The NBA was without its full slate of stars for much of last season, as a number of the league’s best players missed extensive time. But the start of the 2022-23 season marks a fresh start and return to the court for those stars.
Marquee veterans such as Kawhi Leonard and John Wall, who are typically counted on to carry their respective teams, didn’t play in 2021-22 and their teams failed to make the playoffs as a result. Leonard’s return and the addition of a well-rested Wall automatically make the Clippers a title contender in the West.
Meanwhile, young stars Jamal Murray and Ben Simmons will slide into lineups in Denver and Brooklyn that made the playoffs last season. Neither will be leaned on to lead their respective squads, but their returns are expected to help push their contending teams even further when the postseason comes around.
And all eyes will be on Zion Williamson this season. Williamson, who signed a five-year $193 million rookie max extension with the Pelicans this offseason, missed all of last season with a foot injury. The 22-year-old big man will be looking to shake the concerns over his durability and justify his selection as the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, all while trying to lead New Orleans on a deep postseason run.
With the preseason underway, fans are getting their first look at a number of players stepping on the court for the first time in months. Our NBA insiders recap what they’ve observed this week.
Last time he played: May 4, 2021
What we saw: From the first play of the game, it was clear the Pelicans wanted to get Williamson involved. Off the opening tip, the Pelicans ran a play designed to get Williamson a touch and he was promptly swarmed by Chicago Bulls’ defenders. Williamson’s two biggest plays — perhaps the primary indicators that he was going to be the Williamson of old — came just a minute apart in the second quarter.
First, the play was called a defensive goaltending against Williamson but he showed off his athleticism as he chased down Patrick Williams on a layup attempt and swatted his shot. It showed Williamson’s bounce was back on that end of the floor. One minute later, Williamson caught the ball on the right wing, faced up, took one hard dribble with his right hand to blow by Williams and exploded for a two-handed slam. In 15 minutes, Williamson had 13 points…
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