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How good will Brooklyn be?
Kevin Durant is back, and fans will finally get to see if his superstar pairing with Kyrie Irving can deliver Brooklyn an NBA title.
The Nets didn’t hold back last season as they signed Durant and Irving to mammoth max deals, but a serious Achilles injury to the former Seattle, Oklahoma City and Golden State star meant the pair have yet to share the court.
If Durant and Irving can build their chemistry on the court, then Brooklyn will be the team to watch in the east.
However, as the Houston Rockets can attest, superstars don’t always work well together.
Either way, Brooklyn’s fortunes will be a storyline to keep an eye on this season.
Is the Golden State dynasty over?
Steph Curry will have a huge challenge on his shoulders this campaign to keep his Golden State team in the mix for Championship success.
The 2020/21 season was supposed to be the return of the Splash Brothers and Golden State returning to the top of the pile in the west after a year when a mammoth injury toll curtailed their hopes.
However, they were dealt the worst possible news on the eve of the NBA draft with Klay Thompson ruled out for a second straight season after suffering an Achilles injury while rehabbing the knee injury which he suffered in the 2018/19 NBA Finals.
The Warriors are refusing to die wondering and have brought in talented wing Kelly Oubre and drafted towering centre James Wiseman with the number two pick alongside the returning Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.
This is a very different team to the one which won 73 games in 2016 or the one which secured three NBA titles in four seasons, but it could be one which catches the rest of the league by surprise.
At worst it will be another development year for the dubs as they wait for Thompson’s return in twelve months.
All eyes on the Aussies
While the superstars of the NBA are set to win most of the early headlines when the season tips off later this month, the Aussie contingent in the league shouldn't be ignored.
Ben Simmons has a new coach and supporting cast at the Philadelphia 76ers this campaign and the pressure will be on him - alongside Joel Embiid - to repay their fans who have spent a long time 'trusting the process'.
No team has a stronger Aussie flavour than the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020-21 with Matthew Dellavedova, Thon Maker and Dante Exum all set to take the court for the Cavs.
Patty Mills returns for his 10th campaign with the San Antonio Spurs this season and has declared he is determined to bring "FIBA Patty" to the NBA with the same show-stopping performances he puts on for the Boomers.
Joe Ingles will return for another season with Utah Jazz, while Aaron Baynes makes a move to the Toronto Raptors.
Finally, keep an eye out for rookie Josh Green who will be pushing for court time in a talented Dallas Mavericks team after being selected 18th overall in the draft.
LaMelo and RJ
Australian fans will have one eye on the Charlotte Hornets this season with former NBL Next Star LaMelo Ball ready to hit the floor for the Michael Jordan-owned team during his rookie season.
Just like his season in the NBL, Ball has fans all around the world anticipating his entry into the NBA desperate to see if the flashy highlight reels and high profile name translates into wins for the struggling franchise.
Drafted with the third overall pick, Ball has been impressive in limited pre-season action and is already starting to show why he is touted by many as one of the leagues next superstars.
Ex-New Zealand Breakers guard RJ Hampton is another former NBL Next Star who was taken in the first round.
Hampton will play for the Nuggets this season after being acquired by Denver in a draft-day trade with Milwaukee who selected him with the 24th pick.
Although unlikely to make as much of a splash as Ball in his rookie year, Hampton could prove to be a useful bench player for the Nuggets who should remain one of the top contenders in the Western Conference.
LeBron eyes number five
Fresh off winning his fourth NBA title, LeBron James will be back with a completely retooled Los Angeles Lakers team which boast arguably a stronger squad on paper than the one which eased past Miami in the NBA Finals.
Superstar big man Anthony Davis has signed a mammoth deal to remain in the City of Angels, while a bumper haul in free agency has given James a talented supporting cast.
A decade after Spanish sensation Pau Gasol played a major role in leading the Lakers to the 2010 NBA title, his younger brother Marc Gasol will be looking to emulate his success after making a move to the Staples Centre from the Toronto Raptors.
Everyone in the league will have the Lakers in their sights, while early-season games against Western Conference rivals Dallas and the Clippers could be an indicator of if LA can go back to back.
The season could very well be decided by which team can stay the healthiest and record the fewest positive test results.
