NBA preseason review: New superteams, surprise contenders and early warning signs

The NBA preseason has barely finished and Philadelphia already looks like a blockbuster waiting to happen, Boston's bench is embarrassing opponents and the Lakers have some serious questions to answer.

With the 2026-27 regular season tipping off on October 20, exhibition basketball has offered a fascinating glimpse of what lies ahead. Some franchises are already clicking, while others face a race to get their rotations right.

Philadelphia's superteam takes shape

LeBron James wearing a Philadelphia 76ers jersey remains the biggest storyline of the offseason, particularly with Jaylen Brown joining a roster featuring Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

The quartet showed flashes of its potential against Boston, with Embiid recording 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 125-120 overtime defeat.

Brown added 20 points against his former team, while James contributed eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Philadelphia finished preseason 1-3, but the real challenge is building chemistry between four established stars.

Boston's unbeaten youngsters make a statement

The Celtics went 4-0 in preseason, saving one of their most impressive performances for Philadelphia.

Hugo González scored 21 points as Boston's reserves overturned a 14-point deficit to beat a star-studded Sixers team in overtime.

González also shot 11-for-20 from three-point range across preseason, offering Boston another intriguing weapon.

With Jaylen Brown gone, the development of Boston's younger players could prove crucial.

Cooper Flagg looks ready for another leap

Dallas Mavericks sensation Cooper Flagg has wasted little time raising expectations for his sophomore campaign.

The 19-year-old averaged 25.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists per 36 minutes across two exhibitions in China.

His outside shooting remains a work in progress, but Flagg's all-round game already looks capable of carrying Dallas into playoff contention.

Orlando and Oklahoma City could surprise

Orlando's Tristan da Silva has emerged as an intriguing breakout candidate, averaging 10.7 three-point attempts across his first three preseason appearances under new coach Sean Sweeney.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City rookie Aday Mara went a perfect 10-for-10 from the field against Milwaukee, giving the Thunder another exciting option inside.

Both could become valuable contributors as the season progresses.

Lakers need answers before opening night

Luka Doncic's Lakers finished preseason with a 121-106 defeat against Denver, exposing concerns over offensive rhythm and defensive consistency.

JJ Redick continues experimenting with his starting five, searching for the right balance of shooting, athleticism and ball-handling.

With Golden State visiting on October 21, the Lakers have little time left to find their groove.

The preseason has delivered plenty of promise, but the real test begins when the games finally count.