What We Have Learned from the First Week of the NBA Season
by Sam Cox | by Tyler Doty
Teams have more than 75 games to go in the regular season. It’s very early to be jumping to conclusions, but there are some significant things we have learned from the first week of hoops action.
This isn’t about writing teams off or getting too high on a hot start. What we’re looking at is where teams/players might need patience, where changes haven’t been as smooth as hoped, or where players are showing something new and sustainable.
Here are the five key takeaways from the first seven days:
Wemby Takes Huge Leap
It’s not the 40 points dropped on Anthony Davis. It’s not even the 25 stocks in four games. Victor Wembanyama was capable of that kind of production last season.
The jaw-dropping stuff with Wemby in the first week of this season is how he’s doing it. He took 44% of his shots from three last season. It’s down to 13% so far this year. He’s gone from shooting 27% of his shots at the rim to 45%.
He’s rebounding more than ever before, turning it over much less frequently, and his true shooting percentage has ballooned. The usage hasn’t increased dramatically, yet his aggression in attacking the rim has led to an enormous increase in free throw percentage.
There is no question he’s been the best player in the NBA so far this season. The things that have changed are not flukey. This version, the next generation of Wemby, is here to stay, and that immediately makes the Spurs into a contender. His MVP price has already shortened dramatically.
Veteran Warriors Carry Over Late-Season Success
Golden State only has a +2.7 net rating and ranks 25th in defense. Those numbers are going to improve given the shot diet (very few shots at the basket, middling opponent three-point rate) they are conceding.
The Dubs have beaten the Lakers and Nuggets. A loss to the Blazers was a result of a red-hot shooting night from Portland. Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski stepped up to power a win over the depleted Grizzlies on Monday.
The bench has struggled. Moses Moody and Al Horford have particularly poor on/off numbers. Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, though, have been blowing teams out in their minutes.
The formula we saw late last season is continuing to work in 2025-26.
Houston Needs Time
Houston unsurprisingly has a very low three-point rate. They are 20th in points per play in the halfcourt. Fred VanVleet’s absence is being felt, with a hit-and-miss start to the season from Reed Sheppard.
There were signs in the season opener against the Thunder that this supersize Rockets lineup can work. It’s a nightmare to score on, with Amen Thompson chasing opposing guards, and insane length closing passing lanes.
As expected, the offensive rebounding is among the league’s best. Ime Udoka’s blueprint with this massive roster might work, but it’s going to take time.
Magic Yet to Find Rhythm with Bane
Another team that tried to invigorate its offense with an offseason trade, the Magic gave up four first-round picks for Desmond Bane. Orlando is 25th in offensive rating and 22nd in net rating.
Bane has been taking fewer threes. With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner running the offense, it was always likely his assist numbers would drop off, but it’s also led to fewer drives. Only a third of his made threes have been assisted in this ultra-small sample.
It’s very early. It was going to take a while for Banchero and Wagner to adapt to having a shooter and scorer like Bane on the court, but it’s a storyline to watch as the season progresses given how high Orlando’s ceiling is.
Sixers Struck Gold with Edgecombe
One way to inject life into a franchise after a nightmare 2024-25 is to move up in the lottery and acquire an immediate star. VJ Edgecombe is threatening to be just that for the Sixers.
Edgecombe dropped 34 points in his debut (the most by a rookie since Wilt Chamberlain) and has followed that up with 15 points against the Hornets and 26 against the Magic. He’s also had 15 assists across his last two games.
Even with Paul George still out and Joel Embiid looking a long way from his MVP self, Philly has hope. Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey are the best young backcourt in the NBA. Jared McCain, the Rookie of the Year favorite pre-injury, is due to return in November.
