ESPN Analysts Break Down 2013-14 Season, Team by Team

These days when anyone mentions the NBA, the first thing—or person—to come to mind is LeBron James. So is it absurd to devote an entire NBA preview to one player?

ESPN The Magazine’s annual NBA Preview issue, which hits newsstands today, October 18, suggests it isn’t absurd at all.  Like him, love him or hate him, LeBron James is the NBA at its best: the King is going for a three-peat with the Miami Heat, he has won four of the past five NBA MVP awards, his right arm is as fast as a helicopter blade, and he could notch a triple-double every night if he wanted.

The 2013-14 NBA Preview Issue dives deep into the upcoming and highly anticipated season, from pre-season to post-season projections, highlighting the biggest offseason moves, top teams and players, and with particular focus on King James and his current reign.

LeBron and Co. may envision dynasty as destiny, but The Mag’s projections—from winning lineups to win totals to title chances—see the Heat as sure-fire Eastern Conference champs but as underdogs for that hard-to-get three-peat, not accomplished since the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-2002.

In the accompanying cover feature – “The King James Version” – columnist Chris Broussard sat down with LeBron to talk about his relationships with teammates, his killer instinct and how he plans to stay on top.

The NBA Preview Issue also features “LeBron Confidential” where The Mag got the inside scoop on what 26 of LeBron’s NBA peers really think about his 2013-14 plans, his notorious flopping and much more, as well as “ESPN The Predictions,” which feature 12 experts and 180 opinions—all on one page.

Other 2013-14 NBA Preview Issue Features:

The LeBron Issue
Love him or hate him, it’s now LeBron’s NBA. And as has been said all along, we are all witnesses.

The Alpha Bet
With two titles in three years, the LeBron/D-Wade partnership has been a grand success. But is it sustainable?
By Brian Windhorst

Posterized!
A LeBron dunk survivor lives to tell about it.
As told by Sam Alipour

The Lost Stories of LeBron James
Three Ohioans intertwined by their dreams: one massively succeeded, one tragically failed and one rode a T-shirt to fame.
By Eli Saslow, Pablo S. Torre and Hunter Atkins

…Not Two?
Why you-know-who’s three-peat is anything but a sure thing.

ESPN The Predictions
One page, 12 experts, 180 opinions

The Headband Talks Back
LeBron found out the hard way; Headband don’t lie.
By Ty Wenger

For more information on the NBA Preview issue, visit espn.com.

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