With less than a month left in the NBA season, the highest profile NBA storyline is the beef between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron. Not an actual on-court storyline. There have been many disappointments so far this season and media coverage deserves an article by itself.
Instead of looking ahead to the playoffs and awards, it’s better to look back on what’s happened and what we know. The NBA regular season is long and has twists and turns. However, it also has major disappointments along the way.
The list ahead has players, coaches, and franchises that are disappointments in one way or another.
Dallas Mavericks Owners and General Manager
Captain Obvious decided to join us for the first entry. Trading Luka Doncic is a bad idea any season, but trading Doncic after a finals appearance and before the Mavs were gearing up for another postseason run is malpractice.
The Dallas Mavericks now face the real possibility of forfeiting games due to injuries. Everything about this season has been a disappointment for the franchise.
Even worse is that the Mavericks could also lead this list next year. Mavs fans go to church and pray this disappointment of a season will end soon.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns want the season to end. They tried to trade Bradley Beal for at least three months. They then tried to trade Kevin Durant.
That’s just the players. Possibly the biggest disappointment in their entire franchise is head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Whatever offensive system he’s tried to implement has been disappointing. His defensive schemes don’t exist. Coach Bud isn’t getting along with star player Devin Booker either. Bud may be one and done in Phoenix.
The Suns are currently one and a half games out of the 10th seed. They entered the season with actual hype, and many people believed they’d easily make the playoffs.
The Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers’ season was over before it started. Star player Joel Embiid was sidelined early and looked drunk every time he played this season. His health is a huge priority moving forward, and getting him to stay healthy enough for two straight months is a win.
What doesn’t help the 76ers is their second-highest-paid player is Paul George. George is a great podcaster but hasn’t played basketball well all season. Embiid and George combined for 60 games this season.
Even worse than this is the vibes on this team are beyond repair. Head coach Nick Nurse hasn’t done the job many expected him to do. The front office is also in the hot seat. A disappointing star player, coach, and general manager is a recipe for disaster and has led to an underwhelming season.
The whole organization setup could look different at the start of the 2025-2026 season.
Miami Heat
After picking a fight with Jimmy Butler by not giving him the extension he wanted in the offseason, the Heat have had a horrible season.
No one was expecting the Miami Heat to contend for a title, but with a great coach and all-star caliber players fans expected an above .500 record. The Heat are currently nine games under .500. If you didn’t think that was disappointing, then add in the fact they spent the first half of the season hating one of their players.
If you don’t think that’s bad or disappointing, go look up “Terry Rozier betting scandal”.
The Miami Heat are in such bad shape this season that not even “Heat culture” is working. There hasn’t been a single player who was an afterthought but is a high-level contributor.
Conclusion
There were many other players, coaches, and teams I could’ve listed but I didn’t have all day. The Sacramento Kings would’ve made their way in but depending on the outcome of the playoffs they escape my ire.
If you enjoyed “Top Disappointments of the NBA Season” then check out Belly Up Sports! Follow me on Twitter/X @NikGable37
Featured Image: Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images
