NBA is back! Just 71 days after the Los Angeles Lakers took the lead in Orlando, the league boldly begins a season that promises to be unique.
And this time without the protection of that bubble that essentially saved last season, allowing it to cross the finish line after the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Undoubtedly, the NBA is facing an uncertain campaign and very different from what we are used to, knowing in advance that the coronavirus has become part of our daily lives. Fewer games in the regular season, fewer trips, more players per team, zero All-Star Game. Everything to ensure a healthy and timely finish.
And that doesn’t matter the game on the field: Which team can dethrone “King” LeBron James and his Lakers? What will Kevin Durant look like when he returns? What is Luka Doncic’s ceiling? Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks?
With that in mind, ESPN Digital presents a guide to everything you need to know during the season, including key facts, players in new teams, matches, analysis and predictions.
Look at the season
1:56
We set out to review the best games from the beginning of the NBA campaign.
• How will the 2020-21 season work? Schedule, COVID-19, playoffs
• Teams to follow in the new season
• Recommended games from the first half of the season
• NBA Christmas Day: How to watch and stream all five games
A 5-5 of the 2020-21 season: Lakers, Giannis, Durant and Doncic
Expert predictions for finals and top prizes
LeBron James’ strategy to dominate at his age
Kevin Durant and his return to the Nets: mysteries and questions
What does Giannis’ decision mean for the Bucks?
• How Luka Doncic compares to LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird
Division by division analysis
1:49
Dave McMenamin details the path to a possible back-to-back championship for the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Atlantic Division: KD and Nets, the highest expectation and unknown
• Central Division: Giannis and Milwaukee Bucks, no competition
• Southeast Division: Miami Heat, favorite to win again
• Northwest Division: You have to watch out for the Nuggets, Blazers and Jazz
• Southwest Division: Luka and the Mavericks, the big favorites
• Pacific Division: The Lakers are the great candidate, and the Clippers are his enemy
The best players for the season
1:48
Watch the highlights of the league’s top 10 players for the 2020-21 season, according to ESPN’s NBArank.
Ranking of the best NBA players 2020-21, from 10 to 1
Ranking of the best NBA players 2020-21, from 50 to 11
Ranking of the best NBA players 2020-21, from 100 to 51
What happened out of season?
1:20
Look at the big names that have changed the team this season, including Chris Paul, Montrezl Harrell and Serge Ibaka.
• What managers say about the best and worst moves
The most fascinating players in the new teams
NBA Draft 2020: The biggest winners and losers in the first round