NBA preseason: 8 intriguing teams to watch, including Giannis Antetokounmpo's Heat

It's October and, for some, that is the dawn of spooky season. If you're an NBA fan, though, it means we are knocking on the door of another regular season of fun. We have gotten through media day and training camps, and gradually teams are going from practicing against each other to playing other teams. Preseason basketball is here.

I've always found value in the preseason. It's the first glimpse into what teams are emphasizing and working on. It's one thing to think about a team's strengths and weaknesses, it's another to see how they come together on the court. Fit, vision and opportunity are some of the biggest factors for success.

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Of course, a big part of preseason is seeing familiar faces in new places. We get to see how a team views and uses a player; how and when they are putting pressure on defenses; how much they initiate offense; how many different actions they're involved in, etc.

Preseason is also a chance to look at rookies and young, returning players. We want to see if players have improved individually in the offseason, then see how those improvements can fit what their team is trying to do. Are they more confident in their decision-making? What opportunities will they be given to showcase that growth? How much does that impact the team?

Coaches, meanwhile, are setting their teams up for how they are going to navigate the season. Pay attention to who plays with whom in the preseason and what those lineups are trying to attack. Everyone has a plan to improve their team in the offseason, and these are the times you see what sticks and what might need a refresh.

A few teams I am looking forward to seeing in the preseason:

Philadelphia 76ers

Although it will be tough to tell how many minutes we see LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey together, I want to see what the attempt is with this talented group. There is always a build up when it comes to installing sets, but what are the Sixers' principles on offense? How fast do they want to get up the court? What are they flowing into after an initial action? Who plays with whom, and how much movement opens up for Tyrese Maxey to operate?

Miami Heat

With Giannis Antetokounmpo in South Beach, I am curious how much the Heat carry over from their drive-and-kick offense … and how well Giannis' ability to draw attention enhances it. What does the spacing and cutting around Giannis look like? What are the defensive attempts scheme-wise when he shares the court with Bam Adebayo? And how much are Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. going to fly off stagger and pindowns to add another layer?

Giannis Antetokounmpo practices during Heat training camp, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Boca Raton, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)AP Photo/Lynne SladkyMinnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves reshaped their roster, adding LaMelo Ball to play alongside Anthony Edwards, and I'm looking forward to seeing where that has the most impact on the floor. How much faster will the Wolves end up playing? How much do they rely on pick-and-roll? Are they able to get to more drive-and-kick now? It will be interesting to see how much Edwards is moved around the board.

Los Angeles Lakers

I'm intrigued to see how this defense comes together around Walker Kessler. Activity and rotations have been key to what the Lakers have tried to build defensively. Does Kessler's rim protection give that a boost? And on offense, as much as this roster is built around Luka Dončić, how much does Austin Reaves benefit from it? Does this roster open up things for the Lakers to attack from side-to-side?

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons added shooting and spacing to their roster in the offseason, and I'm looking forward to see how those tweaks help their offense. Will they have more lineups to make defenses pay for the (growing) attention they send toward Cade Cunningham? It feels like the Pistons believe Ausar Thompson's growth will help, but how does that take shape? How much will they be able to move him around the board on offense?

Houston Rockets

The first, second and third things I'm looking for is how the Rockets improve offensively. How will they attempt to play differently than last year? How much movement do they build in and can they flow off Alperen Şengün? I imagine there will be an emphasis on getting into sets quicker. The number of ways they can use Amen Thompson could be key.

Orlando Magic

A big reason for Orlando's up-and-down season was its defense slipping from second in defensive rating in 2024-25 to 13th last season. Sean Sweeney has been a part of putting together some great defenses, and I want to see how the Magic work to get better on that end. The offensive tempo and spacing will be key, but they need their defense to return to form to hit their ceiling.

New Orleans Pelicans

There is just too much talent up and down this roster for it not to improve from last year. I am very intrigued to see which end Jamahl Mosley looks to refresh the most. Is there an ability to bring over the defensive activity we saw from Magic teams in the past? And can the offensive talent find the blend to be better than expected?