Every NBA team's most pleasant surprise in 2023-24: Lakers' D'Angelo Russell, young Warriors among eye-openers

There were plenty of positive developments this season that we couldn't have seen coming

So much of the NBA season is predictable. Most fans likely anticipated that the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets would be atop their respective conferences at the end of the year. You probably knew who 90% of the All-Stars would be before the season even began. That's why, when something special and unexpected happens, it's important to take notice. Points 18.2 21.3 Rebounds 4.3 6.2 Assists 2.4 4.1 FG% 42% 55% 3P% 33% 40%

Every team, whether a championship favorite or at the bottom of the standings, has someone or something that caught them off guard this season -- a rookie who developed faster than expected, a resurgent veteran or a team that somehow turned a weakness into a strength. These developments have gotten the good teams to where they are, and given the bad teams hope for the coming years.

As the regular season winds to a close, here's a look at every team's most pleasant surprise from the 2023-24 NBA season: