We’re almost there, Enjoyers. Only one more sleep ‘till NBA basketball is back.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Paige Bueckers, Eddie Jones, Rodney Hood, and Jericho Sims! 🎉

Around the Association

Opening Night Fever: Breaking down every major storyline

After four long months, the NBA returns tomorrow night!

We’ve got a big-time double-header on deck for Day 1— first, OKC hangs its inaugural banner before facing off with the new-look Rockets at 7:30 p.m. EST. Then, two of the league’s top guards do battle as Luka and the Warriors take on Steph Curry and the Warriors at 10 p.m. EST. Let’s break down three big things to watch in each matchup…

Thunder vs. Rockets ⚡🚀

1. OKC’s quest to repeat: The Thunder enter this season as heavy favorites to bring home the 2025-26 title, a feat which would make them the first repeat champion since Golden State in 2017/2018. The Thunder have brought back their entire core rotation and re-signed their big three of SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to massive new deals, dialing up the pressure for an encore. But as winners of 125 games over the last two regular seasons, there’s no reason to believe that Thunder won’t strike twice.

2. Rockets’ new lineup: Adding Kevin Durant changes any roster in a major way, but Houston will be adjusting at other positions as they seek to knock off the defending champs. After losing Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL, the Rockets will likely turn to either Amen Thompson or Reed Sheppard as their new floor general. Plus, don’t forget a retooled bench mob that added Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. The Rockets have title upside this season, but there may be a learning curve to get there.

3. Watch for… Sengun and Chet’s paint battle: Two of the league’s best young bigs will face off with a season-opening win on the line. In two matchups last season, both Alperen and Chet won one round. On November 11, Chet dropped 29 PTS while holding Alpy to 11 PTS on 25% shooting and helping OKC to a win. But on April 4, Sengun went off for 31 PTS in a double-digit Houston dub. Whoever wins the war in the post may win the day.

Lakers vs. Warriors ☀️🌉

1. Life without LeBron: This opening week will be different than any other since 2002— why? It will be the first not to feature LeBron James. The King is set to miss his first-ever season-opener due to a case of sciatica in his right leg, a condition that’s expected to keep him out until mid-November. Until then, the LakeShow will lean on their other superstar, Luka Doncic, in a preview of what the team may look like once James is no longer on it. It’s clear Luka has been putting in work this summer, and we can’t wait to see what he does with the reigns to the offense.

2. Golden Years: Last season, the Warriors rode their trade for Jimmy Butler to a 23-8 regular season finish and a victory over the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. Now, the Dubs will be tasked with proving that success was more than a mirage. With one of the oldest projected starting lineups in league history (Curry, Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford have an average age of 36.75), Golden State has all of the experience necessary to make noise this season, but only time will tell if their core can maintain its magic over the course of an 82-game season.

3. Watch for… who rules the 4th: Last season, the Warriors finished seventh in the league in fourth quarter point differential, outpacing their opponents by an average of 0.78 PPG. L.A., on the other hand, finished 22nd after being beaten by an average of 0.67 PPG in the final frame. During the offseason, JJ Redick emphasized the importance of the Lakers being in “championship shape” in order to achieve their goals as a team. They’ll get an early chance to prove they’ve done it.

Durant inks new two-year, $90M deal with Rockets, now highest-earning player in NBA history

KD has donned many different jerseys over the course of his career, but one color has stayed consistent: green.

Over the weekend, Durant agreed to a new two-year, $90M deal with Houston with a player option for the 2027-28 season. The fresh contract gives him $598.2 million in current and future earnings, making him the highest-paid player in league history by that metric.

KD was eligible for a two-year, $120 million extension, but sacrificed cash to preserve Houston’s team-building flexibility. We can’t wait to see him in that Rockets red. 🤩

The Enjoy Survey

Every season comes with its own set of twists and turns, and there’s no greater feeling than calling those surprises in advance. This is your chance to do just that. In the first edition of the Enjoy Survey, we’ll ask you to make your picks for the major results and awards of the 2025-26 NBA season.

At the end of the season, we’ll look back and see who was the most spot-on with their picks… may the odds be ever in your favor!

🏀 The 2025-26 Enjoy Survey! 🏀

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, try to get outside and enjoy some quiet time in nature. And if you live in a place where fall occurs, be sure to make the most of it— it only comes around once a year! See you soon.

Walker Carnathan