The opening week of the 2026-27 campaign has already put a few rookies front and center, and Wednesday’s Oct. 28 slate gave the league another batch of first-year lines worth tracking.
AJ Dybantsa, the top pick, made his NBA debut with the Wizards and delivered right away. Against Cleveland, he finished with 19 points, two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers, shooting 8-of-12 from the field, 1-of-3 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
Another high lottery name also made his presence felt. The No. 4 pick posted 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, a block and a turnover against the Knicks, connecting on 7-of-18 shots, 3-of-8 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 at the stripe.
The night’s most productive scoring total belonged to the No. 11 pick, who piled up 26 points to go with nine rebounds, an assist, a steal, a block and seven turnovers against Minnesota. He shot 11-of-20 from the field, 2-of-5 from deep and 2-of-4 from the line.
The No. 8 pick turned in a balanced all-around line against Miami, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, a steal, a block and two turnovers. He was efficient, too, going 9-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-5 from 3-point distance and 2-of-3 at the free throw line.
The No. 10 pick produced 10 points, six rebounds, an assist, a steal and two turnovers against Houston, hitting 3-of-6 shots overall, 0-of-2 from beyond the arc and 4-of-5 from the line.
The No. 9 pick also reached double figures, ending with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and a turnover against Oklahoma City. He shot 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
Down the board, the No. 35 pick gave his team 11 points, eight rebounds, a steal, a block and a turnover in a game against New Orleans, while shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 1-of-3 from 3-point range.
The No. 34 pick rounded out the group with 10 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal against Washington. He went 4-of-7 from the field, 0-of-1 from deep and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
With Thursday’s schedule set to bring three more games - including Memphis against Portland and Sacramento against New Orleans - the 2026 rookie class will get another chance to keep showing up on the box score.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Keep Showing Why Early Deficits May Not Matter
Cleveland kept leaning on the same formula that has already carried it through the first week of the season: survive the rough patches, then take over when the game starts to tighten. The Cavaliers rallied from behind to beat the Wizards 121-111, extending their winning streak to three and getting to a 3-1 start, even after a shaky defensive opening half left them chasing the game.
Evan Mobley again gave Cleveland a steady presence inside and on the perimeter, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while newcomer Peyton Watson added 22 points in a useful early-season spark. The bigger takeaway for the Cavaliers is that their early deficits have not become panic points, because once the second half arrives, the defensive edge and pace seem to follow. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Keep Finding A Way And One Breakout Stood Out Again
The Cavaliers kept the good run going with a third straight win, and the latest one again had the feel of a team getting contributions from all over the floor. Evan Mobley was at the center of it, giving Cleveland a big night inside and out while Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Jarrett Allen each supplied their own kind of support on both ends.
Mobleys growing comfort as a scoring threat has become one of the more encouraging signs in this stretch, especially when the Cavs need someone to steady things offensively without leaning on the same script every night. Peyton Watson also gave the game an early boost, and his scoring surge helped set the tone before Cleveland settled into the kind of balanced performance that has started to make its way into the teams recent wins. [Read more 🡒]
Evan Mobley Just Gave Cavs Fans A New Reason To Dream
Evan Mobley gave the Cavaliers plenty to feel good about in Fridays 121-111 comeback win over Washington, the kind of performance that can shift the mood around a team in a hurry. Cleveland trailed by double digits at halftime but found its footing after the break, riding a sharper collective effort and a big night from Mobley to make it three straight victories.
Mobley finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds while stretching the floor in a way Cavaliers fans have been waiting to see more often. The second half also brought timely help from Mario Hezonja and Meleek Thomas as Cleveland pulled even by the end of the third quarter and then closed it out late, leaving the bigger question hanging over what this version of the Cavs might look like once this kind of edge becomes the norm. [Read more 🡒]