It's been four months since basketball fans waited for this. The NBA version 2019-2020 will resume its rights on October 22. Here are five reasons to follow this new season that looks more exciting than ever.
A finally balanced league
After five years of rule on the league (five consecutive finals including four wins), the "dream team" of the Golden State Warriors broke up this summer with the departure of star Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets. Many star players have imitated it by changing clubs as well, making the league more open than ever before. Among the most notable movements, Kyrie Irving joined Kevin Durant in Brooklyn, winger Anthony Davis left the Pelicans for the Los Angeles Lakers of LeBron James. The recent MVP of the playoffs with Toronto Kawhi Leonard has engaged with the Los Angeles Clippers just like Paul George, and Russell Westbrook flew to Houston Rockets where he will be associated with James Harden. All of these teams, aside from Brooklyn where Kevin Durant is injured for several months, can dream of a championship title this year. It will not be necessary to bury Golden State which keeps a formidable team notably thanks to its shooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Other teams could also surprise, such as Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, and Philadelphia Sixers.
An elbow in Los Angeles
Among all the favorites mentioned, the two teams in Los Angeles will fight a battle of titans. In addition to star Anthony Davis, the Lakers have recruited "clever" by recovering the experienced winger and recent NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors Danny Green, former Wizards pivot Dwight Howard and former Memphis point guard Avery Bradley. For their part, the Clippers simply recruited the best player in the league Kawhi Leonard, and the second best scorer of last season Paul George (28 points average per game).
The return of New York to the front of the stage
It is necessary respectively to go back to 17 and 21 years to find the trace of an NBA final played by the Nets and the Knicks. The first should go into playoffs this year and why not climb to the final conference. They will be serious candidates for the title of champion in two years with the return of Kevin Durant on the floors after his injury. For the Knicks, it's time to rebuild after finishing last in the league last season. But the new team showed some good things in the pre-season match, including rookie R.J. Barrett, third pick of the draft this summer, and veteran Marcus Morris, who came from Boston.
Rookies already eagerly awaited
Zion Williamson is already compared to the best ones like LeBron James and Michael Jordan. This physical monster (2.01m for 129kg) was recruited to the first choice of the university draft on June 20th by the New Orleans Pelicans. Already sharp, the young winger continues the dunks and high-level matches in pre-season. He will be expected at the turn for his debut in the official match on October 22 against the Raptors. Former teammate Zion Williamson at Duke R.J. Barrett is also already very good in pre-season games with the New York Knicks. Recruited in the third pick of the draft, the Canadian will have the difficult task of giving color to a team adrift last year. To be followed also, the first season of Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies), Cobby White (Chicago Bulls), and Michael Porter Jr (Denver Nuggets).
11 French with various statuses
Authors of a beautiful world cup with the French team in September (3rd place), Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz), Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic) and Nicolas Batum (Charlotte Hornets) will have to confirm this season their status of frame with their respective teams. Frank Ntilikina will try to finally win the New York Knicks after two first seasons in half-tone. Pivotal Ian Mahinmi will hope to scrape more playing time with the Washington Wizards. Finally, some newcomers will also try to make their hole: Sekou Doumbouya at the Detroit Pistons, Jaylen Hoard at the Portland Trail Blazers, Vincent Poirier at the Boston Celtics, William Howard at the Utah Jazz, Adam Mokoka at the Chicago Bulls and Elie Okobo who will be the second season with the Phoenix Suns.
