Does the NBA Preseason Count or Matter?

The NBA season is made up of 82-games. And though the majority of the games occur between inter-divisional and conference rivals, NBA team’s and players are expected to travel to differing cities throughout the season to compete against opposing teams and players.

And with so many games throughout the regular season in the NBA, the question of just whether or not the NBA’s preseason should remain gets brought up nearly each year.

That’s why, below, we are going to look at the NBA’s preseason specifically and determine just whether or not it should remain and whether or not it even matters for a successful regular season.

What is the NBA Preseason?

The NBA preseason occurs immediately before the official start of the NBA season. Lasting a mere two-weeks, the NBA preseason is meant to offer NBA teams and players an opportunity to compete in scrimmage basketball games and to prepare them for the upcoming season.

Historically, the NBA preseason is a set of four games, typically played between regional NBA teams to reduce the need for travel and to reduce the wear-and-tear and fatigue that frequent travel can place on a player’s body.

The NBA preseason allows for real, in-game scrimmages and competitions and is typically played in a lighter, less competitive atmosphere. This is because the preseason stats and rankings don’t port over to the regular season, so NBA players and teams will not put in their full potential into the games.

Does the NBA Preseason Count?

Admittedly, while a large number of NBA and basketball fans don’t actually watch the NBA preseason, it is interesting to preview upcoming matchups, newly drafted players, and recently traded ones.

However, when it comes to whether or not the NBA preseason counts, the answer is that no, the NBA preseason simply does not count.

That is, the games won and lost during the preseason are not included in the total win-loss column of the regular season.

Rather, the four games played during the NBA’s preseason are tabulated separately and are not included in the regular season statistics.

Similarly, a player’s individual stats from the preseason are not included in their stats for the season.

What this means is that if a player is averaging, for example, 30-points per game in the four preseason games, those points will not be added to their stats for the regular season.

Rather, once the regular season begins, both an individual player’s and team’s stats and records will be reset to zero and will only begin being tabulated and counted towards their overall stats and records once the season officially starts.

Does the NBA Preseason Matter?

While the NBA’s preseason doesn’t officially count towards an individual player’s or overall team’s stats and records, the question of whether or not the NBA’s preseason matters brings about a different answer.

Admittedly, the NBA preseason doesn’t really matter.

And what we mean by that is that, quite simply, what happens during the NBA preseason simply doesn’t have an affect on a team’s overall ambitions for the regular season and their attempts to reach, and secure, an NBA Finals championship.

However, the NBA preseason does matter in that it allows for an NBA team’s head coach, general manager, and front office to make any last minute changes to their roster and lineup to better position themselves to make a run towards an NBA championship.

Similarly, for an NBA player, the NBA preseason allows them a dedicated amount of time to get back in shape, begin playing against real-world competition, and prepare for the upcoming season.

So, while the NBA preseason doesn’t officially count towards a player’s or team’s overall stats and records, it does matter in that it allows for both player’s and coaches to prepare for the upcoming season.

Why Does the NBA Have a Preseason?

While, admittedly, not too many people actually watch or keep up with the NBA preseason, there are a number of reasons as to why the NBA keeps the preseason games on the schedule.

• To generate interest in the upcoming season – perhaps the main reason why the NBA has a preseason is, quite simply, as a means to garner and generate interest in the upcoming regular season. With the preseason being a mere four games, it offers both casual and avid basketball fans an opportunity to begin watching the games and preparing for the upcoming regular season.

• As a means to make last minute roster changes – similarly, the NBA preseason is kept on the schedule as a means to assist NBA head coaches and front office staff to make any last minute roster changes. If a team recently added a player to their roster, they may want to see how that individual player plays with other players and their overall acceptance and integration to the coach’s style of play.

• As a way to help player’s get back into play – in addition, the NBA preseason is one of the best times for an NBA player to get back into shape and regular basketball play. With the preseason officially marking the start of the season, NBA player’s must be prepared to begin the season and will typically come prepared for the preseason, understanding that the start of the regular season is a mere two-weeks away.