We have reached my favorite part of the sports calendar. The NFL and college football seasons are in full roar, it's the tail end of the MLB playoffs, the NHL is nearly two weeks into its season, college basketball is right around the corner and the NBA tips off Tuesday.

The opening doubleheader is Houston at defending NBA champion Oklahoma City, which will raise its first title banner, and the nightcap is Golden State at the Los Angeles Lakers . That has lost a ton of luster because LeBron James , who will be 41 in December, will miss what could be his final opening night and is without an official timetable to return due to sciatica. James won't even be re-evaluated until after the first week or two of the season. This could be the final year of the legendary James' career

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