By Multiple contributors | ESPN, 2025-10-15 19:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
NBA季前赛已接近尾声
2025-26赛季的大幕将于周二在俄克拉荷马城拉开，届时，卫冕冠军雷霆队将迎战由前雷霆球星凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 领衔的休斯顿火箭队，并庆祝他们队史上的首个总冠军。尽管季前赛的主要目的是调整状态、以健康的姿态迎接新赛季，但我们依然能从十月初的这些比赛中一窥端倪。
在大部分表演赛尘埃落定之际，为了盘点各队的现状，我们的NBA记者团队——蒂姆·邦坦普斯 (Tim Bontemps)、贾马尔·科利尔 (Jamal Collier)、文斯·古德温 (Vince Goodwill)、巴克斯特·霍姆斯 (Baxter Holmes)、蒂姆·麦克马洪 (Tim MacMahon)、戴夫·麦克梅纳明 (Dave McMenamin)、安东尼·斯莱特 (Anthony Slater)、迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright) 和奥姆·杨米苏克 (Ohm Youngmisuk)——为东西部联盟的多支争冠球队带来了他们的观察总结，并分析了各支球队在新赛季开始前的状态。
快速跳转至球队：
亚特兰大老鹰 | 克利夫兰骑士 | 达拉斯独行侠
底特律活塞 | 金州勇士 | 休斯顿火箭
洛杉矶快船 | 洛杉矶湖人 | 密尔沃基雄鹿
纽约尼克斯 | 俄克拉荷马城雷霆 | 奥兰多魔术
费城76人 | 圣安东尼奥马刺
东部联盟
亚特兰大老鹰
在老鹰队训练营初期，球员们最早的感受之一就是所有人都出现在了球场上，而理疗室则空无一人。老鹰队目前全员健康，并对新援克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porzingis)、尼基尔·亚历山大-沃克 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker) 和卢克·肯纳德 (Luke Kennard) 的加入感到兴奋。重拾健康对于老鹰队的成功与成长至关重要。本赛季，亚特兰大的一个关键因素是杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson)，他在因左肩手术缺席2024-25赛季后，于季前赛的前两场比赛中表现出色；在对阵孟菲斯灰熊的比赛中，约翰逊在25分钟内11投7中，贡献了20分、7个篮板、2次助攻和2次抢断。
主教练奎因·斯奈德 (Quin Snyder) 表示，约翰逊在防守端的进步将是这位年轻前锋的下一个成长方向。如果他能保持健康，并继续成长为一名能够辅助特雷·杨和波尔津吉斯的组织者，老鹰队本赛季或将真正实现腾飞。-- 杨米苏克
克利夫兰骑士
骑士队拥有深厚的阵容储备，而他们也确实需要如此。马克斯·斯特鲁斯 (Max Strus) 因左脚琼斯骨折可能将缺席数月。达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland) 在休赛期接受了草地脚趾手术，也将错过赛季初的几周比赛。新援朗佐·鲍尔 (Lonzo Ball) 不会出战背靠背比赛，此前他因伤连续缺席了两个赛季，上赛季为芝加哥公牛队也仅出战了35场。德安德烈·亨特 (De’Andre Hunter) 的单赛季出场数从未超过67场，并且在六个赛季中有三个赛季至少缺席了25场比赛。而迪恩·韦德 (Dean Wade) 在他的六个赛季中也仅有一次出场超过60场。
因此，尽管克利夫兰在上赛季夺得东部头号种子后对自身实力感觉良好，但他们已经开始面临伤病困扰——而且很可能整个赛季都将如此。-- 邦坦普斯
底特律活塞
让进入第三个赛季的前锋奥萨尔·汤普森 (Ausar Thompson) 承担更多责任已成为球队关注的焦点。上赛季，当他的健康限制（血栓）解除后，其攻防两端的能力得以释放，球队也随之开始起势。现在，活塞队将他视为第二持球点，作为一名节奏变化型后卫来发起进攻，与打法更为沉稳的凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham) 形成对比。
主教练J.B.·比克斯塔夫 (J.B. Bickerstaff) 指出，汤普森在坎宁安在场时也曾发起部分进攻，以展现不同的战术面貌。据比克斯塔夫透露，由于杰登·艾维 (Jaden Ivey)（左腓骨伤势）仍“感到一些不适”，球队正让他缓慢恢复，这也为汤普森在进攻端创造了更多机会。至于坎宁安，季前赛的样本量虽小，但据消息人士称，“他正在证明去年并非昙花一现。” – 古德温
密尔沃基雄鹿
扬尼斯的未来风波远未结束。尽管自训练营开始以来，雄鹿队一直试图平息外界对扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 未来的猜测，但这位两届MVP在强调自己当前对雄鹿队承诺的同时，也为自己可能在别处延续职业生涯留下了余地。
阿德托昆博再次重申了他对争夺总冠军的渴望，并且不愿接受任何低于此标准的结果。这给雄鹿队本赛季带来了巨大的压力，他们必须证明他能够在密尔沃基再次赢得一座总冠军。对于一支连续三个赛季在季后赛首轮出局的球队来说，如果无法在季后赛中走得更远，那么清算的时刻可能就将来临。-- 科利尔
