1 Overreaction to Every NBA Team's First Game of the 2025-26 Season
The 2025-26 NBA season is finally here, and we're ready to react to every single team's first game.
Actually, check that. We're ready to overreact to everyone's first game.
Based on nothing more than what we've seen in these first few days of the campaign, it's time to dispense some potentially reckless takes on each squad.
*Teams will be added after their first games finish.
Atlanta Hawks: Defense Isn't Good Enough
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The Atlanta Hawks were 19th in points allowed per 100 possessions last season. The additions of Kristaps Porziņģis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were pretty clearly intended to help there.
But against a Toronto Raptors team that entered the season with plenty of questions about their offense, Atlanta surrendered a whopping 138 points and lost by 20.
Toronto wasn't really doing anything groundbreaking either. They were just getting to the paint (and finishing there) at will. And despite a wealth of length and theoretical versatility from players like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher, it looks like Atlanta's defense may not be good enough for the team to live up to its lofty expectations.
Boston Celtics: More Salary Shedding Is On the Way
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Despite a truly dreadful Joel Embiid performance (more on that later) and the absence of Paul George, the Boston Celtics gave up a late, nine-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-116, on opening night.
And if they're going to struggle to contain guards like they did on Wednesday (again, more on that in the Sixers slide), the temptation to shed even more salary is going to be strong.
Right now, Boston is within $12.1 million of ducking the luxury tax. And if the Celtics are going to have a sub-.500 season, they might well chase it. That could mean players like Anfernee Simons and/or Sam Hauser could be on the move prior to February's trade deadline.
Brooklyn Nets: Full-Fledged Tankers
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Prior to the season, there may have been a hint of some idea that Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. would get on enough heaters for the Brooklyn Nets to avoid the very bottom of the standings barrel.
But they were absolutely obliterated by another lottery team on opening night. They surrendered 136 points to the Charlotte Hornets, who were lobbing, dunking and fast-breaking at will.
And if throughout the season, Brooklyn's defense looks anywhere near as disengaged as it did Wednesday, even in the Eastern Conference, the Nets are going to struggle to beat anyone.
Charlotte Hornets: Will Have Two All-Rookie Selections
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Any team facing the Nets' defense is primed for overreactions. But even when you account for the context, Charlotte Hornets rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner both looked good enough to get in the mix for All-Rookie nods.
For Knueppel, that's not all that surprising. He was the fourth overall pick, and his well-rounded game and outside shooting made him a natural fit in lineups with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He steadily contributed throughout his debut, had 11 points and went 3-of-4 from deep.
The more surprising turn of events is Ryan Kalkbrenner (picked 34th overall) joining Knueppel in the starting five, anchoring a decent defensive effort and finishing with an 11-rebound, 10-point, two-block double-double in his NBA debut.
He'll face stiffer tests than Brooklyn throughout the season, but Kalkbrenner played well enough in the opener to suggest he should have the starting spot for the foreseeable future. And that should help him produce enough for that All-Rookie selection.
Chicago Bulls: Will Have an All-Star
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The All-Star campaigning has already begun for second-year forward Matas Buzelis, but he's not the only Chicago Bull who might be in the mix for a selection in 2026.
Even without Coby White, the Bulls opened their season with a 115-111 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. And three different players were a big part of the upset.
Buzelis had 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting and blocked three shots for good measure. Two-time All-Star Nikola Vučević had 28 points and 14 boards.
But the likeliest All-Star might be Josh Giddey, who closed his 2024-25 averaging 20.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 9.6 assists over his last 18 games and had 19 points and 11 assists on Wednesday.
If he keeps stacking up lines like that, and the Bulls are around .500 when All-Star picks are made, he could sneak in.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Lonzo Ball Can't Replace Ty Jerome
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To casual observers of the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers losing Ty Jerome this offseason may not have seemed like a huge deal, especially after they picked up Lonzo Ball.
But as solid as Ball is as a defender and hit-ahead passer, it may be impossible for him to live up to the impact Jerome had as a reserve guard last season, especially for a team that's still missing Darius Garland.
In 2024-25, Jerome had a 64.3 true shooting percentage, and the Cavs' net rating was better when he was on the floor (rare for a sub on a good team).
