NBA 2025-26 opens with a season of sharp pivots and injury-driven drama. Cleveland returns 93% of last year’s minutes, with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland leading an offense built around stability and length, while Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. bolster defense. Kevin Durant’s shock move to Houston reshapes the West’s balance, fueling a tense race alongside Jokic, Booker and Williamson. LeBron and the Lakers chase relevance as a crowded landscape sets up late-season drama and award talk.