纽约尼克斯
在场外，有关阿德托昆博的情况将整个赛季都笼罩着这支球队，此前有消息披露，尼克斯和雄鹿在休赛期曾讨论过一笔关于这位大前锋的潜在交易。几名关键球员将因此保持警惕，并密切关注密尔沃基的动向，以追踪阿德托昆博的心态变化。在场上，尼克斯希望在进攻端打得更快，并投射更多三分，但通过四场季前赛来看，这仍是一个正在进行中的调整。尼克斯赛季初的赛程较为有利，这应该能为我们提供一个早期窗口，来观察迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 时代在纽约将呈现出何种面貌。-- 古德温
奥兰多魔术
魔术队正变得越来越健康，这至关重要。保罗·班凯罗 (Paolo Banchero) 和弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 在训练营开始时都保持健康，而上赛季他们两人都曾受斜肌伤势困扰，合计缺席了58场常规赛。不过，奥兰多尚未全员到齐。后卫杰伦·萨格斯 (Jalen Suggs) 仍在从左膝手术中缓慢恢复，而莫·瓦格纳 (Mo Wagner) 则因2024年12月遭遇的左膝前十字韧带撕裂继续缺阵。
与此同时，班凯罗、瓦格纳和魔术队的其他成员将努力与新援德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane) 尽快培养化学反应，同时希望能够大幅提升上赛季联盟垫底的31.8%的三分命中率。魔术队在训练营开始后打得更快，专注于提速打转换进攻，并利用防守创造进攻机会。在季前赛的前三场比赛中，魔术队平均拥有104个回合数，而上赛季他们场均回合数仅为96.5，位列联盟最低。最重要的事情将是以健康的班凯罗、瓦格纳和贝恩进入新赛季，并期待萨格斯在准备好后能为球队锦上添花。-- 杨米苏克
费城76人
乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 或许健康了？在经历了过去18个月的一切之后，这么说感觉有些奇怪，但到目前为止，费城度过了一个相对无忧的季前赛。恩比德似乎有望为76人队于10月22日对阵宿敌凯尔特人队的揭幕战做好准备。任何关注恩比德在费城生涯的人都知道情况可能瞬息万变，他的左膝已经出现过足够多的问题，以至于人们有理由怀疑这种健康状况能维持多久，下一次伤情复发又会在何时。
恩比德在训练营开始时表示，他们只是日复一日地观察情况。但与去年他的季前赛一直在等待膝盖康复不同，今年恩比德已经规律地参加了训练，参与了周日的公开对抗赛，并预计将在周五对阵明尼苏达的季前赛收官战中出场。-- 邦坦普斯
西部联盟
达拉斯独行侠
达拉斯总经理尼科·哈里森 (Nico Harrison) 的信条是“防守赢得总冠军”，但独行侠队在防守端，尤其是在外线，还有一些问题需要解决。主教练杰森·基德 (Jason Kidd) 表示，他必须“继续审视不同的阵容组合，以找到比赛开局的最佳方式”。此前，在独行侠主力打到下半场的情况下，黄蜂队仅用三节就得到了95分。克莱·汤普森 (Klay Thompson) 被安排主防黄蜂队球星拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball)，对于一位有着伤病史的35岁老将来说，这或许要求过高。
如果丹吉洛·拉塞尔 (D’Angelo Russell) 与汤普森一同首发，那么防守选择将非常有限。P.J.·华盛顿 (P.J. Washington) 上赛季通常负责最艰难的外线防守任务，但在季前赛前两场比赛中他都是替补出场。独行侠是否最好让华盛顿首发，并让18岁的库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 担任主要进攻发起者？这正是基德在周一对阵犹他爵士队时所采用的阵容，当时拉塞尔轮休。-- 麦克马洪
金州勇士
目前来看，球队的核心球员们并未表现出任何令人担忧的衰老迹象。艾尔·霍福德 (Al Horford) 至今很好地融入了球队文化和体系。剩下的问题之一是，史蒂夫·科尔 (Steve Kerr) 将如何围绕斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry)、吉米·巴特勒 (Jimmy Butler) 和德雷蒙德·格林 (Draymond Green) 部署他的首发阵容。霍福德在某些晚上会首发出任中锋，但科尔表示，考虑到霍福德的年龄以及限制他上场时间的必要性，他需要谨慎行事。
“如果艾尔再年轻一点，他肯定会是首发阵容的一员，”科尔说道。
科尔曾暗示他可能会使用一套包括摩西·穆迪 (Moses Moody) 和布兰丁·波杰姆斯基 (Brandin Podziemski) 的小个阵容。但穆迪在训练中左小腿受伤，赛季初能否出战尚不确定。波杰姆斯基则在洛杉矶对阵湖人的比赛中砍下23分，为他出色的训练营画上了圆满的句号。科尔并未正式承诺让他担任首发得分后卫，但预计揭幕战的首发阵容将是：库里、波杰姆斯基、巴特勒、格林、霍福德——尽管外界普遍预计科尔会频繁调整阵容。-- 斯莱特
休斯顿火箭
