NBA Season Debuts Unveiled: LeBron, LaMelo's Highs and Lows

The NBA's opening week action saw a mix of triumphant season debuts and disappointing false starts, underscoring the high stakes of first impressions. As newly minted Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant wisely stated, "You only get one chance at a first impression." While some teams, like the Blazers, aced their openers, several star players faced immediate challenges. Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics famously blew a 22-point lead against the Pistons, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama struggled with 1-for-13 shooting against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat suffered a significant home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This initial week, where every team plays at least once, offers crucial insights into how key players, particularly those suiting up for new teams or roles, are launching their seasons.

Great First Impressions

Kawhi Leonard made a remarkable return for the Toronto Raptors, capitalizing on a favorable home opener against the Chicago Bulls. Despite a tumultuous summer involving a delayed trade and an NBA salary cap circumvention investigation, Leonard received a hearty welcome before scoring 23 points and snagging four steals in a dominant victory. The Raptors' 43-point margin of victory tied for the fifth largest in franchise history, achieved even with Leonard playing only 24 minutes and not having his signature midrange jumper fully dialed in. The team showcased excellent balance, with Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley all surpassing 20 points, raising expectations for an offense that ranked 15th last season.

Damian Lillard also made a compelling first impression, putting his career back on track with the Portland Trail Blazers after a challenging two-year detour with the Bucks and an Achilles injury. In his first game back for Portland since 2023, Lillard provided an emotional spark that propelled the Blazers to an astonishing 21-0 lead and a 124-83 blowout win over the Phoenix Suns. While the results of the opener were undeniable, the long-term fit of Lillard and Ja Morant as Portland's starting backcourt remains an open question. Lillard contributed 25 points and six 3-pointers, with Morant adding 14 points and eight assists in just 23 minutes. Tougher opponents will test this pairing, especially those with physical perimeter playmakers to exploit Portland's undersized guards.

Walker Kessler delivered an almost perfect debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, making all 12 of his shots, including 10 dunks, and grabbing nine rebounds in a blowout victory against the Warriors. Joining the Lakers from the Jazz via a summer sign-and-trade, Kessler's performance immediately drew high praise, with some calling him the best center Luka Doncic has played with and even Shaquille O'Neal dubbing him "the best big man in the NBA." While caution is warranted given the Warriors' injury-plagued status, Lakers coach JJ Redick lauded Kessler's quick end-to-end movement. His ability to serve as a constant vertical target, if he maintains health, could significantly elevate Doncic into the MVP discussion.

The Oklahoma City Thunder starters, featuring a tweaked lineup after trading Luguentz Dort for Cason Wallace, also made a strong statement. This imposing group, including two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, and center Isaiah Hartenstein, exhibited excellent discipline and togetherness. They frustrated Victor Wembanyama in a convincing road win against San Antonio and overcame poor outside shooting to defeat Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets two days later. With key boosts from rookie Aday Mara (who notably swatted Wembanyama), guard Jared McCain, and veteran Alex Caruso, and a healthy Jalen Williams, questions are already arising about whether this rotation surpasses last season's 64-win team or even the 2025 championship team.

Good First Impressions

LaMelo Ball of the Minnesota Timberwolves positioned his team as instant lightning rods, especially after a viral clip showed him taking four steps without a traveling violation before hitting a step-back 3-pointer against the Heat, prompting a clarification from the NBA referees' association. While critics might see this as a sign of a less serious modern NBA, proponents highlight the exciting new partnership between Ball and Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves' loud and brash style, exemplified by Edwards' 45-point performance against Giannis Antetokounmpo, led to an absolute wrecking of the new-look Heat. Based on the season's first 72 hours, Minnesota has a strong case as the NBA's most watchable team.

LeBron James's early work with the Philadelphia 76ers has been commendable, notably allowing the team to still feel like Tyrese Maxey's. As Maxey led the team in points and shot attempts in victories over the Knicks and Cavaliers, James, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid have all sacrificed individual numbers for team acclimatization. James proved versatile against the Knicks, setting up Brown for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, defending centers when Embiid was in foul trouble, and contributing to 24 fast-break points as both a distributor and finisher. Against Cleveland, he facilitated Philadelphia's 29-point rally. Despite occasional lapses in defensive intensity and an uncharacteristically cold outside stroke, James's ability to organize the offense and manage game flow has been a crucial addition, making the 76ers appear ahead of schedule given their offseason changes.

