With less than three weeks until the start of the 2025-26 season, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers kicked off the NBA’s preseason schedule on the other side of the globe in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

In an offseason full of movement, many players and personnel are stepping into uncharted waters: a point guard adjusting to a new home, a new coach in charge of a team with massive expectations and some young talent staring at massive opportunities. It sets them up to be among the people who will define the NBA this season.

We published our first version of this list a year ago, featuring names such 76ers center Joel Embiid, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick and (now former) Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck, among others.

This is not a list of the best or most important people in the league. Names such as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Lakers guard Luka Doncic won’t be found on this list.

Let’s break down 10 names who will play major roles in defining the upcoming season — both on the court and as far as the trade deadline, draft and free agency play out.

The NBA universe has collectively waited to see if the Greek superstar will ever choose to leave Milwaukee, the only city he has called home across his 12-year NBA career.

The Bucks have satisfied Antetokounmpo’s desires for upgrades, first by landing Jrue Holiday in 2020 and then using Holiday to acquire Damian Lillard in 2023. But will waiving-and-stretching Lillard’s deal to land former Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner — one of the most shocking moves of the summer — be good enough to do so a third time?

Speaking via videoconference Monday because of a bout with COVID-19, Antetokounmpo acknowledged he spent the summer thinking about his future after three straight first-round playoff exits.

“It’s a disservice to basketball and just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April,” he said. “It’s pretty much the same. It’s not the first time. I had the same thoughts last year. I had the same thoughts two years ago.”

Later, when asked about Bucks owner Wes Edens saying he and Antetokounmpo had a conversation in June in which the superstar said he was “committed to Milwaukee,” Antetokounmpo said he couldn’t recall the conversation.

The irony of this is that, on the court, Antetokounmpo could be on the brink of his best statistical season. With Lillard sidelined late last season, Antetokounmpo’s numbers skyrocketed with the ball in his hands all the time. Expect coach coach Doc Rivers to do that again this season, and for Antetokounmpo to be a massive stat machine as a result.

With now less than two years separating Antetokounmpo from unrestricted free agency — and a roster that, outside of Turner, is littered with questions — it’s safe to say the topic of Antetokounmpo’s future won’t be going away anytime soon.

In May, Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman in a radio interview said: “We’re ready to kind of turn the page on our rebuild and enter the next stage of our team and look through a more win-now lens.”

Weltman then took action, sending several future draft picks to the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane. It was lauded by multiple respondents in last week’s offseason survey as one of the best moves of the summer.

But if that move is going to pay off in the way he and the Magic hope it will, it won’t be because of Bane, Jalen Suggs or even Franz Wagner. Instead, it will be because Banchero, fresh off landing a five-year, $239 million maximum contract extension this offseason, is blossoming into full-blown superstar status. Could he lead Orlando to winning a playoff series for the first time since 2010 and possibly reach the NBA Finals for the third time in franchise history?

That path is possible. Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, has a rare blend of size, strength and skill within his 6-foot-10, 250-pound frame, and doesn’t even turn 23 years old until Nov. 12. But, in his three seasons, Banchero has hit 3-pointers at a career 32% clip and barely crept over 50% true shooting last season for the first time in his career.

The addition of Bane, a terrific outside shooter and additional ballhandling threat, will help plenty. Having Wagner end a two-year cold streak shooting from deep — he went from 36% three seasons ago to under 30% each of the past two years — will, too.

Orlando will go as far as Banchero can carry them. And, in a wide-open Eastern Conference because of Achilles injuries to the Indiana Pacers‘ Tyrese Haliburton and the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (a theme of this list that will come up again), that could be quite far — assuming he takes the steps forward the Magic believe he can this season and beyond.

When you fire a coach after he led your team to playoff victories in three consecutive seasons for the first time in a generation and to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a quarter century, it’s clear what the expectations are for his successor.

That’s the situation Brown has walked into after replacing Tom Thibodeau this summer. And while Brown has repeatedly said, including at last week’s media day, that “no one has higher expectations than he does,” that’s not exactly true.

There’s a unique symbiosis between the Knicks and their fans, who have been waiting more than half a century to snap their championship drought. It might be the best chance to do so since the Patrick Ewing-led Knicks reached the NBA Finals in 1994. Unlike the past couple of seasons when the Knicks surpassed relatively low expectations, a wide-open East could make anything short of a Finals appearance a lost season for New York.