Ball has just one season in his career with an above-average true shooting percentage, has missed two full seasons with injuries and went 1-of-7 from deep on Wednesday.
Even after one game, it's tough to imagine Ball living up to Jerome's impact from last season.
Dallas Mavericks: Are Not a Title Contender
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Earlier this week, Stephen A. Smith predicted the Dallas Mavericks would win the title. In their first pregame show on ESPN, Charles Barkley told the Inside the NBA crew (and the viewing public) that he thought Dallas was the second best team in the West.
The hype had gotten out of control, and Wednesday was a pretty vivid reminder of the limitations of this roster without Luka Dončić (especially until Kyrie Irving returns).
There are simply too many big men and collaborative talents here. Anthony Davis and Kyrie have both been better as No. 2s than they were as leading men. Without Kyrie, the backcourt is so shallow that a rookie who's been a forward for years, Cooper Flagg, started at the 1.
There's probably enough size and defense here for the Mavs to typically be more competitive than they were during their 125-92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, but the roster makes too little sense to seriously consider this a title contender.
By the end of 2025-26, we might even look back on this Dallas team as little more than a reminder of how much better Luka can make his teammates.
Denver Nuggets: Aaron Gordon Is an All-Star
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The Denver Nuggets blew a double-digit lead and lost their season opener to the Golden State Warriors, 137-131, but it's tough to fault Aaron Gordon for that.
With Michael Porter Jr. now in Brooklyn, Gordon looks poised to take on a bigger offensive role. And his shooting uptick from last season looks like it's going to stick.
Thursday, he totaled a career-high 50 points and went 10-of-11 from deep. And while he won't be the team's leading scorer in most games this season, a little more aggression, this remade jumper and a solid record in January is going to make him the first All-Star teammate of Nikola Jokić's career.
Detroit Pistons: Will Miss Last Season's Role Players
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Malik Beasley (319) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (168) were first and second on the Detroit Pistons in threes made last season. Dennis Schröder, despite only playing 28 games there, was fourth in total assists.
All three are gone, and their supporting contributions were sorely missed in Wednesday's 115-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Duncan Robinson was brought in to help with the shooting, but he was 0-of-5 from deep (and the team was 7-of-24). Caris LeVert was brought in to help with the playmaking, but he only had two assists (and was minus-seven in the loss).
And Cade Cunningham, who finally had the kind of help he needed to make the playoffs in 2024-25, looked overtaxed.
Golden State Warriors: Back on the Title Contenders' Tier
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The Los Angeles Lakers made the final score a little closer than the Golden State Warriors' 119-109 win on Tuesday actually was.
Golden State controlled most of the second half, despite a 43-point masterpiece from Luka Dončić, and they did so with a classically Warriors performance.
Stephen Curry hit jaw-dropping threes, including a 30-plus footer late in the fourth quarter that put the game on ice. Draymond Green had nine assists. Buddy Hield had a Klay Thompson-like performance with five triples.
But most importantly, last season's big acquisition (Jimmy Butler) and this summer's (Al Horford) are both such Warriors-y players. They're always willing to make the extra pass, move without the ball and defend all over the floor.
On both ends against L.A., the connectivity of earlier years was there. And if they stay healthy into the spring and summer, it's hard to imagine that getting any worse. The championship know-how of Curry, Green and Horford, along with the competitiveness of Butler, makes this a real contender.
Houston Rockets: Alperen Şengün is Ready for MVP Talks
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The Houston Rockets came up one point shy of the Oklahoma City Thunder in a double-overtime thriller that tipped off the entire NBA season on Tuesday, but it's hard to fault Alperen Şengün for that.
In 49 minutes, Şengün had 39 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. He unveiled a new, potentially terrifying weapon, going 5-of-8 from three. He was plus-nine in a one-point loss.
After making the All-Star Five at EuroBasket 2025, Şengün's confidence isn't just through the roof. It blew it off. He was hitting contested threes, twirling through the lane on the way to soft finishes at the rim and consistently setting up his teammates for open looks.
