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The NBA kicked off its 2020-21 preseason schedule on Friday night with five league meetings.
Perhaps the most important story of the night came from the Houston Rockets after the debuts of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. The two former college teammates in Kentucky met on the court and each appeared to be in excellent shape.
Wall had 13 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 18 minutes of work, while Cousins had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 14 minutes. Wall and Cousins sent a message to the rest of the league that they are back and that could be a problem.
The first preseason game also marked the debuts of several rookie players, from Killian Hayes to Obi Toppin and even Cole Anthony and Tyrese Haliburton. On Saturday, several other rookies will hit the court for the first time in their young careers.
Rookie Wire took a look at the freshmen who would be debuting on Saturday.
Raptors in Hornets | 7 pm EST | NBA TV
(AP Photo / Steve Reed)
The basketball world will see LaMelo Ball in a Hornets jersey for the first time when Charlotte hosts the Toronto Raptors. Ball has been praised during training camp by his teammates and is having a lot of fun leading up to the first preseason game.
Rookie Raptors players:
Malachi Flynn (29th overall pick) Jalen Harris (59th overall pick)
Rookie Hornets players:
LaMelo Ball (3rd overall pick) Vernon Carey Jr. (32nd overall pick) Nick Richards (42nd overall pick) Grant Riller (56th overall pick) Javin DeLaurier (not selected) Xavier Sneed (not selected) Kahlil Whitney (not selected) Nate Darling (not selected) Keandre Cook (not redacted)
Pacers on the Cavaliers | 7 pm EST | Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Indiana
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
The showdown between the Pacers and Cavaliers is a little light for notable rookie players, but it will feature the debut of fifth overall pick Isaac Okoro. The game should also see the debut of 2019 Cavaliers first-round pick Dylan Windler, who missed last season with a leg injury.
Rookie Pacers Players:
Cassius Stanley (54th overall pick) Rayshaun Hammonds (not drafted) Amida Brimah (not selected)
Rookie Cavaliers players:
Dylan Windler (26th overall pick, 2019) Isaac Okoro (5th overall pick) Lamar Stevens (not selected) Levi Randolph (not selected) Charles Matthews (not selected)
Thunder on the Spurs | 7 pm EST | Fox Sports SW, OKCThunder.com
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Spurs will send two promising young players to the court for the first time Saturday in Devin Vassell and Tre Jones. San Antonio is committed to its youth movement and is building into the future with a core that includes DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, and Lonnie Walker IV.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have a couple of interesting international prospects in Aleksej Pokusevski and Theo Maledon set to debut. Of course, Oklahoma City switched to take Pokusevski and he certainly believes he has a bright future in the NBA after playing professionally in Greece with Olympiacos.
Rookie Thunder players:
Aleksej Pokusevski (17th overall selection) Theo Maledon (34th overall selection) Omer Yurtseven (not selected) Josh Hall (not selected)
Rookie Spurs players:
Devin Vassell (11th overall pick) Tre Jones (41st overall pick)
Mavericks in Bucks | 8 pm EST | Fox Sports Wisconsin, Mavs.com
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas added a trio of draft picks this year who are estimated to play a key role with the team this season. They took Josh Green at No. 18 and managed to catch Tyrell Terry early in the second round. Terry dropping to No. 31 could be a steal, as many believed he was a first-round talent.
Rookie Mavericks players:
Josh Green (18 overall pick) Tyrell Terry (31 overall pick) Tyler Bey (36 overall pick) Nate Hinton (not selected) Devonte Patterson (not selected) Freddie Gillespie (not selected)
Rookie Bucks Players:
Jordan Nwora (45th overall pick) EJ Montgomery (not written) Mamadi Diakite (not written) Sam Merrill (not written)
Grizzlies at Timberwolves | 8 pm EST | Fox Sports North, Fox Sports SE
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Edwards’ long-awaited debut has come when the Timberwolves host the Memphis Grizzlies. Minnesota is playing again for the first time in nine months and it will be the first chance for Edwards to join Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell on the court in one game.
Grizzlies rookie players:
Desmond Bane (30th pick) Xavier Tillman (35th overall pick) Killian Tillie (not selected) Sean McDermott (not selected) Jontay Porter (not selected, 2019) Jahlil Tripp (not selected)
Rookie Timberwolves Players
Anthony Edwards (first overall pick) Jaden McDaniels (28th overall pick) Ashton Hagans (not selected) Ade Murkey (not selected)
Nuggets at Warriors | 8:30 pm EST | NBC Sports Bay Area, Altitude
(Photo by Graham Denholm / Getty Images)
The Warriors’ takeover should have meant James Wiseman’s debut, but the second overall pick is unlikely to play in the preseason after he reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said this week that Wiseman has started some individual workouts and has been allowed to watch practice from inside the gym, but he won’t rush you into action and may not play before let the regular season begin.
Instead, the contest will be highlighted by the Nuggets’ first-round picks, Zeke Nnaji and RJ Hampton. The two of them plan to play quite a few minutes when they transition to the NBA.
Rookie Nuggets players:
Zeke Nnaji (22nd overall pick) RJ Hampton (24th overall pick) Greg Whittington (not selected) Markus Howard (not selected) Facundo Campazzo (not selected)
Rookie Warriors Players:
James Wiseman (second overall pick) * Nico Mannion (48th overall pick) Kaleb Wesson (not selected) Dwayne Sutton (not selected)
* Will not play on Saturday
Soles in Jazz | 9 pm EST | NBA TV
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Suns center Jalen Smith leads the group of first-year players in this matchup against the Jazz on Saturday night. Smith has been working extensively with Deandre Ayton during the camp and has so far impressed in the beginning.
Rookie Suns players:
Jalen Smith (10th overall pick) Ty-Shon Alexander
Novice jazz players:
Udoka Azubuike (overall pick 27) Elijah Hughes (overall pick 39) Trent Forrest (not selected) Romaro Gill (not selected) Jake Toolson (not selected)