Brown is no stranger to high-pressure situations. He coached LeBron James to an NBA Finals in 2007, and he was the head coach of the Lakers. But he arguably has never faced the kind of pressure he is under this season — and no one on his roster has either.

Dybantsa is one of four players — alongside Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer and Tennessee forward Nate Ament — who will spend the season being debated for the top spots in a loaded 2026 NBA draft class.

While there will be plenty of eyes on what’s happening across the league, there also will be plenty on the scouting trail, with several teams — including the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz — probably in positions to fight for the top odds in next spring’s draft lottery. And that doesn’t include teams such as the New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. If they fall lower on the standings, they could be sending their pick to the Atlanta Hawks, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively (in Philadelphia’s case, if it lands outside of the top four picks in next June’s draft).

Teams had visions of picking Cooper Flagg last season before the Dallas Mavericks unexpectedly landed the No. 1 pick, but the three-or-four-way competition for the No. 1 pick in 2026 could add extra intrigue.

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There remains a tremendous amount of excitement and anticipation about Spurs center Victor Wembanyama‘s return, especially after he leaped to No. 5 in ESPN’s annual NBA Rank.

But for as brilliant as Wembanyama is, landing on Most Valuable Player ballots and All-NBA teams doesn’t just come down to individual excellence. It also requires a team being able to make strides alongside its young star, and be in a position to make the playoffs — even in the ultracompetitive Western Conference.

For the Spurs to reach those heights this season, it’s very likely to be because Fox is a good enough co-star alongside Wembanyama.

In the brief time the two shared the court in February, the results were mixed (though the sample size of 120 minutes should be taken with a grain of salt). Fox was acquired in a blockbuster trade in February and then bestowed a maximum contract extension in August when he was eligible to receive it. Their investment in him is a sign they believe he is an optimal right-hand man for Wembanyama. Fox will also have to fit alongside No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. The lack of consistent shooting between the three could make that an awkward fit.

(As an aside, I’m proposing a nickname for Wembanyama: The Anomaly. I’d say he qualifies as an anomaly, and I like it a lot more than calling him an alien).

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For the first time since he was in middle school or so, James — about to enter his 23rd NBA season — is not the focal point of his team. That, of course, is Luka Doncic, whom the Lakers inked to a three-year contract extension this summer and have openly oriented their franchise around going forward.

It’s an entirely understandable position. But this is LeBron James we are talking about.

As this season goes along, expect there to be nonstop questions about James and his future — questions that began in June when his agent, Rich Paul, gave a cryptic statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania about James’ future.

Until one side or the other definitively says what the future of this partnership will look like after this season — one way or the other — expect those questions to continue. And if the Lakers struggle this season, expect the intensity surrounding this topic to ramp up between now and February’s trade deadline.

The investigation into potential salary cap circumvention by the Clippers involving Aspiration, a former Clippers sponsor, will continue to be a topic of discussion throughout the season.

But then there’s the on-court part of the story. Leonard again sat out much of last season because of injuries but returned to be an impactful player down the stretch and in LA’s seven-game loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. With a very deep (albeit old) roster around him, if Leonard can stay on the court, the Clippers could be a true factor in the West.

And, with this being Leonard’s age-34 season, there won’t be many chances for him to make his Clippers tenure a success if it doesn’t happen in 2025-26.

Adam Silver

Even before the Clippers investigation took center stage, it was already setting up to be a consequential season for the NBA commissioner as he enters his 12th full season on the job. How Silver chooses to rule on the case will be one of the enduring stories of this season and possibly his tenure as commissioner.

But that’s not all. Over the past several months, Silver has repeatedly talked about the league’s interest in expanding into Europe and creating a new league there to challenge EuroLeague, the best league outside of the NBA. That league could potentially see the creation of several new expansion teams, with billions in expansion fees for the 30 NBA owners and new deep-pocketed options to buy NBA teams.

Then there’s domestic expansion, which remains a hot topic within league circles. When Silver was asked about whether Europe was a priority over domestic expansion last month, he vociferously shot the idea down, saying both projects can operate on parallel tracks — and that they are.

