To ring in the new year, theScore is looking ahead. While 2024 provided a number of indelible sports moments, 2025 promises to deliver its own share of memorable events and historic achievements. We've been counting down the 2025 storylines that have us most intrigued all week. Our five-part series concludes below with items 5-1.
The complete series:
5. How much is left in LeBron's tank?
LeBron James, basketball's nearly 40-year-old marvel, continues to amaze in his record-tying 22nd NBA season. Vince Carter is the only other man to play in as many campaigns, but, with respect to the 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, he wasn't averaging a near 23-point triple-double in Year 22 on 35 minutes per game. That infamous tweet incorrectly predicting James' post-30 decline? That was nearly a decade ago. Predict this man's downfall at your own peril.
But at the risk of James ridiculing this passage on whatever virtual reality social media exists in another 10 years, the Los Angeles Lakers megastar doesn't have much time left. He acknowledged as much himself.
We probably won't see the last of him in 2025 thanks to a $52.6-million player option for 2025-26, but an announcement that retirement's on the horizon is possible, and such an announcement would trigger several questions about his son, Bronny James, and the Lakers.
Bronny has a mostly guaranteed contract through 2026-27, but a $2.5-million team option for 2027-28 will loom large if his development goes askew and dad's already hung up his sneakers. If LeBron confirms plans to step away soon, the onus will be on the Lakers to prove their long-term commitment to Bronny. - Jonathan Soveta
4. Ovechkin chases down Gretzky
It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when.
After a disappointing 2023-24 season - by Alex Ovechkin's standards - in which he only potted 31 goals in 79 games during his age-38 campaign, it was thought Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record was safe in 2024-25. Ovechkin entered the campaign 41 goals back of Gretzky's 894 - a record that was once viewed as unbreakable due to major goaltending advancements in the modern era.
But Ovechkin proved the doubters wrong early on in 2024-25. He was well on his way to eclipsing the record this season with 15 goals through his first 18 games before suffering a fractured fibula in November - a rarity given Ovechkin's machine-like durability throughout his storied career. "The Gr8 Chase" is now back on after Ovechkin returned from the injury in late December. He scored in his first game back, too.
It'll be an uphill battle to break the record this season, with 24 goals needed in 44 games. It's a pace Ovechkin is capable of matching, so don't put it past the sport's greatest goal-scorer. But more likely than not, the record will be his by fall 2025, early in the 2025-26 campaign. - Josh Wegman
3. Will Djokovic win record 25th major?
He's hired former World No. 1 Andy Murray to achieve just that.
Novak Djokovic is stuck on 24 Grand Slams and needs one more to break a tie with Margaret Court and set the all-time record in both men's and women's tennis.
Despite taking exceptional care of his body, Djokovic has had a much tougher time staying fit of late. He pulled out of the French Open with a torn meniscus, and as sensational as he was at Wimbledon just weeks after surgery, he suffered the rest of the season, falling in the third round in the US Open before withdrawing from the ATP Finals.
Murray could help Djokovic navigate his late-career injury rash. The Scot spent most of his career managing pain. But his rivals are punishing. Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard with impeccable court coverage, beat Djokovic in consecutive Wimbledon finals, while World No. 1 Jannik Sinner won each of his last three matches against the Serb and was nearly unbeatable in 2024.
With Rafael Nadal joining Roger Federer in retirement, Djokovic is the last man standing from the most imposing era of men's tennis. He'll do everything to complete his legacy with a record no one is ever likely to reach. All he needs is one tournament to do it. It's hard to bet against someone who's made a career out of upsetting the establishment. - Anthony Lopopolo
2. What will Ohtani do for an encore?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are building a dynasty thanks to an unparalleled ability to draft, develop, retain, and acquire talent. The proof is in the price tags – teams overpaid free agents all offseason in hopes of keeping up. Not content to sit on the throne after winning a second World Series title in five years, the Dodgers signed two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a $182-million deal, extended NLCS MVP Tommy Edman, and reunited with playoff closer Blake Treinen and All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
However, it's reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani who remains their X-factor in 2025. He took home the hardware last year after recording the first season with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in MLB history, and now he's primed to return to the mound as a pitcher.
When his elbow's healthy, he's an ace with a career 3.01 ERA who strikes out 11.4 batters per nine innings. He, Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and a healthy Tyler Glasnow will form one of the most fearsome quartets of starting pitchers ever assembled. To summarize, it will be a shock if the Dodgers don't become MLB's first repeat champions since the New York Yankees in 2000. - Ben Wrixon
1. Can Chiefs complete historic 3-peat?
The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL's latest dynasty, but they enter 2025 eyeing something that no other franchise has ever done - winning three straight Super Bowls. No team has even reached the Big Game in the third year after winning it consecutively in the previous two campaigns.
Kansas City lifted its third Lombardi Trophy - the second in a row - of the Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid era in February, and the team returned Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and other cornerstones to make another deep playoff run. This regular season has seen the Chiefs play more close games than they would like, but make no mistake - K.C. still boasts an extremely clutch offense that is supported by a strong defense. That was enough for Mahomes and Co. to win it all 10 months ago, and it gives them a real shot at rewriting history in the 2025 postseason.
Can Mahomes do it again? Will Kelce and K.C.'s shorthanded group of pass-catchers step up one more time? It'll be fascinating to see if Kansas City can complete a historic three-peat in what should be its most challenging postseason yet. The Chiefs have several Hall of Famers on their side, but history is against them. - Caio Miari
What are you most excited about in 2025? Let us know in the comments!
