Mamba is out. So now it's time for—from left-to-right above—young guns Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle to return the NBA's most fabled franchise to its former glory. And they've got lots of work to do: Their average age—21—is higher than the Lakers' win total last season. (Seventeen!) Is there a Magic or a Kareem in this bunch? Who knows! But they certainly have the flash, the killer smiles, and the Hollywood hairstyles. And by nabbing Ingram—a slinky Kevin Durant clone who, we're calling it now, will win Rookie of the Year—the Lakers might've found their newest showstopper.
NBA geeks love to argue that the era of the dominant center is dead. Andre swats that idea into the third row. Hulk strong and six feet eleven, the Pistons' baddest boy could bang with any of the great bigs in history.
Go Big or Go Home
The sweaters of the season are big and bold—just like the next class of NBA stars. Here, a retro-style turtleneck in totally modern colors (black, white, and red all over) makes a classic Nordic pattern look like it belongs in 2016.
Quiet, noble, legendary Tim Duncan is gone, making room for quiet, noble Kawhi to become the next Spurs legend. He was already their best player; now he becomes the face of their franchise.
The Real Charity Stripe
Horizontal stripes broaden your shoulders and make you look like an athlete (even if you're surely not).
GQ columnist KAT is obsessed with the future. He works out constantly and is always absorbing advice from older big men in the league, like retired teammate Kevin Garnett. He says he tries to spend only $2K a month on fun spending so that his “kids' kids' kids will be set.” Which makes him the only star in the league subsisting on two packets of ramen noodles a night.
Lose the Sleeves (You, Too, NBA Jerseys)
This hand-knit sleeveless Prada zip-up ain't gonna be cheap, but you can pass it down to your great-grandkids, too.
Jumping over a six-foot furry mascot in a globally televised dunk contest is impressive. So is posterizing some of the NBA's most determined shot-blockers. But this season, Aaron is going to prove there's more to his game than nasty, mouth-covering highlights.
Take It to the Rim (of Your Sweater)
If you're queasy about wearing brown, you're missing out. This tan sweater makes it easier to pull off by surrounding your face in approved-for-all-skin-tones blue.
How does a Taboo-crushing man who plays for such a dreadful team become the darling of NBA nerds? By being so good (two-time All-Star) and so real (like when he called his old coach a snake in the grass using emojis) that no amount of death stares can faze us. In other words: by being Boogie.
Shoot Your Shot
Right now the coolest sweaters are the wildest sweaters. Claim yours early: There can only be one guy in your crew with a flock of birds migrating all over his torso.