(Reuters) -Five storylines to follow during the 2025-26 National Basketball Association season, which tips off on Tuesday.

LEBRON WATCH

For the first time in his career, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will miss his team’s opening night match-up due to sciatica on his right side that could keep the NBA’s all-time leading scorer sidelined until mid-November.

The 40-year-old James is 50 games away from breaking Robert Parish’s record for most career regular season games. When he ultimately takes the court, he will be playing in his record-setting 23rd NBA season.

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FLAGG DEBUT

Perhaps no other player will enter the season with loftier expectations than Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, who was the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and is already an overwhelming fa

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