This is the best time of year.

The NHL season just started, the World Series is right around the corner. Professional and college football are in full-swing.

In high school sports, its do-or-die time. Athletes battling for their sport lives with every goal, every run, every throw, every mile, every kill and every serve.

But one season is just about to get started, and I couldn’t be more thrilled — the NBA.

I know a lot of people dislike or have disdain for professional basketball. Me, being a former college basketball player, I love it. I can’t get enough of it. I follow it closely. I consume it. I live it.

Basketball, in my opinion, is the best sport in the world. I could go into great depth on why I think that, but I’ll save it for another day.

I want to talk about the Minnesota Timberwolves.

I think this is the year the T-wolves finally turn their misery around. With players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, this team is very young, but also extremely talented. New coach Tom Thibodeau brings energy, defense, intensity and experience to a group who desperately needs it.

There is no doubt this team will be fun to watch, for me at least. I have watched or followed nearly every minute of every game Minnesota has played the last few seasons. It has been very frustrating at times, but it has also been rewarding. I have seen guys like LaVine, Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng and Ricky Rubio improve and develop into good players.

I think this is the year Minnesota puts it all together and ends its 12-year streak of missing the playoffs.

I’m not saying this team will compete for a title, but I think it will be ultra competitive in each and every game, which is something I can’t say it has done in quite sometime.

Kevin Garnett is gone, and I am sad that he is, but a new era has arrived. I think Towns will be one of the best players in the league. He can do it all — score, shoot, pass, rebound, defend, block shots, make free-throws and hit three-pointers. If Minnesota makes the playoffs, I believe he will get MVP votes. He is a special player, one who comes around once-in-a-lifetime. He is the leader Minnesota has needed for the past 12 years. If you haven’t seen him play, I highly recommend you check him out. He isn’t the typical NBA player.

As far as the rest of the NBA goes, I expect my DVR to be full by Christmas. Covering high school sports will take up most of my time, and I don’t mind that one bit, but I love to come home and watch a game, even if I already know the outcome.

I won’t get to see LeBron James play at a high level for much longer, so I want to savor the opportunity. I have gotten to the point where I don’t even hate the guy anymore. He has reached the stage where whatever he does now is fun to watch.

The Golden State Warriors have a super team with the addition of Kevin Durant, so I’ll be rooting against them. If the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers match up in the NBA Finals, I might have to cheer for the Cavs.

Barring any significant injuries, and Minnesota sports always incurs injuries, this will be one exciting winter for basketball fans.

Minnesota kicks off its season Wednesday in Memphis.

Please do not disturb.