One opening night was all it took for the NBA to start handing out trophies and rewriting the pecking order.
That’s how these things go. A small slice of the season hits the screen, and suddenly everyone’s ready to lock in awards, contenders, and bigger truths. After a six-team, triple-header spotlighted on NBC and Peacock, there was no shortage of early reactions to chew on.
The loudest one? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still the MVP favorite until somebody proves otherwise.
The Thunder star opened the season with 32 points in Oklahoma City’s win over the Spurs, and he did it with the kind of complete performance that makes the case in a hurry. Gilgeous-Alexander also finished with three blocks and three steals, reminding everybody this isn’t just a scorer piling up numbers.
It was his 141st straight game with at least 20 points, a record that keeps stretching further out of reach. Victor Wembanyama may be the name everyone wants to crown, but on this night he went 1-of-13 from the floor and ended at minus-2.
If Wemby gets to the top of the mountain, SGA already looks like he’ll be standing there waiting.
Philadelphia also came out of opening night looking like a team with something to say in the East.
Tyrese Maxey led the way with 28 points, Jaylen Brown added 19 and finished as the team’s best plus-minus at plus-17, Joel Embiid logged 33 minutes and put up 13 points and 11 rebounds, and LeBron James stitched it all together with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The 76ers had enough firepower to score, but the more interesting part was what they did on the other end: they held the reigning-champion Knicks to under a point per possession and posted a 98 defensive rating. If New York is going to chase back-to-back titles like the Curry/Durant Warriors, the road appears to run right through Philadelphia after what we saw in this opener.
Detroit’s comeback win brought a different kind of early-season buzz, and it made Javonte Green look like the bench weapon to watch.
At one point, Boston’s Paul George debut was threatening to steal the whole night after he poured in 38. But Green changed the script.
He came off the Pistons bench and gave Detroit exactly what it needed - shooting, energy and a quick jolt of life. He hit 5 of 8 from three and finished with 19 points, helping fuel a 22-point rally and a bench-driven 23-0 run in the fourth quarter that turned the game around.
Duncan Robinson picked up the thread, too, knocking down 5 of 9 from deep and finishing with 21 points. It’s very early, but Green has already planted himself as the Sixth Man of the Year front-runner.
And then there was Andre Drummond, who spent a half making the Knicks rethink their center situation.
Mike Tirico put it in the cleanest possible terms: “Drummond, the one guy who did not get a ring, is getting everything else.”
For the first half, it fit. Drummond posted 10 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, including six offensive boards, and became the first Knick in the play-by-play era, which began in 1997-98, to record a first-half double-double in his Knicks debut. New York was ahead at the break, and Drummond told the broadcast, “I’m just excited to be here.”
The second half cooled things off. He went 1-of-5 from the field, with his only basket coming on a putback.
Still, if the Knicks can get that kind of nightly production - 12 points and 14 boards - they’ll take it. Even with Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster, Drummond gave them plenty to think about.
In Other News...
Pistons First Win Suddenly Put Ron Hollands Role Under Pressure
The Pistons first win of the season came with a reminder that every rotation spot is up for grabs when a young team starts sorting itself out. Detroit erased a 22-point deficit against the Celtics, and Javonte Green was a big part of the turnaround, giving the comeback a lift with 19 points and disruptive defense that helped steady the group when it needed it most.
Ron Holland II found himself on the other side of that surge, as limited minutes and foul trouble kept him from getting much of a foothold in the game. His shooting struggles only sharpened the question of how Detroit will allocate playing time going forward, especially after a performance like Greens gave the coaching staff another option to lean on. [Read more 🡒]
Ausar Thompson Showed One Trait The Pistons Need A Lot More
Ausar Thompsons season opener offered a little bit of everything the Pistons have been waiting to see from him, including a more assertive offensive edge. He finished with 11 points, five assists and 11 rebounds, and there were stretches where he looked ready to take control instead of simply fitting in around everyone else. The most encouraging moment came late, when he knocked down a contested jumper that helped seal Detroits win.
For most of the night, though, Thompson was still more passive than imposing, which is why the growth he showed matters so much for this team. The Pistons need his confidence and aggression to rise as the season goes on, especially if they want his all-around talent to translate into a bigger and more consistent offensive role. Early signs suggest the tools are there, but the next step is making those assertive moments come more often. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Roster Crunch Just Put Chaz Lanier On Notice
The roster squeeze in Detroit has already begun to take shape, and Chaz Lanier finds himself in the middle of it. With the Pistons reshaping the back end of the roster, every minute on the floor and every bit of production matters more than ever, especially for a guard who has had trouble turning playing time into something lasting.
Dalton Knechts release by the Lakers before his third season is a reminder of how quickly a young player can slide from promising to vulnerable when the fit stops working. Lanier is facing a similar kind of pressure in Detroit, where the margin for error is shrinking and the competition for a spot is getting tighter by the day. [Read more 🡒]