Five storylines to track this season

Kobe's last stand?

Battered warrior Kobe Bryant, limited to 41 games since an Achilles injury in 2013, returns to lead the Los Angeles Lakers in what could be the final season of a Hall of Fame career.

The chances that a young Lakers team could send the five-time NBA champion and 17-time All-Star out on a high note - even if he stays healthy - appear slim, although the 37-year-old could have the satisfaction of helping the club's current crop feel their way toward a contender's identity.