In two days, the sound of the orange balloon will be heard again for our greatest pleasure! September 30 to October 14 is NBA pre-season and players will have the opportunity to warm up before the start of the regular season. What are the things that will mainly interest us over the next fortnight? We give you our list.
The NBA is exported
It is often said that the NBA is the best league in the world and Adam Silver took advantage of the pre-season to send a few teams to the four winds and give a little benefit to fans abroad. While the Bucks and Hawks will indeed face off twice in Abu Dhabi, the Wizards and Warriors will do the same in Japan, with Rui Hachimura set to receive a superstar welcome. The opportunity for the league to increasingly internationalize, to seek out new fans and conquer new markets. As a reminder, Paris will host a Bulls-Pistons in the regular season, it will be January 19.
Rudy Gobert ready to dance with Wolves
Back from selection, Rudy Gobert will find the NBA floors but with a different tunic. After nine seasons at the Jazz, Gobzilla was traded to Wolves this summer. The pre-season will therefore be an opportunity to see Rudy’s first steps in the Wolves jersey but also to gauge his tandem with Karl-Anthony Towns. The two tease us with a crazy association from the trade, we will finally be able to get an idea of their complementarity. If the mayonnaise takes, Minnesota could make a lot of noise in the West this season.
Dejounte Murray flies over a cuckoo’s nest with Trae Young
We continue in the section of recent transfers with the new best friend of Trae Young. All-Star with the Spurs last year, Dejounte Murray saw San Antonio activate the tanking mode and it was Atlanta who took the opportunity to recover the talented young guard. Associated with Ice Trae on the backcourt, Murray must help the Hawks turn a corner. Good manager, scorer, jack of all trades, super defender, Dejounte appears to be an ideal reinforcement for the piou-pious, even if his complementarity with Young raises some questions. We all agree from the pre-season?
Ben Simmons playing basketball again
June 20, 2021, this is the date of Ben Simmons’ last appearance on an NBA floor. Since ? A big drama with the Sixers against a backdrop of mental problems, a trade to Brooklyn against James Harden and new physical glitches that do not help an already full health book. Normally, the point guard/power forward will be dressed for training camp in Brooklyn and he should take his first steps in his new uniform during the pre-season. Beginning of hostilities on October 3 with a match against… the Sixers. Swing the salt!
Kawhi Leonard is back
He too has not seen a floor since the 2021 Playoffs and Kawhi Leonard has ants in his legs at the idea of joining his teammates. Despite a workforce amputated from its two leaders last year (Paul George was injured for a long time), the Clippers did not give up and they went to a game to get the Playoffs. The Klaw is now back and its leaders have offered it a flashy squad to aim far. We are still talking about a guy who was perhaps in the five best NBA players before his injury. At the microphone, we will probably not expect more than three words (classic) but on the ground it will send heavy.
The first steps of the Rookies against NBA players
Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray, Bennedict Mathurin, without forgetting our national Ousmane Dieng, the pre-season will be an opportunity for rookies to take their first steps against real NBA players. The Summer League is very nice, but the young guard of the 2022 Draft will now be able to test themselves against the crème de la crème. Obviously, each other’s playing time will be severely limited, but coming across a Kevin Durant or a LeBron James for 10 minutes is enough to get an idea of what awaits you for the coming year.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and the Cavs ready to set fire
He already imagined parading at the Garden and it was in Cleveland that Donovan Mitchell finally landed. The spider will now weave its web around Darius Garland for what promises to be one of the most explosive backcourts in the League. Extended to the max this summer, the Cavs point guard found himself an excellent sidekick to lead an attack that depended a little too much on his exploits. This is a duo that promises a nice fireworks show every night (unfortunately not in defense). Cleveland bled to bring Spida this summer to regain the leading roles in the East. It’s time to prove that this group has everything to make it happen.
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back, Denver’s Big 3 complete
When was the last appearance of the Jokic-Murray-Porter Jr. trio on a Denver roster? We give you ten seconds. April 12, 2021! Seriously injured in the knee, the leader saw the winger join him in the infirmary at the very beginning of the following season because of his back problems, leaving Nikola Jokic to fend for himself to save the ambitions of the franchise. If the Joker has had plenty of individual awards since (double MVP in title), his Nuggets have never lasted long in the Playoffs. Can the return of the local Big 3 return Denver to its title dreams? We recall that the Colorado players remained on a Conference Final before the avalanche of glitches.
Russell Westbrook and Pat Beverley, friends or not?
Will the circus make its return to Los Angeles this season? Patrick Beverley and Dennis Schröder arrived to replace Russell Westbrook in the lead. Problem: Brodie is still with the Lakers and it’s currently unclear who will start at No. 1 in LA Opportunity to see ‘healthy’ competition emerge in LA between two players who likely haven’t left vacationing together this summer. Pat and Russ may say that everything is fine, we are waiting to see what will happen in a few weeks, when the first addicts will point the tip of their noses.
Zion Williamson ready to take flight with the Pelicans
When was the last time we saw Zion Williamson on an NBA court? It was May 4, 2021. Let’s say that at the time, Terry Tarpey was unknown to the battalion. Injured for the entire 2021-22 season, the phenomenon of New Orleans returns to the courts and will therefore have to integrate into a group which has achieved a striking course last year. In addition to having signed a juicy contract this summer ($193 million over 5 years), Zion will have to show that he is quite simply capable of playing the entire pre-season without causing concern. If that is the case ? He will find his way back to the All-Stars. And if it’s the case ? Watch out for Pelicans!
Un Jazz new look
If you like construction and big explosions then you must have enjoyed the summer scenario in Utah a lot. Ready to start all over again, the franchise begins its pre-season with a (very) large squad and a lot of questions. Who will take the lead in this group? Will we see the FIBA versions of Lauri Markkanen and Simone Fontecchio? Can Collin Sexton return to who he was before his serious injury? In short, victory or not is not the important thing but one wonders what the new face of the Mormons will look like.
Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis ready to bewitch Washington?
The Wizards had wanted to send a reassuring message to Bradley Beal regarding the competitiveness of the franchise by recovering Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline, but since then the two All-Stars have still not been able to share the swelling on the floor. Beal injured his wrist at the end of January, Porzingis waited until March to test the star jersey. The two boys will be expected this season, Bealou to justify his new XXL contract (251 million over five years!), Porzi to prove that he can complete an entire season without going to see the doctor every week. Do we believe in the Playoffs or not in DC?
A big pre-season awaits us, we’ve given you our good reasons to check it all out, we’ll let you give us yours in the comments and we’re off to buy some coffee because the short nights are fast approaching. More than two days !