Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets hold their first NBA championship banner ceremony before they get down to business vs. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the season opener Tuesday, October 25, on TNT. The second game of the doubleheader has Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns visiting Steph Curry, Chris Paul and the Golden State Warriors. ESPN’s NBA coverage opens Wednesday, October 26, with the Boston Celtics in New York to clash with the Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks dueling with the Spurs in San Antonio. ESPN/ABC has a new lead broadcast team with Doris Burke and Doc Rivers joining Mike Breen this season. For many casual NBA observers, the season doesn’t start until football season winds down and the league has its Christmas Day extravaganza. The league hopes to change that with the In-Season Tournament and the quest for the NBA Cup beginning this year.