The NBA is back, and what a season it promises to be. Finally, we can talk about something other than baseball and football. Scripts like this only exist in Hollywood. It's funny the team that plays just down the road from there is perhaps the juiciest part.

Let's talk about the Lakers.

Phil Jackson seems to simultaneously have the easiest and most difficult coaching job in the league ahead of him this season. The team he will be in charge of is loaded with more star players than a Big Mac is with calories. He has four future first-ballot Hall of Famers in his starting lineup. On paper, it looks like Jackson could sleep-walk on the sidelines and still win a championship.

In fact, basketball might be the least of his concerns this year. The most will be mediating the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant feud and directing media attention away from Bryant's court case. After he deals with these issues, he can confront on-court issues like deciding who gets the ball in crunch time, and for that matter, any other time. O'Neal, Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone are like only-children on their first day of kindergarten — they are not used to sharing.

Jackson will have to reach deep into his bag of tricks this year to keep the all the Lakers happy. The Zen Master might not have time for much meditation this year. The Lakers soap opera is just one intriguing plotline sure to play out this season.

Let's talk about LeBron James.

His Airness is out. King James is in. The timing of Jordan's retirement coupled with James' entrance into the league is eerie. It's like the league planned it that way. If this isn't symbolic of a changing of the guard in the NBA, I don't know what is. The NBA says goodbye to one No. 23 who could jump through the roof and says hello to another No. 23 who can jump through the roof and bench press it, too. While Jordan carried lofty expectations to a bad Bulls team, James has the daunting task of trying to make an awful Cleveland Cavaliers team instantly better. Jordan wasn't even the No. 1 pick in the draft. Or No. 2. Plus, James is only 18. While James may be voted into the All-Star game because of his already established popularity, another rookie may be voted in because of his on-court performance.

Let's talk about Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony joins the Denver Nuggets as the No. 3 overall selection in the draft, fresh off a marvelous championship run with the Syracuse Orangemen. In last year's NCAA tournament, he showed poise and leadership beyond his age. And he wanted the ball when it mattered. His outstanding play will be the only thing that can overcome and possibly overshadow all the hype surrounding James. Chicago didn't get a chance to grab James or Anthony in the draft, so the Bulls brought back a familiar face.

Let's talk about the Bulls.

Scottie Pippen rejoins the team, but just like in his first stint with the Bulls, he will not be the focus of the offense. That distinction belongs to Eddy Curry, who many predict to be an All-Star this year. Then again, many predicted that his Thornwood team would beat the Schaumburg Saxons in the IHSA state basketball finals during his senior year of high school. That didn't happen. So, it remains to be seen. So does everything else that happens in the NBA season. But at least we know it has a promising script.

Josh Purse is a junior in communications. He can be reached at sports@dailyillini.com