TheNBApreseason is often overlooked by fans. Sure, it can be an opportunity to see some lesser-known players take the court for your favorite franchise, but until the games start counting toward the win-loss column, the urgency of those games can feel underwhelming. Of course, to the diehard fanatics though, the preseason just means that thestart of the regular seasonis just around the corner, serving as a bit of an appetizer to the main course. The preseason offers an ability for teams to evaluate new players, try new strategies and get a better understanding of how to put their best foot forward. Just last year, the teams at the top of the preseason standings trended toward relevancy once the season rolled around. TheOklahoma City Thunder, eventual champions, went 4-1. TheNew York Knicks, eventual Eastern Conference finalists, boasted a similarly impressive 4-1 record. Essentially, the preseason isn't just to get players back into basketball shape. It's an opportunity for fans to get a taste of the great regular season that is to come. Here are the important dates to look out for as we approach the start of the preseason: WARRIORS:Seem to believe Steph Curry is sticking around for a while The NBA preseason begins on Thursday, Oct. 2 with a matchup between theNew York KnicksandPhiladelphia 76ers. The game will take place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at 12 p.m. ET. The two teams will play a second preseason game at the stadium just two days later on Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. ET. There will be a myriad of international games this preseason. Apart the two Abu Dhabi games, theNew Orleans Pelicanswill play two games against NBL teams at Melbourne Park in Australia. TheOrlando MagicandMiami Heatwill play their Oct. 4 preseason opener in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There will also be a game in Vancouver between theDenver NuggetsandToronto Raptorson Oct. 6. The final international games of the preseason will be the China Series, which will feature two games between thePhoenix SunsandBrooklyn Netsfrom The Venetian Arena in Macao. The final day of the NBA preseason will be Friday, Oct, 17. There will be eight games played that day with the final being a 10:30 p.m. ET showdown between theSacramento KingsandLos Angeles Lakers. NEXT GENERATION:Mike Krzyzewski, NBA seek to transform youth basketball The NBA regular season begins on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Only two games will be played opening night. To kick things off, the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder will hang their banner before hosting theHouston Rocketsfrom Paycom Center at 7:30 p.m. ET. Afterwards, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Golden State Warriors in a classic LeBron James vs. Steph Curry matchup. Tip-off for that contest is set for 10 p.m. ET. KOBE BRYANT TRIBUTES:How Lakers legend was remembered on Mamba Day All times listed are Eastern Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks, 12 p.m. (at Abu Dhabi, UAE) Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 11 a.m. (at Abu Dhabi, UAE) Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat, 8 p.m. (at San Juan, Puerto Rico) Minnesota Timberwolvesat Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Charlotte Hornets, 5 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. Detroit PistonsatMemphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. Atlanta Hawks at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors, 10 p.m. (at Vancouver) Chicago Bullsat Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. Indiana Pacersat Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. San Antonio Spursat Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. Utah Jazzat Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. Boston Celtics at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. Charlotte Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets, 8 a.m. (at Macao, China) Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. Brooklyn Nets vs. Phoenix Suns, 7 a.m. (at Macao, China) Toronto Raptors atWashington Wizards, 3 p.m. Miami Heat at Orlando Magic, 6 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls, 7 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m. Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks, 6 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. Washington Wizards at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m. Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m. Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m. New Orleans Pelicans at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m. Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. Indiana Pacers at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:When does NBA preseason start? Key dates, Full game schedule