LOS ANGELES — Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks say they’re starting from scratch as they aim for an elusive NBA championship repeat with the San Antonio Spurs spearheading a host of rivals as the 2026 season tips off tomorrow.

“We just have to find a way to turn the page and move on,” NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Brunson said as the Knicks began their preparations in September three months after ending the storied franchise’s 53-year title drought with an epic defeat of San Antonio.

The Knicks return their starting five, but a sour note has already been sounded in the pre-season as star centre Karl-Anthony Towns said he was “extremely disappointed” by the Knicks’ public announcement that they were pausing contract extension talks with him and Josh Hart.

Additionally, no team has won back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2018, and Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs are just one of the clubs tipped to keep it that way.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are eager to reassert themselves after the Spurs ended their title repeat bid in the Western Conference finals.

Closer to home in the Eastern Conference the Knicks will contend with a retooled Philadelphia 76ers squad now featuring all-time leading scorer LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, who earned Finals MVP honours with the Boston Celtics in 2024.

Four-time champion James, still a force at 41, agreed to slash his salary in his quest for a fifth ring.