Cue the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme song with the return of the NBA on NBC, tipping off with an Opening Night doubleheader on Oct. 21, featuring the defending champion Thunder hosting the Rockets, followed by the Warriors visiting the Lakers in L.A.

Luka Doncic appears to be a man on a mission for the Los Angeles Lakers after a season of upheaval. His conditioning improvements have been widely documented, but he’s also fully embracing the Lakers’ culture and his pairing with LeBron James.

Then, Tyrese Haliburton joins KOC and the pair predicts the next big NBA trends. Will double-big lineups dominate the league again? Could more teams incorporate the full-court press? And what’s contributing to the decline in pick-and-roll usage?

Welcome to For The Win's NBA Player Rankings for the 2025-2026 season.

Rockefeller Center has gone full courtside. In celebration of the NBA’s long-awaited return to NBC and debut on Peacock, the iconic plaza has transformed into “ 30 Rocks ,” a six-day basketball takeover running October 16–21 that’s equal parts art show, fan fest and hoops fantasy camp.

Gilgeous-Alexander 2024-25 season stats: 32.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 37.5% from three. Honors: NBA MVP, NBA Champion, Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Star (third appearance)

Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo told the Grizzlies in exit meetings last spring to be ready to play faster when they returned this fall.

Past and future converge for the Los Angeles Lakers this season as LeBron James and Luka Doncic embark on their first full NBA campaign chasing a title that could cement