Boston seeks back-to-back titles; LeBron James joins son Bronny – First Post

Defending champion Boston launches quest for back-to-back titles, LeBron James joins his 20-year-old son and familiar faces debuting in new places when the NBA’s 79th season begins Tuesday.

The Celtics will raise their 18th championship banner when the New York Knicks visit Boston, while James and the Los Angeles Lakers host Minnesota in opening night games.

Boston seeks back-to-back titles

Boston fans haven’t celebrated back-to-back NBA titles since 1968 and 1969 – the end of the Bill Russell dynasty era – but after ending a 16-year title drought, star Jayson Tatum yearns for such glory.

“It was never just about trying to win one,” Tatum said. “Now you can at least be in the same room with the other Celtics, great teams, other great players.

“Now it’s just a conversation about how good are you trying to be, at what level are you trying to be mentioned when it’s all said and done?”

Tatum, who helped the U.S. team win Olympic gold in Paris, says the Celtics feel different as champions.

“It’s different being here as a champion and knowing what it takes and wanting to be on top of the mountain as many times as I can,” Tatum said.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown lead a veteran Celtics lineup featuring point guard Jrue Holiday and injured center Kristaps Porzingis.

“We want to win a championship every year — that’s the goal, that’s the standard, that’s the expectation,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Just because something worked before doesn’t mean it will work again. That’s the challenge.”

Father-son duo on the LA Lakers

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James, who turns 40 in December, joined his oldest son, Bronny, in the Lakers’ lineup during a preseason loss to Phoenix, the father’s first combination and son of the NBA.

“It was cool for both of us,” LeBron James said. “Definitely a moment I will never forget. It was like being in ‘The Matrix’ or something. It just didn’t feel real.”

Superstar Anthony Davis and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James led the Lakers to the 2023 Western Conference Finals, but they fell in the first round last season.

Big names to watch after big moves

A big offseason deal sent center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, with forward Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo heading to Minnesota.

New York also added Mikal Bridges and with All-Star guard Jalen Brunson among the returning veterans, the Knicks could challenge for their first NBA title since 1973.

“We can’t just worry about one team. We have to worry about the entire Eastern Conference,” Towns said.

“To accomplish what we want to do and what the city wants us to do, we need to be a team that not only beats Boston, but finds a way to beat every team in the East.”

Klay Thompson was traded from Golden State to Dallas, where the four-time NBA champion will partner with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to give last season’s NBA runner-up Mavericks a triple-threat offense.

Swingman Paul George starred for the Los Angeles Clippers last season but was not re-signed, so the 14-year veteran signed a free agent contract to join star center Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia.

Embiid will see limited action on consecutive nights to keep him healthy in the playoffs.

“We’re very focused on April, May, June,” 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said. “That doesn’t mean the momentum right now isn’t also very important, but we’re going to be very smart in how we manage it throughout the season.”

All eyes on NBA Draft pick Zaccharie Risacher

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard lead Milwaukee, while Indiana and Cleveland are expected to battle again for the top spots.

The Atlanta Hawks added top NBA Draft pick Zaccharie Risacher, the second consecutive Frenchman taken first overall after NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama went to San Antonio last season.

“Wemby” had 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks in a game for the Spurs in his rookie campaign.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led a young Oklahoma City lineup to first place in the Western Conference last season and the Thunder will be formidable again along with Denver, powered by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, and Phoenix, with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.