在资深控球后卫弗雷德·范弗利特 (Fred VanVleet) 赛季报销后，休斯顿采用的集体发起进攻的策略将能顺利奏效。火箭队主教练艾米·乌度卡 (Ime Udoka) 经常在新闻发布会上使用“KYP”（了解你的人员配置）这个词。或许正是对休斯顿阵容的深入了解，才让乌度卡充满信心，认为他的团队在范弗利特缺阵的情况下“能够完成任务”。
季前赛的早期回报是积极的，火箭队利用多名球员——主要是中锋阿尔佩伦·申京 (Alperen Sengun) 和前锋阿门·汤普森 (Amen Thompson)——来发起进攻。预计休斯顿还会依赖杜兰特来组织进攻，同时二年级后卫里德·谢泼德 (Reed Sheppard) 似乎也在他的角色中变得越来越自信。-- 莱特
洛杉矶快船
在一项NBA调查的阴影下打球——而且调查的核心还是球队的明星球员——绝非易事。但目前看来，快船队决心不让这项调查成为干扰。通过两场季前赛，科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 似乎已经进入了赛季中期的状态。他在一场比赛中18分钟得到18分，在另一场比赛中19分钟得到17分。新援布鲁克·洛佩斯 (Brook Lopez) 和约翰·科林斯 (John Collins) 似乎已经融入球队，而克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 与快船的重聚也显得天衣无缝。
快船队拥有联盟中最年长的阵容之一，但同时也是阵容深度最厚的球队之一，这应该能帮助他们的一些资深球员在赛季深入时保持状态。虽然还剩下几场季前赛，而这些比赛并不能为即将到来的赛季提供确凿的证据，但尽管样本量很小，这支重组后的快船队看起来前景尤其光明。-- 霍姆斯
洛杉矶湖人
球队在上赛季首轮出局后所渴望的额外训练和磨合时间，终究未能如愿。不幸的是，训练营并未提供大家所期望的机会。由于右侧坐骨神经痛，勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 在湖人队的队内对抗赛中只能在场边进行口头指导，这也使他缺席了季前赛。
卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 被有意地安排缺席了洛杉矶大部分的季前赛，并在几天的训练中采用了调整后的训练负荷，因为医疗团队考虑到了他在夏天参加了欧洲篮球锦标赛。休赛期签下的马库斯·斯马特 (Marcus Smart) 因跟腱炎缺阵。马克西·克勒贝尔 (Maxi Kleber)，自二月份在东契奇的交易中从达拉斯被交易来之后仅健康出战过一场比赛，因股四头肌受伤错过了大部分训练营。新秀阿杜·蒂耶罗 (Adou Thiero) 也因膝盖肿胀而受到限制。
“这就是我们拿到的牌，”湖人队主教练JJ·雷迪克 (JJ Redick) 说。“我当然希望每个人都能保持健康。” – 麦克梅纳明
俄克拉荷马城雷霆
全NBA级别的侧翼球员杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 不太可能为常规赛的开始做好准备，他仍在从7月1日接受的右手腕手术中恢复。此前，他带着韧带撕裂的伤势打满了整个季后赛。
“为了赢得总冠军，我愿意砍掉我的右手，”威廉姆斯告诉ESPN。
他直到最近才开始用右手进行投篮训练，并且尚未被批准参加对抗训练。雷霆队和威廉姆斯采取了耐心的态度，并未公开讨论他的复出时间表。
“无论何时，只要我感觉自己能达到百分之百的状态，并能完成所有动作，我就会全力以赴，”威廉姆斯说。-- 麦克马洪
圣安东尼奥马刺
马刺队本赛季将焕然一新。球队总裁兼前任主教练格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 一直鼓励新任主教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 做自己。在本赛季的赛场上，这一点将显而易见，因为约翰逊将在他执教的第一个完整赛季中，将更多自己的理念融入圣安东尼奥。维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 在描述教练组如何在夏天制定“一个更详尽的计划”，并强调“更好地认识我们共同扮演的角色”时，清晰地表达了这一点。老将哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes) 指出，“我们正在做很多新的尝试，”并补充道，“我们改变了一些做事的方式。这是米奇推行自己风格的结果，我认为球员们对此反响很好。”
可以期待马刺队发挥其整体的年轻和运动能力，打出更快的比赛风格。-- 莱特
点击查看原文：NBA preseason: The biggest takeaways for 14 contenders
NBA preseason: The biggest takeaways for 14 contenders
The NBA’s preseason is drawing to a close
