The 2024 NBA preseason started on Oct. 4 and continues through October 18. All 30 teams will play in a total of 73 regular season games. The New Zealand Breakers will play in three of these pre-season games against the Jazz, Thunder and 76ers. Below are three interesting points that happened during the preseason that will make this coming season something to keep an eye on.
- Bronny and Lebron James became the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game.
Lebron James, who is entering his 22nd season in the NBA, had the opportunity to play with his twenty-year-old son, Lebron James Jr., aka “Bronny.” Lebron’s son has had a rough start to his basketball career. James Jr. suffered a cardiac arrest on July 24, 2023, averaged only 4.8 points per game through twenty-five games at the University of Southern California and shot 35% from the field during his four summer league appearances. The father-son duo made history during the Los Angeles Lakers preseason game against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 6. The Lakers lost 118-114, but the James duo made NBA history that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
2. First look at top rookies from the 2024 NBA draft class.
Top picks from the 2024 draft like Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Reed Sheppard will get their first look at playing in the NBA during the preseason. Risacher is a French star from JL Bourg-en-Bresse who was the first pick for the Atlanta Hawks. Sarr is also from France and played for the Perth Wildcats before being selected by the Washington Wizards as the second pick. Sheppard is a sharpshooter from the University of Kentucky who will have a major role for the young Houston Rockets who selected him as the third pick. Sarr will be the first of these rookies to possibly see NBA action on October 6th against the Toronto Raptors. Sheppard will play the next day on October 7th and Risacher will play on the 8th.
3. First look at superstars acquired during the 2024 off-season.
Many NBA superstars found new homes this off-season including Paul George, Klay Thompson, and Karl-Anthony Towns. George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year deal after spending five years with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 76ers first preseason game was on October 7th against the New Zealand Breakers. Thompson joined his new team, the Dallas Mavericks, on a three-year deal. This ended his thirteen-year run with the Golden State Warriors during which he won four NBA championships. The Mavericks first preseason game was on October 7th against the Memphis Grizzlies. Towns was traded to the New York Knicks, who are an emerging contender in the Eastern Conference. This trade ended his nine-year run with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Knicks first preseason game was on October 6th against the Charlotte Hornets.
