The NBA is officially back. The season tips off Tuesday evening with the Houston Rockets at the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder , followed by an interstate rivalry when the Golden State Warriors take on the Lakers in Los Angeles.

And with that, we're off. The NBA never lacks for drama, and this season figures to be no different. Here are seven pressing questions we're focused on as the 2025-26 campaign gets going.

1. How will the Kawhi investigation shake out?

The NBA is investigating the Clippers for a possible salary cap circumvention violation after podcaster and journalist Pablo Torre dropped an unexpected anvil on the league's head this summer. According to Torre's reporting, Leonard signed a four-year $28 million endorsement deal with a company called Aspira

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