The curtain will rise on the 2025-26 season in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, when the defending champion Thunder will celebrate their first title as they host former Thunder star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. And while much of the preseason is about rounding into shape and getting to the start of the season healthy, there are still things that can be gleaned from the early October action.
To take stock of where things sit after most of the exhibition slate has been played, our NBA reporters – Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Vince Goodwill, Baxter Holmes, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Anthony Slater, Michael C. Wright and Ohm Youngmisuk – provided their takeaways on several contenders from each conference, and what each franchise looks like heading into the upcoming season.
Jump to a team:
ATL | CLE | DAL
DET | GSW | HOU
LAC | LAL | MIL
NYK | OKC | ORL
PHI | SAS
Eastern Conference
Atlanta Hawks
One of the early observations made by players during the first days of Hawks camp was that everyone was on the court, and the trainer’s room was empty. The Hawks are healthy and buzzing over new additions Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Being healthy again is vital to the Hawks’ success and growth. A huge factor for Atlanta this season is Jalen Johnson, who looked good in his first two preseason games back from left shoulder surgery that ended his 2024-25 season; Johnson made 7 of 11 shots and had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes against Memphis.
Coach Quin Snyder said Johnson’s improvement on defense will be the next step for the young forward. If he can stay healthy and continue to grow as a playmaker to help Young and Porzingis, the Hawks could really take off this season. – Youngmisuk
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have a lot of depth, and they will need it. Max Strus is likely out for a few months with a Jones fracture in his left foot. Darius Garland will miss the opening weeks of the season as well after offseason turf toe surgery. New addition Lonzo Ball is not going to play back-to-backs, and he played 35 games last season for the Chicago Bulls after missing the prior two seasons with injuries. De’Andre Hunter has never played more than 67 games and has missed at least 25 games in three of his six seasons. And Dean Wade has eclipsed 60 games in only one of his six seasons.