And if his team is as tough as it looked on opening night (despite the loss), it's going to win enough games to put Şengün in some MVP talks (or at least on the fringe of them).
Indiana Pacers: Not Quite a Gap Year
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Despite missing Tyrese Haliburton entirely, losing Myles Turner in free agency and losing Andrew Nembhard to a shoulder injury after just 17 minutes of his first game, the Indiana Pacers forced the Oklahoma City Thunder into a double-overtime dog fight on Thursday.
OKC eventually won, 141-135, but Indiana showed more than enough to suggest it'll be in the mix, at the very least, for a play-in spot during this already injury-ravaged campaign.
Bennedict Mathurin, who had a forceful 36 points and went 15-of-17 from the line, looks ready to assume more offensive responsibility. Pascal Siakam, who added 32 on Thursday, could push for a fourth All-Star appearance with Haliburton out for the year. And Rick Carlisle, regardless of who's available, is going to find ways to make his team productive.
Los Angeles Clippers: Are Too Old
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How else do you explain the egg laid by the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday?
Despite entering the campaign as a contender (or at least fringe contender), the Clippers trailed the rebuilding Utah Jazz by nearly 40 points and wound up losing by 21 on opening night.
Their superstar, Kawhi Leonard, was abysmal. He had 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting and was minus-25. James Harden was 2-of-9 from three.
But worse than what any basic number really shows, the Clippers defense looked almost totally listless against a team likely to finish near the bottom of the league in points per 100 possessions.
Before the halftime buzzer even sounded, it looked like the Clippers (the oldest team in the league by average age), were completely overwhelmed by Utah's youth and athleticism.
It was an embarrassing enough loss to reasonably wonder if L.A.'s age might be a legitimate problem this season.
Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Dončić is the Face of the Franchise
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If this wasn't already clear in the immediate aftermath of the trade or following the lack of a new contract for LeBron James, Luka Dončić is the face of perhaps the most iconic franchise in the NBA.
The contrast between his 43-point performance (that also included 12 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, a block and generally solid defense) and the shots of LeBron James indignantly staring from the bench was vivid.
Luka started the season at a level LeBron may not be able to reach anymore. And the more that happens between now and LeBron's return, the more Lakers fans might start to look forward to the post-LeBron era.
Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant Is Ready to Reclaim His Status
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Thanks to a variety of injuries and suspensions, Ja Morant averaged 40 appearances per year over the three seasons prior to this one. And in 2024-25 alone, his scoring efficiency and minutes per game both tumbled off cliffs.
The stretch yanked him (and his Memphis Grizzlies) from the zeitgeist, but he looked plenty ready to return to the top of fans' minds on Wednesday.
He finished with 35 points on 13-of-20 shooting. And if Morant can stay on the floor for a few weeks in a row, he'll once again be one of the league's premier highlight machines.
Miami Heat: Heat Culture Is Dead
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It's time to acknowledge the fact that the Miami Heat just don't carry the cachet (in their case, often known as #HeatCulture) they once did.
After losing in the first round in 2023-24, Miami won 37 games last season. And on Wednesday's opening night loss to the Orlando Magic, they gave up 125 points to a team that was 26th in offense in 2024-25.
So much of that so-called culture was about Miami's defensive prowess, but they were anything but intimidating in Orlando. And there's just not enough perimeter defense around Bam Adebayo to think this team is a threat for anything more than a play-in appearance.
Milwaukee Bucks: Will Break the Franchise Record for Threes in a Season
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After a monster, 37-point, 14-rebound, five-assist performance in the Milwaukee Bucks' 133-120 win over the Washington Wizards, there's a temptation to go with "Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Push for a Third MVP" as the subheader here.
But that's just too obvious. Giannis in the MVP conversation is more of a foregone conclusion than an overreaction.
Instead, we'll hone in on the team-building strategy Milwaukee employed this past offseason. The idea was clearly to surround Giannis with as much shooting as possible, which would allow him to dominate the middle of the floor.
And through one game, though the game being against the Wizards generates some caveats, it looks like the strategy could work to the tune of a new record.
Even with Giannis only taking three, the Bucks got 44 three-point attempts up. That means the team is on pace for 3,608, which is over 300 clear of the franchise high.
