playBen GolliverOct 15, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseBen Golliver is a senior NBA writer who joined ESPN in May 2026. Prior to joining ESPN, Golliver covered the NBA on a national level since 2010 for The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports. He is the author of Bubbleball, an account of his 93-day stay at the NBA’s “Bubble” in Disney World during the coronavirus pandemic. He is based in Los Angeles.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsThe NBA preseason is a time to welcome new faces, sort through lineup questions, hype up prospects, squabble over unresolved contract situations and panic about unfortunate injuries before the real competition begins.With Tuesday’s openers fast approaching, let’s bounce around the league one final time in search of key takeaways that will shape the upcoming season.Jump to a team: ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN NO | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WASAtlanta HawksThe preseason revealed … the backcourt is loadedWith Trae Young’s salary no longer on the books, the Hawks have assembled a backcourt rotation stacked with creators Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum, stoppers Dyson Daniels and Lu Dort, shooter Corey Kispert and 2026 lottery pick Kingston Flemings.
In fact, Atlanta had such a surplus that it traded two backup guards to land 3-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith from the Charlotte Hornets in September.Hawks coach Quin Snyder has used multiple starting lineups during the preseason, but he’s best served sticking with last season’s top group — Alexander-Walker, McCollum, Daniels, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu — because it posted a phenomenal plus-20.3 net rating. That would move Dort to a reserve role after he spent the past six seasons as a starter for the Oklahoma City Thunder.Boston CelticsThe preseason revealed … Jayson Tatum will hit the ground runningWhile Tatum returned from a May 2025 Achilles tear in less than 10 months, his shot looked rusty and he played below his All-NBA standard down the stretch last season. Then, his speedy comeback ended with a whimper when he sat out a Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round due to left knee discomfort.By taking those lumps last season, Tatum prepared himself for a smoother launch in 2026-27.
The five-time All-Star was spectacular at times while posting 23 points in 27 minutes during his preseason debut, and his outside shot looked confident in a variety of situations. The Celtics must learn to live without Jaylen Brown and incorporate two key new pieces in forward Paul George and center Mitchell Robinson, but everything will be easier if Tatum is back to performing like an MVP contender.Brooklyn NetsThe preseason revealed … Egor Demin is one to watchBe sure to include Demin on the list of 2025 first-round picks poised for major improvement in their second campaigns. While draft classmates in Dallas’ Cooper Flagg and San Antonio’s Dylan Harper are bursting with star potential, Demin’s goal will be to move past a shaky rookie season and establish himself as a quality starting point guard.After being content to settle for outside shots as a rookie, the 20-year-old Russian was more forceful off the dribble at Las Vegas summer league.
That shift was evident in a preseason win over the 76ers: Midway through the first quarter, Demin drove past LeBron James and finished a difficult layup over Joel Embiid. Veteran forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle will handle the bulk of the scoring for Brooklyn, but Demin is arguably the Nets’ most important player given his ability to shape their rebuilding effort.Charlotte HornetsThe preseason revealed … life without Kon Knueppel is no funWhile Knueppel’s record 3-point shooting got all the attention during his rookie season, his reliability was just as important to Charlotte’s success. Knueppel averaged 18.5 points per game in 81 appearances, joining Young and Karl-Anthony Towns as the only rookies to hit those scoring and availability marks over the past decade. And despite Knueppel’s youth and starter responsibilities, the 2025 No. 4 pick posted a strong plus-6.2 net rating.Unfortunately, Knueppel has been sidelined throughout the preseason with a hamstring injury and his availability for opening night remains uncertain.
Knueppel is a critical player for the retooling Hornets, who pivoted by trading star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer. Charlotte’s offense won’t sing at full volume until its most prolific shooter is back to 100%.Chicago BullsThe preseason revealed … Caleb Wilson will stop you in your tracksThere’s a special joy in watching Wilson explore the bounds of his developing game. Already in his first preseason, the 2026 No. 4 pick has raced out in transition for thunderous dunks, worked through traffic for turnaround midrange jumpers and created space in isolation to launch step-back 3-pointers.
That range of offensive skills is rare for a 6-foot-10 rookie forward.Wilson has a path to becoming the best player in a strong class if he solidifies his outside shooting and smooths out his ballhandling and decision-making. His confidence out of the gate is a positive indicator, and he appears destined to be an impact defender given his length and leaping ability. The Bulls face no immediate pressure to win after changing their general manager and coach, so this season will be all about gawking at Wilson’s latest highlights and daydreaming about his potential.Cleveland CavaliersThe preseason revealed … Peyton Watson isn’t the only notable newcomerGet this: The Cavaliers will pay their projected starters more than $179 million in 2026-27, well above this year’s $165 million salary cap.
Given that top-heavy spending structure, Cleveland will welcome any and all second-unit help.While Watson was the Cavaliers’ biggest offseason addition and plugs in as a starting forward, Mario Hezonja also arrived this summer as a bargain signing after spending the past six seasons in Europe. The 31-year-old Hezonja, who once upon a time was a 2015 lottery pick, averaged 17.5 points per game for Real Madrid in Spain’s ACB league last season. His primary task will be to boost Cleveland’s bench scoring, which ranked 25th in 2025-26, with his inside-outside versatility.Dallas MavericksThe preseason revealed … the Cooper Flagg hype train is gaining speedESPN’s Brian Windhorst ably documented Flagg’s eye-opening performances during the Mavericks and Rockets’ exhibitions at the NBA China Games. While it would be foolish to read too much into preseason statistics, Flagg averaged 25.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists plus more than a steal and a block per 36 minutes in the two games.
Only one player in NBA history has maintained those per-game averages for a full regular season: LeBron James.The No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft should factor heavily into this year’s All-Star conversation, and there’s a good chance Flagg will outperform his No. 23 spot in ESPN’s NBA Rank if he continues to impact games on both ends like he did in Macao. Flagg’s 3-point shot — he hit under 30% as a rookie — can still improve, but his combination of instincts, athleticism and work ethic is rare. And remember: He’s still a teenager.Denver NuggetsThe preseason revealed … Nikola Jokic’s passing is getting more preposterousJokic delivered the best highlight of the preseason when he casually flipped a no-look, behind-the-back pass from the left baseline past three Utah Jazz defenders to find Cameron Johnson for a right-corner 3.
The assist was so on the money that Johnson seemingly didn’t move his hands an inch to haul it in, and the crowd was already roaring before the shot went up.The play was a good reminder that the three-time MVP is entering rarified air as a passer. Jokic led the NBA in assists per game for the first time last season, and the 31-year-old ranks first among centers in career ass
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