So while Cleveland feels good about where it sits after claiming the top seed in the East last season, it is already navigating injuries – and likely will be throughout this season. – Bontemps
Detroit Pistons
Giving third-year forward Ausar Thompson more responsibility has come into focus. The team began to take off last season when his health restrictions (blood clot) were lifted and his two-way prowess was unleashed. Now, the Pistons view him as a secondary ball handler, initiating offense as a change-of-pace guard to contrast the more deliberate Cade Cunningham.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted how Thompson initiated some offense with Cunningham on the floor to present a different look. With Jaden Ivey (left fibula) still “dealing with some discomfort,” according to Bickerstaff, the team is bringing him along slowly, thus creating more opportunity for Thompson on offense. As for Cunningham, preseason is the smallest of sample sizes, but according to sources, “he’s proving last year wasn’t a fluke.” – Goodwill
Milwaukee Bucks
The Giannis saga is far from over. Despite attempts from the Bucks to quell speculation over Antetokounmpo’s future since the start of camp, the two-time MVP has simultaneously emphasized his current commitment to the Bucks while leaving the door open that he could continue his career elsewhere.
Antetokounmpo has doubled down on his desire to compete for championships with an unwillingness to accept anything less. It has put the pressure on the Bucks this season to prove he can win another championship in Milwaukee. For a team that has lost in the first round in three consecutive seasons, not advancing further in the playoffs could lead to a day of reckoning. – Collier
New York Knicks
Off the floor, the Antetokounmpo situation will hang over the team all season following the revelation that the Knicks and Bucks discussed a potential trade of the power forward this offseason. Several key players will be on notice and have an eye on what’s going on with Milwaukee to track Antetokounmpo’s frame of mind. On the floor, the Knicks want to play faster on offense and shoot more 3s, but it has been a work in progress through four preseason games. The Knicks have a favorable schedule to start the season, which should provide an early window into how the Mike Brown era will look in New York. – Goodwill
Orlando Magic
The Magic are getting healthier, and that is a big deal. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner started camp healthy after both dealt with oblique injuries last season; they missed a combined total of 58 regular-season games. Orlando isn’t whole yet, though. Guard Jalen Suggs is still slowly making his way back from left knee surgery and Mo Wagner remains out with a torn left ACL sustained in December 2024.
In the meantime, Banchero, Wagner and the rest of the Magic will try to develop chemistry as quickly as possible with new addition Desmond Bane while hoping to drastically improve on their league-worst 31.8% 3-point shooting last season. The Magic have started out camp playing faster, focusing on getting out in transition and using defense to create offense. Through the first three preseason games, the Magic averaged 104 possessions. They averaged a league-low 96.5 last season. The most important thing will be going into the season with Banchero, Wagner and Bane healthy and hoping Suggs can add to the team once he is ready. – Youngmisuk
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid might be healthy? That feels strange to say after everything that has happened over the past 18 months, but so far it has been a relatively stress-free preseason in Philadelphia. Embiid appears on track to be ready for the 76ers’ opener against the rival Celtics on Oct. 22. Anyone who has followed Embiid’s tenure in Philadelphia knows how quickly things can change, and he has had enough issues with his left knee that it’s fair to wonder how long it will last until another flareup.
Embiid said at the start of training camp they’re just taking things day-by-day. But unlike last year, when his preseason was a waiting game to see when his knee would be ready to go, Embiid has practiced regularly, participated in Sunday’s open scrimmage and is expected to play Friday against Minnesota in Philadelphia’s preseason finale. – Bontemps
Western Conference
Dallas Mavericks
The mantra of Dallas GM Nico Harrison is “defense wins championships,” but the Mavericks have some things to figure out on that end of the floor, particularly on the perimeter. Coach Jason Kidd said he has to “continue to look at different combinations to see what gives us the best way to start the game” after the Hornets scored 95 points through three quarters as the Mavs played their starters into the second half. Klay Thompson was tasked with being the primary defender on Charlotte star LaMelo Ball, which is probably asking too much of a 35-year-old with his injury history.
The options are limited if D’Angelo Russell starts alongside Thompson. P.J. Washington typically took the toughest perimeter defensive assignment last season, but he came off the bench in the first two preseason games. Would the Mavs be better off starting Washington with 18-year-old Cooper Flagg as the primary offensive initiator? That’s the look Kidd went with against the Utah Jazz on Monday, when Russell rested. – MacMahon
Golden State Warriors
The headliners aren’t showing any alarming signs of age at the moment. Al Horford has fit the culture and system well so far. One of the leftover questions is how exactly Steve Kerr will deploy his starting lineup around Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. Horford will start at center on some nights, but Kerr said he wants to be careful considering Horford’s age and the need to limit his minutes.
