NBA commissioner David Stern was a key figure in the lockout but now he has a season to runPhotograph: Eduardo Munoz/ReutersLeBron James and the Miami Heat became America's least loved team. But will they win the title this year?Photograph: Hans Deryk/ReutersDwight Howard: who will he play for this season?Photograph: Hans Deryk/Reuters
Chris Paul playing for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Los Angeles Lakers. Does he wonder what might have been?Photograph: Danny Moloshok/APWill Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose be one of the stars of the season?Photograph: Nam Y. Huh/APPaul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers: two teams which still have something to sayPhotograph: Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesAmar'e Stoudemire of the New York Knicks shoots over Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries of the New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden. Are the good times on their way back to the Big Apple?Photograph: Chris Trotman/Getty ImagesA rivalry to savour: Aaron Brooks of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball against George Hill of the San Antonio SpursPhotograph: Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesVeterans with plenty to say: New York Knicks' Chauncey Billups shouts to his teammates Photograph: Winslow Townson/APDirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates a point against the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals. Can they repeat?Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.