Anthony Davis propelled the overhauled Washington Wizards to an opening-night win over the rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks with a dominant 34 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Davis, ever the humorist, also playfully jabbed at Washington's home attendance woes. Despite an awkward and uncertain partnership due to his lack of a contract extension, Davis's high production and comedic presence are welcome for a franchise that has offered little to its fans recently. The team now looks to integrate No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa, whose return from an ankle injury will significantly shake up Washington's shot distribution, currently managed by Trae Young's 13 assists against Milwaukee.

Paul George, in his Celtics debut, had a sparkling individual performance, scoring 38 points and drilling seven 3-pointers, a feat he achieved only once in 78 games during his previous two-year run with the 76ers. However, his strong outing was unfortunately spoiled by the Pistons' epic second-half comeback. Boston struggled with Tatum's poor outside shooting and inability to draw free throws, coupled with a lengthy offensive cold stretch against Detroit's defense. While George clearly fits into Boston's 3-point heavy offense, expecting him to consistently generate rim pressure and high free-throw volumes might be unrealistic for the 36-year-old forward, with Tatum remaining the primary answer for those needs.

Darius Garland earned kudos for carrying the injury-ravaged Los Angeles Clippers to an opening-night victory over the Sacramento Kings. While he had previously downshifted as a scorer when paired with Donovan Mitchell on the Cavaliers, the Clippers' absences of Brandon Ingram, Max Strus, and Bradley Beal necessitated Garland to elevate his scoring. He delivered with 30 points, easily outplaying Sacramento rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. This "soft launch" against a potential Western Conference basement team will quickly be followed by a challenging schedule gauntlet, including two games against the Lakers, trips to Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and Golden State, and a showdown with Kawhi Leonard's Raptors.

Rough First Impressions

Giannis Antetokounmpo's debut with the Miami Heat raised nagging questions about whether "new home, same problems" would define his tenure. Despite posting 35 points and six assists in 30 minutes, he couldn't prevent the Heat from being thoroughly defeated by the Timberwolves. Antetokounmpo had orchestrated an exit from Milwaukee due to concerns about the Bucks falling behind top East contenders, but his new Miami supporting cast failed to rise to the occasion. Cold outside shooting, an unremarkable performance from Bam Adebayo, and troubling defensive efforts all contributed to an embarrassing loss. While the schedule offers softer opponents ahead, Miami's offense will struggle unless Antetokounmpo and the team improve results from his drive-and-kick passing, as evidenced by his one assist against three turnovers and the team's 8-for-33 shooting from deep against Minnesota.

Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors made an immediate, albeit controversial, first impression, mounting an early challenge to Draymond Green's reputation as the NBA's biggest "yapper." In Golden State's 127-105 opening loss to the Lakers, Lendeborg received a technical foul for repeatedly exchanging words with Luka Doncic, later stating he "lost all respect" for Doncic due to his "whining and complaining." While his unfiltered comments garnered laughter from the media, the 24-year-old forward, a lottery pick who led the University of Michigan to an NCAA title and the Warriors to a summer league title, would benefit from pacing himself publicly. With the Warriors lacking consistent scoring beyond Stephen Curry and their undermanned frontcourt overwhelmed by the Lakers, this season appears challenging, and Lendeborg faces potential backlash if he continues such frank commentary after losses.

Miles Bridges had a rocky start for the Phoenix Suns, acquired in an offseason trade with Charlotte. He scored only eight points on 3-of-11 shooting in Phoenix's loss to Portland, and the Blazers outscored the Suns by 35 points during his 29 minutes on the court. While patience is required as Bridges and center Khaman Maluach integrate into Coach Jordan Ott's starting lineup, Bridges must demonstrate more grit for a Phoenix team that was outrebounded 56-39 in the opener. The Suns traded their 2033 first-round pick for Bridges, who holds a $22.8 million expiring contract, making it crucial for him to prove himself as a long-term difference-maker to avoid squandering another prime draft asset.