WASHINGTON (AFP) – Defending champion Boston launches a quest for back-to-back titles, LeBron James teams with his 20-year-old son and familiar faces debut in new places when the NBA’s 79th season begins today.

The Celtics will raise a record 18th championship banner when the New York Knicks visit Boston while James and the Los Angeles Lakers entertain Minnesota in opening-night contests.

Boston fans have not celebrated back-to-back NBA crowns since 1968 and 1969 – the end of the Bill Russell dynasty era – but after ending a 16-year title drought star Jayson Tatum yearns for such glory.

“It was never just about just trying to win one,” Tatum said. “Now you get to be at least in the same room with the other Celtics, great teams, the other great players.

“Now it’s just a conversation of how great are you trying to be, what tier you’re trying to be mentioned in when it’s all said and done?”

Tatum, who helped the United States team win Paris Olympic gold, says the Celtics feel different as champions.

“It does feel different being up here as a champion and knowing what it takes, and wanting to be on the top of the mountain as many times as you can,” Tatum said.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown lead a veteran Celtics lineup with star guard Jrue Holiday and injured center Kristaps Porzingis.

“We want to win a championship every single year – that’s the goal, that’s the standard, that’s the expectation,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Just because something worked before doesn’t mean it’s going to work again. That’s the challenge.”

NBA all-time scoring leader James, who turns 40 in December, joined his eldest son Bronny in the Lakers lineup during a pre-season loss to Phoenix, the NBA’s first father-son combination.

“It was cool for both of us,” LeBron James said. “Definitely a moment I’ll never forget. It was like being in ‘The Matrix’ or something. It just didn’t feel real.”

Star big man Anthony Davis and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James sparked the Lakers to the 2023 Western Conference finals but they crashed out in round one last season.

A huge off-season deal sent centre Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks with forward Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo going to Minnesota.

New York also added Mikal Bridges and with All-Star guard Jalen Brunson among veterans returning, the Knicks could challenge for their first NBA crown since 1973.

“We can’t just be worried about one team. We’ve got to be worried about the whole Eastern Conference,” Towns said.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin