Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder will begin their NBA title defense when the 2025-2026 season tips off next week. (Nate Billings/AP)
When the NBA launches the 2025-2026 season next week, the top-line story will be all of the missing faces: LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving are among the stars expected to be sidelined for opening night.
Even so, the formidable defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and a fresh chase pack will fill that star-power vacuum, while new broadcasters NBC and Amazon will shake up the league’s television and streaming products.