Consider this the prediction that they maintain that pace.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards Will Win the Scoring Title
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Shortly before their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, news broke that the Minnesota Timberwolves would be starting Donte DiVincenzo at point guard.
Mike Conley assumed the backup role, but those two only combined for 33 minutes. And that's because Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch seems plenty comfortable letting Anthony Edwards run the show.
And in Wednesday's road win over the Portland Trail Blazers, that led to 41 points for Ant.
He won't hit that threshold every night, but the additional responsibility is going to help Edwards average 30-plus and capture the scoring title this season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson Is Going to Qualify for Individual Awards
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The New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, but there was definitely a moral victory to be claimed.
Zion Williamson looks as slender and explosive as he has in years. He played 33 minutes, put up 21 shots and totaled five steals.
He was active on both ends of the floor, looked healthy and had his team in a position to win on the road.
And this new shape that he's in will (fingers crossed) keep him available for at least 65 games.
New York Knicks: Eastern Conference Is Theirs
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It has to be noted that Garland missed the New York Knicks' 119-111 win over the Cavaliers, but the home team was also missing Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson, both of whom figure to be prominent in New York's rotation.
And with both teams at less than full strength, Cleveland's defense looked porous enough to predict an eventual Eastern Conference crown for the Knicks (something the return of Garland isn't likely to fix).
The four members of New York's core who were in action (Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns) all got to at least 16 points. The offense seemed a bit more balanced (despite Brunson still getting up 18 shots). And the Knicks look ready to finally get back to the Finals for the first time since 1999.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Will Break the No-Repeat Streak
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The Rockets looked like a very real title contender in their season-opener against OKC.
Şengün put up a Jokić-like line. Amen Thompson, before a leg injury sidelined him down the stretch, looked like the second coming of Anfernee Hardaway. Kevin Durant was draining mid-range jumpers like it was 2015. Steven Adams dominated the glass. And even Jabari Smith Jr. showed flashes of his 3-and-D upside.
And yet, even without Jalen Williams, the Thunder prevailed, thanks to their typically ferocious defense, a late scoring explosion from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who finished with 35), and a monster night from Chet Holmgren (who had 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting).
This team is just so deep, dynamic and competitive. Several others have looked poised to break the streak of NBA teams failing to repeat as champs (which dates all the way back to 2018), but none are better equipped than OKC.
Orlando Magic: Desmond Bane (and Tristan da Silva) Can Fix the Offense
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He was 7-of-18 from the field in Wednesday's 125-121 win over the Miami Heat, but just having the threat of Desmond Bane's shooting on the floor will be a legitimate game-changer for the Orlando Magic.
Defenses can no longer crowd Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero's drives like they could last season. And the symbiosis within that trio (Bane pulls defenses away from the hoop, while Banchero and Wagner can pull them toward it) helped it combine for 71 points.
None of that was particularly surprising, though. The more important development may be from Tristan da Silva. Fresh off a gold medal at EuroBasket 2025, da Silva came off the bench for 16 points and went 3-of-5 from deep.
Adding one high-end three-point threat to this team makes it more dangerous. If da Silva makes that two such threats, Orlando has a chance to make the Finals.
Philadelphia 76ers: This Is Tyrese Maxey's Team Now
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Joel Embiid looks thinner than he has in previous seasons. And it's just nice to see him back in action, as he was during the Philadelphia 76ers' season opener.
But he only played 20 minutes, went 1-of-9 from the field and was a minus-16 in a 117-116 game his team wound up winning.
Perhaps most concerning, on several possessions, he almost looked incapable of getting off the floor.
But that performance wasn't enough to doom the Sixers, thanks to an incredible one-two punch from the backcourt.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe debuted with 34 points on 13-of-26 shooting. And Tyrese Maxey, suddenly the veteran leader of this team, had 40 points on 24 shots.
The explosive scoring from the two guards helped Philly overcome the Boston Celtics' 95.5 percent win probability in the fourth quarter. And if it wasn't clear already, it established the fact that this is now Maxey's team.
Phoenix Suns: Dillon Brooks Is Going to Set a Career High
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Dillon Brooks just cannot help himself.