“If Al were a little younger, he’d be in the starting lineup for sure,” Kerr said.
Kerr has hinted that he might employ a small-ball unit that includes Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski. But Moody hurt his left calf in practice and his status is uncertain to start the season. Podziemski punctuated a great camp with a 23-point night in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Kerr wouldn’t officially commit to him as the starting shooting guard, but the presumed lineup for opening night is Curry, Podziemski, Butler, Green, Horford – though it is anticipated Kerr will change it around often. – Slater
Houston Rockets
Houston’s offensive initiation by committee approach will work out just fine in the wake of veteran point guard Fred VanVleet’s season-ending injury. Rockets coach Ime Udoka often throws around the term “KYP” (know your personnel) in news conferences. Perhaps that intricate knowledge of Houston’s roster played a major role in Udoka’s confidence that his group “can get the job done” in VanVleet’s absence.
Early returns in the preseason have been promising with the Rockets utilizing multiple players – mainly center Alperen Sengun and forward Amen Thompson – to initiate offense. Expect Houston to also lean on Durant to facilitate the offense along with second-year guard Reed Sheppard, who appears to be growing more confident in his role. – Wright
LA Clippers
Playing beneath the cloud of an NBA investigation – and one centered around a team’s star player – is no small thing. But it appears the Clippers, for now, are resolved to not let that inquiry serve as a distraction. Through two preseason games, Kawhi Leonard appears in midseason form. He scored 18 points in 18 minutes in one game and 17 points in 19 minutes in the other. New acquisitions Brook Lopez and John Collins have seemed to fit in already, and Chris Paul’s reunion with the Clippers feels seamless.
The Clippers boast one of the league’s oldest rosters, but it’s also among the deepest, which should help some of their more veteran players as the season moves along. There are a few preseason games left, not that those offer concrete evidence of the season to come, but despite the small sample size, the rebuilt Clippers appear especially promising. – Holmes
Los Angeles Lakers
The extra time to practice and jell together that the team pined for after last season’s abrupt first-round exit was not to be. Unfortunately, training camp didn’t provide the opportunity everyone hoped for. LeBron James was limited to being a vocal participant in the Lakers’ scrimmages from the sidelines because of sciatica down his right side, which also kept him out of the preseason.
Luka Doncic was purposely held out of the majority of L.A.'s preseason slate and was given a modified workload for a handful of practice days, with the medical staff cognizant of his EuroBasket duty over the summer. Marcus Smart, signed in the offseason, was out with Achilles tendinopathy. Maxi Kleber, who was only healthy and available for one game after being acquired from Dallas in the Doncic trade in February, missed most of camp with a quad injury. Rookie Adou Thiero was also limited because of knee swelling.
“These are the cards we were dealt,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I surely would like everybody to be healthy.” – McMenamin
Oklahoma City Thunder
All-NBA wing Jalen Williams is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season as he continues to recover from surgery on his right wrist, an operation he had on July 1, after playing the entire postseason with torn ligaments.
“I would have cut my right hand off to win a championship,” Williams told ESPN.
He has only recently begun to shoot with his right hand again and has yet to be cleared for contact work. The Thunder and Williams have not publicly discussed a timetable for his return as they take a patient approach.
“Whenever I feel like I can be a hundred percent and do that whole thing, then I’ll rock out,” Williams said. – MacMahon
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs will look different this season. Team president and former coach Gregg Popovich has always encouraged new coach Mitch Johnson to be himself. It’ll be apparent on the floor this season as Johnson incorporates more of his own principles in San Antonio during his first full season on the job. Victor Wembanyama made that point clear in describing how the staff put together “a more extended plan” over the summer that emphasizes “better recognition of our roles together.” Veteran Harrison Barnes pointed out, “We have a lot of new stuff that we’re doing,” adding, “We’ve changed some of the processes of how we’re doing [things]. That comes with Mitch implementing his style, which I think has been well-received by players.”
Expect the Spurs to flex their collective youth and athleticism to play a faster style. – Wright
By Multiple contributors | ESPN, via ESPN