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The 2019-20 NBA season will finally start tomorrow night, and the new campaign is gearing up to be a memorable one. Several teams in a crowded Western Conference will be hopeful of finally ending the recent dominance of the Golden State Warriors, while the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams hoping to compete in the East after strong offseasons.
Plenty could also happen off the court as big-name free agents such as Carmelo Anthony remain without a team, while it is possible that an ambitious team could launch a bold trade. So, with plenty going on, here are all the biggest NBA stories for October 21.
#1 Doc Rivers understands that Los Angeles is still a Lakers town
The Los Angeles Clippers emerged as the biggest winners of the 2019 offseason after pulling off a stunning double swoop to sign the superstar duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The addition of two of the NBA's best players makes the Clippers the favorites heading into the new season, although head coach Doc Rivers is well aware that Los Angeles remains a Lakers town:
It is a Lakers town. I’m good with that. I have no issues with that. I look at us as, we’re creating our own movement. We’re not trying to take away shine from the other. We’ve got our own thing going. I never thought we could get our own thing going. That was what I was so frustrated with being here. And now we got our own thing going.
While the Clippers enter the new season as the favorites, the Lakers will be among their biggest competitors after pulling off their own blockbuster summer move to sign Anthony Davis. The two Los Angeles rivals will get their season underway tomorrow night at Staples Center.
#2 Zion Williamson undergoes knee surgery
Following an excellent year at Duke, Zion Williamson is widely regarded as the best teenager to enter the NBA since LeBron James back in 2003. However, the New Orleans Pelicans revealed last week that Williamson would miss the start of the season, and the team announced earlier today that the 19-year-old has now undergone surgery:
Zion Williamson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today to address a torn right lateral meniscus. The timetable for his full return to play is estimated at six to eight weeks.
The injury means that Williamson is set to miss at least the first 20 games of the new season, and he could miss closer to 30 if he sits out for the full eight weeks. Over four preseason games, Williamson averaged 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds, and his absence will be a huge blow for a New Orleans team that is hoping to contend for a playoff spot.
#3 Buddy Hield, Domantas Sabonis, and Jaylen Brown sign contract extensions
Teams around the NBA had until 6 p.m. ET to sign players to rookie extension deals, and several talents around the league penned new long-term deals ahead of the deadline.
Leading the pack was Buddy Hield, who had hinted that he could depart the Sacramento Kings last week. The 26-year-old agreed to a new four-year, $94 million extension with the Kings, and he will continue his promising backcourt pairing with De'Aaron Fox.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics completed an extension for Jaylen Brown. The forward agreed to a four-year, $115 million contract extension - and his new deal comes just days after it was revealed that a number of rival teams were interested in making a significant offer for the 22-year-old next summer.
After weeks of trade rumors, the Indiana Pacers also finally agreed on a new deal with Domantas Sabonis. The 23-year-old has signed a four-year, $77 million extension, and attention will now turn to the future of fellow big, Myles Turner.
