Victor Wembanyama catches NBA's eye and other schedule takeaways

With hopes of Wemby turning into a future superstar, the NBA is keen on familiarizing fans with his name — an endeavor the league found challenging with past international stars, including Denver's Nikola Jokić.
The league clearly sees a superstar in the making, which seems like a reasonable bet, especially with Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich coaching Wemby. 

2. Stephen Curry remains the league favorite

The Golden State Warriors once again top the NBA in the number of nationally televised games (29). The primary reason clearly is Curry. 

Basketball fans will see more of Curry on their television screens than any other superstar, including the Lakers' LeBron James (28), Phoenix's Kevin Durant (25) and even the reigning Finals MVP, Jokić (22).

Curry's showtime ability is second to non, and the broadcast numbers prove it.

Curry is the face of the NBA and has been for nearly a decade. 

3. The NBA's confidence in the Los Angeles Clippers is waning

Ever since the Clippers acquired Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the summer of 2019, expectations have soared for the team. However, Los Angeles repeatedly has faltered, often due to debilitating injuries to one (or both) of the star players, as witnessed last season.

The NBA has allocated just 12 nationally televised games for the Clippers, down from 20 last season. That's fewer than the Memphis Grizzlies (13) and Philadelphia 76ers (18) and barely more than the Spurs (11).

This might also be the league's attempt to safeguard itself against the Clippers' frequent use of load management. The NBA surely doesn't want a prime-time game on ABC with the Clippers' key players on the bench in street clothes — not because of any injury, but as a preventative measure against potential future setbacks. 

No more, Adam Silver and the league have said.

4. The Western Conference takes center stage

The Western Conference is flush with talent, a stark contrast to the Eastern Conference's top-heavy composition. From the Nuggets and Suns to budding teams Oklahoma City and New Orleans, the West showcases a rich depth of skilled and talented teams.

In contrast, the East is dominated by the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, with everybody else lagging considerably behind. 

The Celtics stand out as the sole representative from the Eastern Conference among the top five teams with the most nationally televised games, securing 26 slots. 

The season's opening night on Oct. 24 showcases all Western Conference juggernauts.

The Eastern Conference is once again on the back-burner.