Basketball season returns on Tuesday night in what is bound to be the most exciting NBA season in recent memory. Sportsmail asks and answers the 10 key questions for the next eight months.

Kawhi Leonard (left) stepped out for his LA Clippers debut on Tuesday night, helping his new side see off local rivals LA Lakers on the opening night of the new NBA season.

The Akron, Ohio native said that firefighters are the 'the reason why things could be a lot less worse than they could be,' commending them for their bravery, commitment and sacrifice to their craft.

James hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the waning minutes to seal another impressive win for the Lakers, who haven't lost since their season opener against the Clippers.

Andy Reyes and his friend and former basketball teammate, Emmanuel Franco, had visited a food truck in the Dominican Republic on Monday, when conversation turned to the NBA.

Lizzo stole the show at the LA Lakers game when she exposed her booty and thong during dance and twerk exhibition ion Sunday.

They improved to a 23-3 record, which extended their second-longest road winning streak in franchise history to 13 games and rallied from a double-digit deficit to win for the eighth time already this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 11 rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 in a showdown of the NBA's top teams.

Kawhi Leonard (right) scored 35 points as the LA Clippers beat the LA Lakers in the marquee Christmas Day game. Meanwhile, Draymond Green had 20 points in Golden State's shock win.

LeBron James netted 31 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in the Lakers victory over Phoenix Suns, while Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and 17 rebounds against the Timberwolves.

Over the last 10 years we have seen astonishing increases in the amount of money poured into sports, but which stars have benefitted the most? Sporstmail looks at the decade's biggest earners.

LeBron James put up 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, while Anthony Davis had eight of the Lakers' 20 blocked shots in their fifth straight victory, 106-99 over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Kemba Walker scored 20 points to end a career-long personal losing streak against LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum scored 27 to help Boston send the LA Lakers to its biggest loss of the season.

Zion Williamson is set to make his long-awaited NBA debut when his New Orleans Pelicans take on the San Antonio Spurs at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night.

A heartbroken LeBron James shared a clip of himself playfully embracing Kobe Bryant on the sidelines of an NBA fixture in Los Angeles just four weeks ago.

LeBron James may have two Olympic gold medals to his name already but the NBA superstar has cast doubt about whether or not he wishes to compete for a hat-trick of titles.

A string of stirring tributes preceded the game on Sunday in Chicago, where teams captained by LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will wear jerseys honoring Bryant and his daughter.

It's boxing versus basketball. Floyd Mayweather Jr is far from happy after he was snubbed for the Male Athlete of the Decade in favour of NBA star LeBron James.

Details have emerged from the Lakers' team flight back to Los Angeles on January 26, when they learned Kobe Bryant had died, prompting LeBron James to lead a group prayer circle.

Anthony Davis scored 30 points, LeBron James added 28 and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Clippers 112-103 on Sunday, ending their Staples Center co-tenant's six-game winning streak.

More than $5million will be refunded to thousands of fans who bought tickets to a basketball that used false advertising to claim LeBron James would be playing.

In the incident, Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was fatally shot by Travis McMichael as he jogged in Brunswick, Georgia February 23.

The stars will appear in Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020, a one-hour long special honoring graduates and airing on multiple channels May 16.

SoulCycle is loved by A-listers and has opened in London. Although spinning burns lots of calories physiotherapist Sarah Bentley said poor bike set up can cause knee and back pain.

The former first lady posted a photo on Instagram for Father's Day on Sunday. The 55-year-old also shared an old photo of her own dad with a lengthy tribute.

The former first lady opened up about the realities of White House life for two teenagers at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on Saturday.

Meghan, 37, guest-edited the September issue and spotlighted 15 'world-leading women.' Jameela, 33, said the Duchess is 'fantastic' and that sh was thrilled to speak to her on the phone.

Former first lady Michelle Obama, 55, (pictured) has once again said there is 'zero chance' of her running for office. She explained her decision saying being in the Oval Office 'is just not for me'.

EXCLUSIVE: Ellen Latham, 62, of Florida, was 40 and a single mother when she started OrangeTheory Fitness, which has 800K members in 49 US states and 22 countries.

Former first daughter Sasha Obama, 18, is reportedly set to start college at the University of Michigan next week. She was spotted by several other students on campus.

Obamas' legal team filed to cancel the trademark of the e-book publishing company, called Higher Ground Enterprises,  after the US trademark office rejected their application earlier this year.

Michelle Obama, 55, has praised Meghan Markle, 38, for 'breaking the mold' during the 10-day Africa tour. The former First Lady also dubbed her 'an inspiration' for all of her charity work.

The former first lady, 55, shared the cute snap on Instagram on Thursday. She and her brother Craig, now 57, smile outside in the photo taken on the South Side of Chicago, where they grew up.

Former President Barack Obama, 58, and former first lady Michelle, 55, tied the knot on October 3, 1992. Both wished the other a happy anniversary on Twitter and Instagram today.

A study at Cambridge university saw teenagers ditch negative influencers from social media in place of inspirational role models leading to a dramatic improvement in mental health.

The former first lady, 55, celebrated the United Nations-declared day of observance by announcing that in December, she and Today's Jenna, 37, will travel to Vietnam with a Today crew.

Barack and Michelle Obama are new entries on The Hollywood Reporter's 100 most powerful people in entertainment, thanks to their foray into the film making industry and a deal signed with Netflix.

Encouraging girls to follow inspirational women like Michelle Obama on social media could help protect their mental health, research led by a University of Cambridge psychologist claims.

Former US First Lady, Michelle Obama (pictured), has opened up about her fitness regime and asked other women to share how they 'take care' of themselves in a gym selfie.

Michelle Obama spoke says when her family - and other black families - moved to the South Side of Chicago in the 1970s, white families started moving out. 

Speaking at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago, the former first lady described her wedding in October 1992 to Barack Obama as 'hard' and 'bittersweet' following the death of her father.

It's that time of the year when Hollywood stars rediscover the joys of home cooking-or at least, book a personal chef for the day.

The former first lady, 55, said she and the former president will wait to see who wins the Democratic nomination before offering support.

Michelle Obama sent Greta Thunberg a public message of support on Twitter. Her tweet followed a vitriolic attack on the teenager by President Donald Trump.

Barack and Michelle Obama have advised the Sussexes on their plans for a new life outside the Royal Family.Harry and Meghan want to model themselves on the Obamas.

Michelle Obama admitted to Oprah Winfrey that she needed to 'make herself happy' if she wanted an equal partnership with Barack Obama. Obama spoke at an event in Brooklyn, New York.

American Factory, about the decline of manufacturing jobs in the industrial Midwest, picked up the golden statue for best feature-length documentary at the Oscars on Sunday night.

It seems that every actress from 44-year-old Charlize Theron to 50-year-old Renee Zellweger (pictured) decided to snub sleeves - or at least one sleeve - at this year's Oscars.

Former Vice President Joe Biden rallied with supporters in South Carolina, where he fielded a question about whether he would put Michelle Obama on the ticket.

Though the 62-year-old talk show host seemed charming-as-ever while on the phone, days prior a viral Twitter thread left people calling Ellen 'one of the meanest people alive.'