Expansion is still seen as something that is a matter of when, not if. Seattle continues to be an obvious market to expand into, while several ownership groups are interested in pursuing a team in Las Vegas. But the next several months will potentially show us just how legitimate Silver’s argument about parallel tracks is, and how long it might take for expansion to arrive in the NBA.

The No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Thompson took no time to establish himself as one of the NBA’s most intriguing talents and is primed for a breakout season.

Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in offseason workouts, meaning Houston will be without his outside shooting, defense and leadership this season. But it creates a massive opportunity for Thompson. Last season, he took on a larger ballhandling role, third on the team in terms of bringing the ball up behind VanVleet and the since departed Jalen Green. The stage is set for Thompson to lead the team and set the table for All-Stars Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun in Houston.

The Rockets didn’t make the Kevin Durant trade for this season to be a gap year. And if Thompson — a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year contender and a terrific passer — seizes this opportunity, he could easily be an All-Star, the NBA’s Most Improved Player this season and have Houston remain as a true threat to challenge Oklahoma City in the West.

Not too long ago, Young would have been seen as an automatic candidate for a maximum extension. But those days were before the current collective bargaining agreement. Since the spring of 2023, teams are more hesitant to hand out that type of deal.

Atlanta is entering the most anticipated Hawks season in years after a lauded offseason under new lead basketball decision-maker Onsi Saleh, which could drive Young’s market in free agency next summer if the two sides don’t come to an agreement.

We could be entering a new era of team building and spending in the NBA, and Young’s deal could be at the epicenter of it.

LAS VEGAS — Game 1 of the WNBA Finals delivered another thriller. Trailing by nine points with 3:36 left in the third quarter, the Las Vegas Aces used a heavy dose of zone defense to slow down the Phoenix Mercury in the final period and got timely scoring from reserve guard Dana Evans to win Friday.

Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas fell an assist shy of her third triple-double in a WNBA Finals game — something no other player has done — but missed two critical free throws with the Mercury down one in the final 30 seconds.

Still, a win Sunday in Game 2 (3 p.m. ET, ABC) would give Phoenix a split on the road and allow the Mercury to claim home-court advantage in the first best-of-seven Finals in WNBA history. How might Phoenix adjust in Game 2? And what can Las Vegas improve after the team’s third win in as many playoff rounds that went down to the buzzer of regulation?

ESPN is tracking all the action right here, as it happens.

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Kendra Andrews: The Aces need more offensive production from Jackie Young, who finished with eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-6 from 3. That’s about half her regular-season scoring average. Aces coach Becky Hammon told Young to help the bench get going, and she succeeded there. But Hammon also noted that Young, as well as A’ja Wilson, appeared a bit fatigue, which makes sense after they carried Las Vegas to victory in the decisive game of its semifinal series with Indiana. I’m watching to see if Young looks fresher despite a quick turnaround between games.

Alexa Philippou: Building on Kendra’s point, Young was the only player not in uniform at the Aces’ optional shootaround Saturday. Hammon said she thought her star guard had heavy legs in Game 1 but would be good to go Sunday. “I think her back was tired. She kind of carried us that Game [5],” the coach said jokingly. Young doesn’t need to carry Las Vegas, but the Aces need her to be more like herself to keep up with the high-octane Mercury the rest of the series.

Kevin Pelton: I’m curious whether NaLyssa Smith is more involved in Game 2. She scored a combined 34 points in Games 2 and 3 against the Fever in the semifinals, both Aces wins, but played just 16 minutes Friday after sitting out the stretch run of the final win over Indiana. Las Vegas is 3-0 (all lopsided wins) this postseason when Smith scores in double digits.

What adjustments do the Mercury need to make?

Philippou: Phoenix thought it was a promising sign that the Aces went away from their zone so early in the series, an indication Hammon thought her team’s man-to-man defense wasn’t working. “I think their zone will evolve. I think our offense will evolve,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said Saturday, reiterating that the film session focused on identifying weaknesses in the Aces’ zone. Tibbetts also said Phoenix’s defensive energy needs to improve; giving up 89 points to the Aces won’t cut it.

Pelton: Phoenix didn’t totally capitalize on the offensive glass Friday night. The Aces came into the Finals last in defensive rebound percentage during the playoffs, then played smaller than usual in Game 1 with the 5-foot-6 Evans replacing the 6-4 Smith in their closing lineup. Yet, the Mercury had fewer offensive rebounds than Las Vegas. If the Aces go zone again, Phoenix players who have a size advantage should focus on crashing the glass.

