riley: Talen Horton-Tucker

Anthony: Talen Horton-Tucker

Tavan: Talen Horton-Tucker

Lake: Talen Horton-Tucker

Jeff: Talen Horton-Tucker

Nate: Talen Horton-Tucker

Zach: Talen Horton-Tucker

Sam: Talen Horton-Tucker

Jordan: Talen Horton Tucker

Jazz points per game leader

Calvin: Lauri Markkanen

James: Lauri Markkanen

Sven: Lauri Markkanen

Jason: Lauri Markkanen

Riley: Lauri Markkanen

Anthony: Lauri Markkanen

Tavan: Lauri Markkanen

Lake: Lauri Markkanen

Jeff: Lauri Markkanen

Nate: Lauri Markkanen

Zach: Lauri Markkanen

Sam: Lauri Markkanen

Jordan: Lauri Markkanen

Jazz rebounds per game leader

Calvin: Walker Kessler

James: Walker Kessler

Sven: Walker Kessler

Jason: Walker Kessler

Riley: Walker Kessler

Anthony: Walker Kessler

Tavan: Walker Kessler

Lake: Walker Kessler

Jeff: Walker Kessler

Nate: Walker Kessler

Zach: Walker Kessler

Sam: Walker Kessler

Jordan: Walker Kessler

Jazz assists per game leader

Calvin: Talen Horton-Tucker

James: Keyonte George

Sven: Jordan Clarkson

Jason: Talen Horton-Tucker

Riley: Jordan Clarkson

Anthony: Kris Dunn

Tavan: Keyonte George

Lake: Keyonte George

Jeff: Jordan Clarkson

Nate: Keyonte George

Zach: Keyonte George

Sam: Keyonte George

Jordan: Collin Sexton

Jazz steals per game leader

Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Calvin: Kris Dunn

James: Kris Dunn

Sven: Kris Dunn

Jason: Lauri Markkanen

Riley: Kris Dunn

Anthony: Kris Dunn

Tavan: Kris Dunn

Lake: Kris Dunn

Jeff: Kris Dunn

Nate: Kris Dunn

Zach: Kris Dunn

Sam: Kris Dunn

Jordan: Kris Dunn

Jazz blocks per game leader

Calvin: Walker Kessler

James: Walker Kessler

Sven: Walker Kessler

Jason: Walker Kessler

Riley: Walker Kessler

Anthony: Walker Kessler

Tavan: Walker Kessler

Lake: Walker Kessler

Jeff: Walker Kessler

Nate: Walker Kessler

Zach: Walker Kessler

Sam: Walker Kessler

Jordan: Walker Kessler

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Thoughts

• Nikola Jokic is so dominant that 12 out of the 13 of us listed him as the MVP or the runner-up for MVP.
• 11/13 of us have Boston as the 1st seed in the East, but only 4/13 have them in the Finals.
• Victor Wembanyama is very hard to pick against.
• The Defensive Player of the Year award is up for grabs.
• The Jazz are a mystery.
• We all think THT is most likely to be traded.
• Who will lead the Jazz in assists? It could be anybody.