New York hope for repeat in league that has had eight different winners in eight ⁠seasons; will face LeBron James and his new club in opener

New York have barely stopped celebrating their first NBA title in 53 years, and the Knicks are already chasing a repeat in a league that is built to stop one.

The NBA has crowned a record eight different champions in the past eight seasons. Rules that make it tougher to ‌stack a roster with superstars have turned the league into a free-for-all.

The Knicks, however, have a big edge: the band is back together. New York return their five best players – Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns – along with the chemistry that carried them to the title.

The LeBron plot twist

The offseason’s biggest story was where the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, would land after splitting with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The surprise winner of ⁠the sweepstakes was the Philadelphia 76ers. James admitted he would have liked to play for the Knicks, but said that door ‌closed once they won the title.