The NBA preseason started earlier than usual for the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers this fall.

As with Nermal, Garfield’s perky foil, they shipped off to Abu Dhabi for a pair of exhibition games beginning Thursday.

One day later – well, morning, in the U.S. – the New Orleans Pelicans will become the first NBAers to play in Australia when their preseason slate begins against Melbourne United.

The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will play preseason games abroad, too.

Plenty of action also awaits stateside before the regular season tips off on Oct. 22, though.

Let’s look at 5 things to watch this preseason.

Is this LeBron’s swan song?

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James seemingly averted questions about riding into the sunset last preseason because training camp was a series

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