The NBA tipped off its 2020-21 preseason schedule on Friday night with five matchups around the league.

Perhaps the biggest storyline of the evening emerged from the Houston Rockets following the debuts of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. The two former college teammates at Kentucky reunited on the court and each looked to be in excellent shape.

Wall tallied 13 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 18 minutes of work while Cousins had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 14 minutes. Wall and Cousins sent a message to the rest of the league that they are back and that could be trouble.

The preseason opener also marked the debuts of several rookie players, from Killian Hayes to Obi Toppin and even Cole Anthony and Tyrese Haliburton. On Saturday, several other rookies will hit the court for the first time of their young careers.

Rookie Wire took a look at those first-year players set to debut on Saturday.

Raptors at Hornets | 7 p.m. EST | NBA TV

(AP Photo/Steve Reed)

The basketball world will get its first look at LaMelo Ball in a Hornets jersey as Charlotte hosts the Toronto Raptors. Ball has been praised during training camp by his teammates and is having a blast so far ahead of the preseason opener.

Raptors Rookie Players:

Malachi Flynn (29th overall pick) Jalen Harris (59th overall pick)

Hornets Rookie Players:

LaMelo Ball (3rd overall pick) Vernon Carey Jr. (32nd overall pick) Nick Richards (42nd overall pick) Grant Riller (56th overall pick) Javin DeLaurier (Undrafted) Xavier Sneed (Undrafted) Kahlil Whitney (Undrafted) Nate Darling (Undrafted) Keandre Cook (Undrafted)

Pacers at Cavaliers | 7 p.m. EST | Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Indiana

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The matchup between the Pacers and Cavaliers is a bit light on notable rookie players but will feature the debut of fifth overall pick Isaac Okoro. The game should also see the debut of Cavaliers 2019 first-round pick Dylan Windler, who missed last season with a leg injury.

Pacers Rookie Players: 

Cassius Stanley (54th overall pick) Rayshaun Hammonds (Undrafted) Amida Brimah (Undrafted)

Cavaliers Rookie Players:

Dylan Windler (26th overall pick, 2019) Isaac Okoro (5th overall pick) Lamar Stevens (Undrafted) Levi Randolph (Undrafted) Charles Matthews (Undrafted)

Thunder at Spurs | 7 p.m. EST | Fox Sports SW, OKCThunder.com

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The Spurs will send two promising, young players to the floor for the first time on Saturday in Devin Vassell and Tre Jones. San Antonio is all-in on their youth movement and is building toward the future with a core featuring DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson and Lonnie Walker IV.

Meanwhile, the Thunder have a couple of intriguing international prospects in Aleksej Pokusevski and Theo Maledon set to debut. Of course, Oklahoma City traded up to take Pokusevski and certainly believes he has a bright future in the NBA after playing professionally in Greece with Olympiacos.

Thunder Rookie Players:

Aleksej Pokusevski (17th overall pick) Theo Maledon (34th overall pick) Omer Yurtseven (Undrafted) Josh Hall (Undrafted)

Spurs Rookie Players:

Devin Vassell (11th overall pick) Tre Jones (41st overall pick)

Mavericks at Bucks | 8 p.m. EST | Fox Sports Wisconsin, Mavs.com

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Dallas added a trio of draft picks this year that figure to play a key role with the team this season. They took Josh Green at No. 18 and managed to nab Tyrell Terry early in the second round. Terry falling to No. 31 could be a steal as many believed he was a first-round talent.

Mavericks Rookie Players:

Josh Green (18th overall pick) Tyrell Terry (31st overall pick) Tyler Bey (36th overall pick) Nate Hinton (Undrafted) Devonte Patterson (Undrafted) Freddie Gillespie (Undrafted)

Bucks Rookie Players:

Jordan Nwora (45th overall pick) E.J. Montgomery (Undrafted) Mamadi Diakite (Undrafted) Sam Merrill (Undrafted)

Grizzlies at Timberwolves | 8 p.m. EST | Fox Sports North, Fox Sports SE

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The long-awaited debut of Anthony Edwards has arrived as the Timberwolves will host the Memphis Grizzlies. Minnesota is playing again for the first time in nine months and it will be the first chance for Edwards to join Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell on the floor in a game.

Grizzlies Rookie Players:

Desmond Bane (30th overall pick) Xavier Tillman (35th overall pick) Killian Tillie (Undrafted) Sean McDermott (Undrafted) Jontay Porter (Undrafted, 2019) Jahlil Tripp (Undrafted)

Timberwolves Rookie Players

Anthony Edwards (1st overall pick) Jaden McDaniels (28th overall pick) Ashton Hagans (Undrafted) Ade Murkey (Undrafted)

Nuggets at Warriors | 8:30 p.m. EST | NBC Sports Bay Area, Altitude

(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

The Warriors taking the floor should have meant the debut of James Wiseman but the second overall pick is unlikely to play in the preseason after reportedly testing positive for the coronavirus.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said this week that Wiseman has started some individual workouts and has been permitted to watch practice from inside the gym but he won’t rush him into action and he may not play before the regular season begins.

Instead, the contest will be highlighted by Nuggets first-round picks Zeke Nnaji and RJ Hampton. The two figure to play quite a few minutes as they begin the transition to the NBA.

Nuggets Rookie Players:

Zeke Nnaji (22nd overall pick) R.J. Hampton (24th overall pick) Greg Whittington (Undrafted) Markus Howard (Undrafted) Facundo Campazzo (Undrafted)

Warriors Rookie Players:

James Wiseman (2nd overall pick)* Nico Mannion (48th overall pick) Kaleb Wesson (Undrafted) Dwayne Sutton (Undrafted)

*Will not play on Saturday

Suns at Jazz | 9 p.m. EST | NBA TV

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Suns center Jalen Smith headlines the group of first-year players in this matchup versus the Jazz on Saturday night. Smith has been working extensively with Deandre Ayton during camp and has impressed so far in the early going.

Suns Rookie Players:

Jalen Smith (10th overall pick) Ty-Shon Alexander

Jazz Rookie Players:

Udoka Azubuike (27th overall pick) Elijah Hughes (39th overall pick) Trent Forrest (Undrafted) Romaro Gill (Undrafted) Jake Toolson (Undrafted)