NBA veterans can report to their teams on September 28, when most clubs hold media day, and training camps open the following morning. Opening night is October 20, when the Knicks raise their championship banner against Philadelphia. Between now and then, each of these six teams has one question that camp has to start answering.

1. New York Knicks: how does a champion follow a 53-year wait?

The Knicks beat San Antonio in June for their first title since 1973, clinching in Game 5 in San Antonio after a record comeback from 29 points down in Game 4. Jalen Brunson scored 45 in the clincher and averaged 32.6 points in the Finals, playing through a left wrist injury he had surgically repaired in July. He told the New York Post last month that he feels good, and he is expected to be ready when camp opens.

Almost everyone else from the title team is back. Mitchell Robinson left for Boston, which is why five veterans are competing for one roster spot. The bigger question is historical. No team has repeated as champion since the 2018 Warriors.

2. Philadelphia 76ers: what is the plan for Joel Embiid?

Philadelphia traded for Jaylen Brown and signed LeBron James, and the season still depends on Joel Embiid. The 76ers went 24-14 in his games last season and 21-23 without him.

In August, Mike Gansey, who runs basketball operations, called this Embiid's first healthy summer in a while. He said the club would sit down with Embiid, its performance staff and head coach Nick Nurse to map out a plan. That plan has not been made public. Media day is the first time James, Embiid, Brown and Tyrese Maxey answer questions as teammates, and the first chance to hear how many games Philadelphia wants from a 32-year-old center and a forward who turns 42 in December.

3. Los Angeles Lakers: what does camp look like without LeBron?

This is the Lakers' first camp without James after eight seasons with him. They built around Luka Dončić instead, and the biggest single bet of the summer was Walker Kessler. Los Angeles sent Utah two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps in a four-year, $130 million sign-and-trade for a center who played five games last season before shoulder surgery.

Kessler said in July that he had been medically cleared and that the shoulder felt better than it ever had. Camp is where that stops being a quote. The roster around Dončić and Austin Reaves turned over almost completely, and the Lakers have three weeks to learn it before hosting Golden State on October 21.

4. Boston Celtics: is Jayson Tatum ready to be the whole plan?

Jayson Tatum played 16 regular-season games last season after the Achilles tear he suffered in the 2025 playoffs, and missed Game 7 of Boston's first-round defeat by Philadelphia with left knee stiffness. This is his first full training camp since the injury, and he starts it as the undisputed first option, with Brown now in Philadelphia.

Brad Stevens said this month that Tatum looks healthy and ready for camp. The Celtics brought in Paul George and Mike Conley to help carry the load. Media day is where Boston starts saying how much of it Tatum will carry, and how soon.

5. Golden State Warriors: two extensions, and only one has a deadline

Stephen Curry can sign his extension at any point before next June 30, and the Warriors are content to let him choose. Brandin Podziemski's has a deadline. If he and the Warriors do not agree by October 19, he becomes a restricted free agent next summer.

Podziemski played all 82 games last season, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody both expected to miss the start of the season, his role is growing before his contract does. Danny Emerman of the San Francisco Standard has floated five years and $100 million. The Warriors open camp in Hawaii the day after media day, with both extensions still open.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder: who takes Lu Dort's minutes?

The Thunder kept their core. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are all back, and Isaiah Hartenstein re-signed for three years and $75 million. To stay under the second apron, Oklahoma City traded Isaiah Joe to Detroit and sent Aaron Wiggins and Dort to Atlanta.

Dort was a longtime starter on the 2025 title team, and ESPN expects Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell to absorb his minutes. Wallace is also waiting on an extension of his own before October 19. Camp decides who starts next to Gilgeous-Alexander. The first test comes quickly: the Thunder open on October 20 at San Antonio, the team that beat them in seven games in the Western Conference finals.