NBA preseason early reactions

It’s been a long three months without basketball but we can finally say that the NBA is back. Let’s take a look at some early reactions as the preseason is underway.

Tyler Kolek is the steal of the draft

The 2023 Big East Player of The Year, Tyler Kolek was selected with the 34th overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2024 NBA Draft and through the preseason he looks like a legitimate guard at the NBA level.

Through 31 minutes of preseason action, Kolek has scored 26 points on 9-of-15 shots from the field with six assists, four steals and he’s knocked down four shots from beyond the arc.

“To have New York across your chest, it’s a different vibe. I’m super excited to get going,” said Tyler Kolek on playing at Madison Square Garden.

Critics have argued that the Knicks second unit is lacking depth but with Kolek off to a fast start, New York may be able to quiet the critics early on.

DeMar DeRozan’s debut in Sacramento

When talking about teams that had a sneaky offseason, the Kings deserve to be a part of that list.

The Kings brought in the mid-range legend DeMar DeRozan along with Boogie Ellis, an undrafted free agent who signed a contract after his standout summer league showing and they also managed to re-sign the runner-up for the NBA’s Sixth Man of The Year Award, Malik Monk.

The Kings are stuck in the middle of a very stacked Western Conference and they’re hoping that these acquisitions will help them to secure a spot in the playoffs.

In the Kings preseason debut, DeRozan went perfect from the field shooting 6-of-6 with 15 points in 15 minutes as the USC product, Boogie Ellis finished with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field.

Perhaps things are trending upward for the Sacramento Kings.

History being made in Los Angeles

LeBron James and Bronny James made history on Sunday night as the first father and son to play together in an NBA game as the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Phoenix Suns in the preseason.

“I kind of looked at him, and it was just like, 'Is this "The Matrix" or something?' It just didn't feel real,” said LeBron James when talking about being on the court with his son.

Bronny James was selected by the Lakers with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and he’s a rookie that everyone will be monitoring. There are high expectations for the young talent out of USC and in the preseason, his talent was on display.

Bronny is not an offensive threat as he scored his first points in his second preseason game but he’s certainly a defensive pest as he recorded three blocks against the Timberwolves.

This historic father and son-duo will be headlining the media for months to come.

Jaden Ivey resurgence

Are we about to witness Jaden Ivey’s breakout season?

Ivey recorded 23 points in 22 minutes shooting 75 percent from the field and 100 percent from beyond the arc in the win over Milwaukee.

He struggled last season under former head coach Monty Williams but suddenly it seems as if he’s back to life with J.B. Bickerstaff as the new head coach.

Detroit was running the offense through the former lottery pick in which Ivey looked confident, decisive and as explosive as ever in early preseason action.

He will absolutely be considered an early favorite for the Most Improved Player Award and I would keep my eye on him because a talented young player like Ivey could make a ton of noise in this league.

Jacob Zacharia is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jjz5612@psu.edu.