The NBA is officially back. Here's what you need to know heading into the new season.

When the 2025-26 NBA season returns Tuesday, some things will not have changed in years

When the 2025-26 NBA season returns Tuesday, some things will not have changed in years.

Though Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry is now 37, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James 40 (and will begin the season sidelined by injury), the two superstars remain undisputed headliners a decade after the first of their four consecutive meetings in the NBA Finals. The sheer wattage of their stardom has barely dimmed, and it's why their teams will meet in one of Tuesday’s opening-night matchups.

But the other opening-night tipoff will take place in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will receive the championship rings they earned by winning Game 7 of June’s NBA Finals over Indiana. Though the league’s old guard, led by Curry and James, remains formidable, the road to the championship trophy now runs through the uber-young Thunder, who spent the offseason signing their young core of stars to long-term deals.

Haven’t paid attention to the NBA since the Thunder’s victory parade cruised through Oklahoma City in mid-June? Here’s everything you may have missed to get you up to speed.

Recent history suggests the Thunder will not be lifting the trophy again next June: The league hasn't crowned a repeat champion in seven seasons, with Golden State (2017-18) the last to repeat.