I remember sitting in front of the TV last October, watching the Lakers and Warriors face off in their preseason opener, and thinking how these seemingly low-stakes games actually tell us so much about what's to come. The 2019-20 NBA preseason was particularly fascinating because it gave us our first real glimpse at how teams had reshaped themselves over the summer. As someone who's followed basketball for over fifteen years, I've learned to pay close attention to these exhibition games—they're like the first chapter of a novel that hints at the entire story ahead.
Looking back at that preseason schedule, certain matchups stood out immediately. The October 5th game between the Lakers and Warriors wasn't just about LeBron and Steph—it was our first look at Anthony Davis in purple and gold, and my goodness, did he look comfortable. I recall telling my friends that Davis seemed to fit with LeBron like they'd been playing together for years, not months. Then there was the China Games series, which brought Houston and Toronto to Shanghai and Shenzhen just months after the Raptors' championship victory. Those international games always carry a different energy, and watching Pascal Siakam display his evolving skills overseas made me certain he was headed for another breakout season.
What many casual fans don't realize is how much these preseason games mirror the journey of developing teams like the Philippine national basketball program. I was particularly struck by a quote from the Philippine women's team about their growth process: "Kaming mga Alas Pilipinas went through that. Comparing to us, kaming women's, nag-go through na rin kami du'n na mga bata kasama." This sentiment—about young players growing together through shared experiences—perfectly captures what happens during the NBA preseason. Teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, with their rookie sensation Ja Morant, were essentially going through that same process of young players developing together, learning each other's tendencies, and building chemistry through these early games.
The October 8th matchup between New Orleans and Chicago gave us our first extended look at Zion Williamson before his knee issues emerged. I remember watching him dominate in that game, thinking he was everything advertised and more. His athleticism was just absurd—the way he moved at 285 pounds defied physics. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics faced off on October 11th in what felt like a playoff preview, with both teams testing new lineups and strategies. The preseason allows coaches to experiment in ways they never would during the regular season, and Brett Brown's willingness to try Ben Simmons at different positions showed how valuable these games can be for development.
One of my favorite aspects of that preseason was watching the Los Angeles Clippers carefully manage Kawhi Leonard and Paul George's minutes. They only played together in brief stretches, but even those glimpses were electrifying. I attended their October 17th game against Dallas at Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center, and the atmosphere was electric despite it being an exhibition. The way Leonard and George moved off each other, even in limited action, suggested something special was brewing. Meanwhile, Luka Dončić was already showing the form that would make him an MVP candidate, demonstrating that preseason performances, while not always predictive, can certainly hint at breakout seasons.
The international games always add an interesting dimension to the preseason. Milwaukee and Dallas played in Paris on January 24th, 2020—technically still part of the preseason schedule due to its unusual timing. Giannis Antetokounmpo looked every bit the reigning MVP, and watching him dominate in that international setting reminded me of how global the NBA has become. These games matter not just for team preparation but for growing the sport worldwide, much like how basketball continues to evolve in the Philippines and other basketball-crazy nations.
Reflecting on that entire preseason period, what stands out most is how it set the stage for one of the most unpredictable seasons in NBA history. Nobody could have anticipated the pandemic interruption that would follow, making those early games feel almost nostalgic in retrospect. The Lakers-Clippers matchups during that preseason hinted at the Western Conference rivalry that would define much of the season, while teams like Miami Heat used their preseason games to establish the identity that would carry them to the Finals. As someone who analyzes basketball for a living, I've learned never to dismiss these exhibition games—they're the foundation upon which championships are built, the first steps in the long journey that defines an NBA season.