Andrews: The Mercury have to figure out how to pick apart the Aces’ zone defense, a strategy Phoenix had not faced much in the playoffs. Heading into Game 1, the Mercury had faced just two possessions of zone — both against New York in the first round. On Friday, the Aces used a zone defense on 21 plays, 20 of which came in the second half, according to ESPN Insights. Phoenix shot 27% from the field on those possessions, compared with 53% shooting against Las Vegas’ one-on-one defense (72 possessions). The Mercury still finished with 14 3-pointers, but they have to figure out a successful game plan against a zone.

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Dana Evans reacts to being called ‘the engine’ of Aces after clutch 3

Dana Evans reacts to A’ja Wilson calling her the Aces’ “engine” after Evans’ big game off the bench lifts Las Vegas in Game 1.

What are you watching for in Game 2? If it’s another close game, what could be the difference?

Philippou: Throughout the playoffs, Hammon has harped on the importance of the Aces handling success. “I want to not be able to tell whether we’re coming off a win or a loss. The mindset is the mindset,” Hammon said Saturday. “I want to see a mature approach, a veteran approach, a veteran mindset.” She thinks they’ve done only “OK” in this regard this postseason. And in a long series against a team as good as Phoenix, which was so close to beating them in Game 1, such an outlook will be as important as ever if the Aces want to win their third championship.

Pelton: The focus on the Las Vegas bench obscured that it was a relatively down night for the Mercury’s reserves. Although DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb combined for 16 points, they took 21 shots, going a combined 4-of-15 from 3-point range. Getting Whitcomb going would make the Aces think twice about going to the zone.

Sunday’s slate of Week 5 games culminates with an AFC East matchup between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills on “Sunday Night Football.”

New England (2-2) is coming off a 42-13 shellacking of the Carolina Panthers, while undefeated Buffalo disposed of the New Orleans Saints, 31-19.

The Bills and Patriots split their series last year, with both teams winning at home. They played twice in a three-week span last season but won’t meet again this year until Week 15.

Buffalo, the Super Bowl favorite at +425, has won its last three games by double-digits and is favored by 7.5 points for Sunday’s tilt.

Here are the odds and trends, plus picks, props and analysis from our experts to help you bet Sunday night’s game.

Note: Odds at time of publication. For the latest updates, visit ESPN BET.

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Game picks | Prop bets | Betting trends

Game bets

Bills -7.5 (-105)

Maldonado: This matchup is about pressure (or lack of). Josh Allen is elite in both production and efficiency. When teams get to him, he’s human, but if they don’t, he’s unstoppable. That’s a problem for a New England team ranked near the bottom of the league in pressure rate, completion rate allowed, YPA allowed and touchdown rate. The Patriots have given up the second-most explosive plays in the league, while Buffalo leads the NFL in both points per drive (3.09) and explosive plays, so sustained scoring drives should come easy. On the other side, Drake Maye‘s efficiency collapses under pressure, and Buffalo ranks second in creating it. Unless New England runs the ball efficiently, its offense will sputter. Over four quarters, Buffalo’s talent and pressure win out.

Notable player props, bets

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Will Drake Maye continue his early-season fantasy success?

Daniel Dopp explains why he likes Drake Maye to continue his fantasy success in Week 5 against the Bills.

Drake Maye to record 35+ yards rushing (+110)

Bowen: Maye is averaging 24.5 yards rushing per game this season, using his dual-threat ability to create as a runner on scramble attempts. And Maye will be forced to move against a Bills defense that leads the league with a pressure rate of 45.9%. Look for the second-year pro to extend plays outside of the pocket and pick up rushing numbers in this one.

Rhamondre Stevenson to record 3+ receptions (+115)

Maldonado: I like this more than any yardage, touchdown or alt number on the board because it perfectly aligns with the most likely game script: Bills lead, Patriots trail. Buffalo’s high pressure rate historically spikes checkdown volume. Stevenson is top five among RBs in yards per route run and has already cleared this number in 50% of games without the negative script he’s likely to get Sunday. If the Bills cover, Stevenson’s usage almost certainly gets him three catches. It’s a plus-money play with a high probability of hitting and minimal dependency on broken plays or touchdowns.