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Following the shortest offseason in league history, the new season of NBA is all set for its opening night. The first game of the doubleheader features Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors taking on Kevin Durant and the revived Brooklyn Nets.
The opening night also features defending champions LA Lakers taking on their city rivals LA Clippers in the second matchup of the evening. Both teams will look to record their first win as they attempt to set the tone for the rest of the season.
With multiple players moved around this offseason, opening night will present NBA fans their first chance to glance at their favorite players in the starting lineups.
NBA opening night has the makings of an electrifying evening that presents marquee matchups between some of the best teams.
NBA Opening Night: Debutants who could impress from the get-go
NBA opening night is the perfect place for debutant players to rock their new team jerseys and show off their talents to the world.
With the stage set and fans from around the world glued to their screens, these five players will be gunning to announce their arrival.
#1: Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
After missing out on an entire season last year, Kevin Durant will be ready to make a splash on opening night. The four-time scoring champion, who also has two NBA Finals MVPs (2017 & 2018), suffered multiple injuries during the 2019 NBA Finals campaign.
Opening night will see Durant go toe to toe with his former teammate Stephen Curry, with whom he played three seasons before leaving for the Brooklyn Nets.
Durant is a special talent who may go down as the best offensive player in league history. He has a career average of 27 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists with a whopping 88.3% accuracy from the free-throw line.
The NBA 2020-21 season's opening night hosts one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire season. D-Wade knows what's up:
#2: Serge Ibaka (LA Clippers)
Another big name we'll see on opening night is former Toronto Raptors big man Serge Ibaka. Ibaka took his talents to the Los Angeles Clippers this off-season.
Ibaka won his first NBA Championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. He brings veteran experience that will help the Clippers on and off the court. NBA opening night will feature the 31-year-old center, who can protect the rim and stretch the floor with his long-distance shooting.
Look out for his matchup with former teammate Marc Gasol, who will be playing for his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
#3: Kelly Oubre Jr. (Golden State Warriors)
Kelly Oubre Jr. had his most successful season last year with the Suns, where he averaged 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game before being traded to the Warriors. With all the hype and expectations from fans, it will be hard for Oubre to under-perform on opening night.
The Warriors had the worst record in the NBA last season, and got another punch to the gut when they lost Klay Thompson to an untimely injury before the new season began.
If the preseason game is any indication, the new GSW backcourt will dazzle their fans with impressive performances on both ends of the court.
#4: Montrezl Harrell (LA Lakers)
NBA opening night will feature one of the fiercest power forwards-cum-centers in the league Montrezl Harrell. Formerly a part of the LA Clippers, Harrell decided to hop over to the Lakers this offseason in a move that no one saw coming.
Harrell was the Sixth Man of The Year last season, where he averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He will strive to make his mark beside Lakers talisman LeBron James.
Harell is clearly excited to play alongside The King:
#5: Dennis Schröder (LA Lakers)
Dennis Schröder was another sought-after recruit this offseason for the LA Lakers. Schröder had a stellar performance off the bench last season, and narrowly lost the Sixth Man of the Year award to his new teammate Montrezl Harrell.
Schröder was instrumental in the OKC Thunder's successful playoff run, where he averaged 18.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds in 29.3 minutes per game.
Schröder is an elite point guard who will boost the Lakers with his playmaking abilities, especially during crunch time. All eyes will be on his opening night performance with the LA Lakers.
Guess the Lakers players!
