For the first time since 2002, NBA basketball will air on NBC. If you were a ’90s kid, John Tesh’s iconic “Roundball Rock ” was the soundtrack of your basketball-watching experience, the perfect melodic intro that remains synonymous with hoops.

No Steph or LeBron, but the action will be hot in the nightcap of NBC’s season opening doubleheader. It’s easy to imagine why the NBA schedulemakers decided to include a matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors on their Opening Night slate.

If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The NBA Preseason begins with an Eastern Conference rivalry, with dozens of games to watch — ahead of the regular season starting ...

Speaking to the media following Wednesday’s board of governors meeting in New York, commissioner Adam Silver’s description of the NBA as “very much a highlights-based sport” is directionally accurate, if wince-inducing to some long-time fans.