They're all back.

MJ, sure, but also not-so-li'l Penny, Grant and 'Zo, all trying to regain All-NBA status after injuries and illness. There's Kobe and Shaq, on the quest for a three-peat and true understanding. C-Webb is back in Sacramento, which surprised many, but J-Wil isn't, which surprised few. Shareef left Vancouver, and so did the Grizzlies in the NBA's first franchise shift in 16 years.

Stephon and Jason traded addresses. And winter garb. Mase went into witness protection, also known as Milwaukee in winter, to work on his arrest-to-assist ratio. Hakeem and Patrick are still around, though not moving very swiftly, and also with new laundry. There's talk that Donald Sterling may make the playoffs and Pat Riley may not. There are new rules and old guys, Stockton and Malone, who have played more games with one team than anyone in NBA history.

"There's an enormous amount of interest in the league in general and in Michael in particular. But it can't be just a Michael Jordan story," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in assessing the 2001-02 campaign, which tips off Tuesday night at 12 sites, including a marquee matchup between Jordan's Washington Wizards and the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.