The 2026-27 NBA season is upon us and there are so many players that have interesting story lines going into the season. Here is my list of the most interesting players heading into the new season.

LaMelo Ball

If I was 16 years old instead of 36 years old, LaMelo Ball would be my favorite basketball player. Ball is so fun to watch, when he has it going. When his shot is falling and his creative play-making ability is on full display, there is only a select few, who can match the entertainment value of Ball.

16-year old me, wouldn’t care that he hasn’t been in the playoffs. 16-year old me, wouldn’t be interested in seeing how he adapts to being on a different team with a higher standard for success. 16-year old me, would only care about the highlights while ignoring the lack of efficiency that he has had as a shooter.

36-year old me, can appreciate the beauty of his game while also wanting more. I want to know how playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team with high expectations will change his game, if at all.

Last season, Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists, while shooting 40% from the floor and 36% from three. Will Ball become a more efficient player, playing alongside Anthony Edwards. The gravity of Edwards should help Ball to shoot more open threes, leading to a better shooting percentage.

Ball isn’t known for his tenacious defense but now is on a team where defense is played with great pride. Will he fall in-line and improve on that end?

There is an endless list of possibilities for what the Minnesota Timberwolves can be this year and it heavily depends on the play of LaMelo Ball. Is this the year that LaMelo Ball graduates from being the favorite player of the teenagers to being an impact player on a championship contender?

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard has been in the news for the entire off-season and it had nothing to do with basketball. Leonard was in the center of the huge controversy involving the Los Angeles Clippers circumventing the salary cap by providing Leonard with additional payments through companies the Clippers partnered with.

This led to the Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer being fined 30 million dollars. Good lord! That’s a lot of money! Not to Steve Ballmer though. Kawhi Leonard was also fined $700,000 and the Clippers lost their next five first round draft picks. The Clippers eventually were able to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and picks down the line.

Despite all of the noise surrounding Leonard, he is still one of the best players in the NBA. Last season he played in 65 games, averaged 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 50% from the floor and 38% from three.

Now Leonard is joining a Raptors team that took a major leap last season. They were the fifth seed in the eastern conference playoffs and lost a very competitive series to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in seven games in the first round.

The addition of Leonard should improve their 21st ranked offense and add to their already good defense. In theory the Raptors should be a title contender in the eastern conference, this season. Can a 35-year old Kawhi Leonard play at least 65 games and be healthy throughout the playoffs? Will he play well alongside Scottie Barnes? We could see a late career story that changes the way basketball fans view Kawhi Leonard going forward or this could be another disappointment in the strange career of this hall of famer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the greatest Milwaukee Buck of all-time. Yes, I know that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for the Bucks. He was great for the Bucks but most of his legacy is tied to the Los Angeles Lakers. Antetokounmpo spent the first 13 years of his career with the Bucks and is now a member of the Miami Heat.

Last season was the first of Giannis’ career where he didn’t play at least 60 games. He has also dealt with injuries late in the season and playoffs over the last few years. The Greek Freak will turn 32 years old during this season.

Has the all out, physical style of play for Antetokounmpo caught up to him? Will he be able to play with the same effort and be healthy through the season and into the playoffs?

If Giannis is healthy, how will he respond to playing for coach Erik Spoelstra and with Bam Adebayo. Giannis and Bam should be the best defensive front court in the NBA. The question is how do they mesh on the offensive end.

The Heat have shooters to surround Antetokounmpo and Adebayo. They could find themselves fighting with the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, and others for the top spot in the east.

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown was the no question number one option for the Boston Celtics last season. The Celtics exceeded the expectations of most fans and pundits last season as they finished the season with the second best record in the Eastern Conference.

Jayson Tatum missed most of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Brown picked up the slack averaging, 28.7 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while shooting 47% from the floor.

Brown was sixth in Most Valuable Player voting and was selected to the All-NBA second team. What did Brown get for his efforts? He got traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George.

Brown went from spending most of last season as the main character to now being part of an ensemble cast along with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James.

How does he adjust to being the fourth option on certain nights? Does his efficiency improve or decrease with less shots. He took 21 shots per game last season. He will have nights this season, where he won’t be able to get 10 shots. Will Brown stay engaged on those nights? There are so many questions that have to be answered for not only Brown but the 76ers as a whole.

Which players or story lines, do you find to be the most interesting heading into the season?