Intriguing season begins tonight

The story lines are as long as a Stephen Curry 3pointer.

With a superteam in the West, a megastar in the Midwest, superstars all around the league, its global popularity at an all-time high, more revenue than ever and labor peace looming, this season has the potential to be like no other the league has ever had. Yes, rivaling the Celtics’ run in the 1960s, possibly topping Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry of the 1980s and Michael Jordan’s run of the 1990s.

LeBron James is holding the title in Cleveland and Kevin Durant has settled in at Golden State, so the NBA Finals could be headed for the same destination again next June. But what a journey it should be getting there.

“I think there is a somewhat an inevitability of this Cleveland-Warriors meeting in the Finals again, which can sometimes make you overlook how enjoyable the regular season can be if you love basketball,” ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said.

A summer spending spree created new contenders and enticing questions for a global audience that will begin being answered tonight when the new season opens in the places the previous one ended.

James and the Cavaliers will receive their rings before their season opener against the New York Knicks, and Durant joins Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson in the expensive and explosive Warriors lineup later against the San Antonio Spurs.

Elsewhere

NBA TV personality Kristen Ledlow was robbed at gunpoint Saturday at her Atlanta home, she said. In addition to stealing her Corvette, purse and phone, the thieves took her “sense of security.” Police found the car later and no arrests have been reported . ... A new feature of NBA League Pass will allow viewers to select a mobile view, with a zoomed-in shot that looks better on smaller screens. About 70 percent of League Pass subscribers watch games on mobile devices.