After the great comeback from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals, then a very interesting off season filled with interesting transactions, the NBA is finally back. Much to the delight of basketball fans across the world, the wait is over and the games will finally count as of Tuesday.

Last years NBA season was one for the history books. From the Golden State Warriors winning an NBA record 73 games, to those same Warriors coming back from being down 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals, then losing in the Finals after gaining a 3-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers. I know! I was a storybook like rollercoaster ride from start to finish. With that, the bar has been set very high for this upcoming NBA season.

This upcoming season is one that promises to be filled with storylines that will be intriguing to follow from start to finish. Among those storylines will be how the NBA addresses the social injustice issues that have taken a spotlight in America. This is a topic that recently instated NBA Commissioner Adam Sliver has commented on throughout the off season.  Commissioner Silver has always said that loves when the players voice their opinions publicly on controversial and important topics like this. He recently mentioned in response to how he felt about reacting as an organization, “there may be no organization in our society better positioned than the NBA.” (http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/17852011/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-hopes-players-continue-stand-national-anthem) In addition to Commissioner Silvers quotes, NBA superstars Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony took time during the ESPY Awards in July to make a call to action for all athletes. All four understood how powerful their voices can be, and how much more powerful their actions can be. With that, they made it a point of emphasis for athletes to hold themselves accountable for doing their part in helping better the situation. It will be very interesting to see what players have in store throughout this season. Solidarity has been the theme throughout the preseason, but there seems to be more to look forward to.

Aside from off the court matters, on the court, there is a lot to look forward to. From the Golden State Warriors adding Kevin Durant to their already stacked roster, to whether or not the Los Angeles Clippers will be able to derail the Warriors expectations of another Finals appearance. Another storyline to follow is the growth of the versatile and skilled Karl Anthony Towns, as well as his team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Storylines are sure to continue to manifest throughout the season as it continues to develop.

The anticipation for this upcoming season is higher than ever before. This time around, an expectation for players has been set for their off the court actions and the feeling that there is an obligation at this point for them to address the happenings around them. Togetherness and solidarity seem to be the focus, as I leave you with the NBA’s promotional video to begin the season https://youtu.be/ZA0gIOT2F-c