There is so much to look forward to over the course of this campaign, so what should you keep an eye on during the opening week?
New-look Celtics
The season gets underway in Detroit, as Cade Cunningham's Pistons host a new-look Boston Celtics team. The Pistons had a breakthrough 2025-26 season, finishing as the East's top seed for the first time since 2007, while also winning a playoff series for the first time in 18 years.
Cunningham, who finished in the top five of the MVP voting, averaged 23.9 points and 9.9 assists per game, and will now look to elevate to a new level alongside his franchise.
Meanwhile, Boston are entering a new era. Having traded one of their stars, Jaylen Brown, to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and some draft picks, their team is going to look very different. They also acquired veteran Mike Conley Jr. and Mitchell Robinson.
Huge questions remain about George, whether he can stay healthy and whether he can even fit into the Celtics' team. That is what makes this opening game so fascinating.
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LeBron's 76ers face defending champs
A star-studded, formidable-looking 76ers side, who have added LeBron James to their roster, begin their campaign against the defending champions, the New York Knicks.
LeBron, in search of another ring, left the Los Angeles Lakers, and after months of speculation, he chose Philly as his new home. 'King James' took a massive 92% pay cut, signing a two-year, $8 million veteran minimum contract, with eyes firmly on a championship.
Alongside Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, V. J. Edgecombe, and the newly acquired Brown, the starting five looks frightening, and they couldn't face a tougher first test.
The Knicks ended a 53-year wait for an NBA title, producing one of the all-time great playoff runs as they surged to victory. Led by the brilliant Jalen Brunson, their next goal will be to go back-to-back, something that hasn't been achieved since the Golden State Warriors nine years ago.
The Knicks will certainly miss Robinson after his move to Boston, and the East is considerably stronger than last season. But this is a team with championship-winning experience and know-how, and will be desperate to prove that they are the team to beat again.
Best in the West clash
The best two teams in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, go head-to-head, with both teams looking to make a very early statement.
The Thunder topped the Western Conference last season, but were 1-4 against the Spurs before being defeated by the same side in the Conference Finals. They will want to prove that they don't have a matchup problem against their rivals.
Superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the last two MVP awards and will be gunning to become the fourth player to win three in a row, and the first since Larry Bird between 1983-86.
The Spurs reached the NBA Finals in 2025-26, perhaps ahead of schedule. A young team with a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama, they are going to be even better this year, which is potentially intimidating for the rest of the league.
LaMelo and Ant vs Giannis and Bam
The Minnesota Timberwolves vs the Miami Heat sees two new duos face off. LaMelo Ball teams up with Anthony Edwards for an utterly box-office backcourt at the former, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are set for a powerhouse front court at the latter.
It is going to be so much fun to see LaMelo and Ant together. Bringing in LaMelo could see Ant thrive and have more three-point attempts, but it could also make them a little more floored due to his erratic nature. It is a risk, but certainly a fun one.
Giannis, a two-time NBA MVP and one of the very best players in the league, has found a new home after 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Erik Spoelstra will unquestionably find a way to get the best out of him, but there are doubts around the Heat outside of their frontcourt. Do they have another shooter and creativity in the team?
Luka-led Lakers
After 10 years of LeBron at the Lakers, Luka Doncic is set to lead the Los Angeles franchise forward, taking centre stage. They take on Steph Curry and the Warriors in their opening game, and it'll be a chance for the Slovenian superstar to begin his MVP campaign.
With the Lakers bringing in Walker Kessler in the centre position, he is the perfect player to pair with Luka, and he should get the absolute maximum out of him. They have also added a lot of shooters alongside him - the conditions are perfect.
However, is this team going to be strong enough defensively? Luka and Austin Reaves aren't going to offer much on that end of the court, and besides Kessler, they have very little depth there. Can they strike the right balance?