Even on a team with Devin Booker, he got up a whopping 24 shot attempts (five more than Book) in the Phoenix Suns' 120-116 win over the Sacramento Kings. He was 1-of-8 from deep.
And though you've likely seen plenty of Brooks performances with near-mind-blowing shot selection, he's going to set a new standard for himself on this talent-hungry Suns team.
Right now, his career high for field-goal attempts per game is the 16.4 he averaged in 2021-22, but that number's going down.
Portland Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant Will Be Traded
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Based on his age (32 in March) and production last season (14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists with a 46.7 effective field-goal percentage), Jerami Grant entered 2025-26 with one of the league's worst and seemingly least tradable contracts.
He's making $32 million for this campaign, and his deal runs through 2027-28, when he has a $36.4 million player option.
Last week, it was hard to imagine anyone trading for that obligation, but if he has a few more performances like Wednesday's, when he had 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting off the bench, some team desperate for shooting from the forward spot might go for it before the deadline.
Sacramento Kings: Trade All the Vets
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The Sacramento Kings were missing Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray, but the Phoenix Suns have one of the shallowest rosters in the league. And Sabonis probably wouldn't have helped much on the defensive end (the bigger problem on Wednesday).
The Kings are talented enough to win a handful of games and finish in or near the play-in tournament, but they're nowhere near good enough defensively to be a threat to win a playoff series.
It's time to rip the band-aid off, trade Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine and start over.
San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama Might Be the Best Player in the World
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Remember when Adrian Wojnarowski said "There's no shortage of executives who I really respect in the NBA who think [Victor Wembanyama] could be the best player at both ends of the floor by his third or fourth year."?
Well, we're at Year 3. And it turns out, those executives may well have been right.
In his season opener, on the road and against Anthony Davis, Wemby totaled 40 points on 15-of-21 shooting, 15 rebounds and three blocks. He was plus-31, and he made AD, one of the premier defensive big men in the NBA, look pedestrian.
It was like Wemby was playing on a nerf hoop and Davis (who's a decade older and 20 pounds heavier) was his hopeless little brother.
Wembanyama bullied his way to the rim for dunks. He wiggled on the perimeter like a guard and hit contested jumpers. This is hardly an original thought, but the combination of size, athleticism and skill that he boasts is genuinely unlike anything we've ever seen in sports.
And even in a league with Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still at or near the peak of their powers, Wemby might be its best individual player.
Toronto Raptors: Headed to the Playoffs
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There was some question about how all the key pieces would fit together for the Toronto Raptors. Are the games of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram too duplicative? Is there enough shooting in the starting group? Is there enough talent beyond the starters?
The questions are still fair, but everything meshed well in a 138-118 blowout win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite going just 6-of-25 from three, Toronto was able to dominate on the offensive end. It didn't even matter that there wasn't much of a threat from deep. Ingram, Barnes and Barrett were all good enough at getting to their spots inside the line.
And in the East, if Toronto can consistently impose its will around the basket like it did on Wednesday, finishing above the play-in tournament is very much in play.
Utah Jazz: Lauri Markkanen Won't Be Traded
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Well, if the Utah Jazz are going to torch the nets like they did in their season-opening win over the Clippers, when they went 17-of-44 from deep and scored 129 points, maybe the Lauri Markkanen trade rumors won't materialize into an actual deal.
Markkanen, Walker Kessler and Brice Sensabaugh combined to hit nine of those 17 triples, and when they were on the floor, you could almost envision a better-than-expected version of this team competing for a play-in spot.
And that would back up the team's messaging that it's invested in Markkanen and thinks he'll still be in his prime whenever the organization is competitive again.
Washington Wizards: Someone Will Trade for Khris Middleton
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After a quiet, injury-plagued 2024-25 in which he was traded to the Washington Wizards, it was fair to wonder how much 34-year-old Khris Middleton has to offer.
But in a potential revenge game against those Bucks, Middleton had 23 points, went 3-of-5 from deep and looked very much capable of helping a winning team.
Of course, Washington isn't going to be a winning team. But every respectable game Middleton has could catch the attention of some contender. And by February, he'll have enough trade value to find a new home.
