The 2024-25 NBA season is lower than two weeks outdated, however some noteworthy tendencies are beginning to emerge throughout the league, together with some we maybe weren’t anticipating.
What has been every staff’s greatest shock to this point, good, dangerous or ugly? The Athletic posed that query to its NBA employees. Right here’s what they mentioned.
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard’s new degree: Following a strong 2023-24 season, Pritchard seems to have taken a leap after averaging 16.2 factors per sport over the Celtics’ first 5 contests. Getting into Thursday night time, he was tied for second within the NBA with 23 made 3-pointers and has carried out that regardless of no perimeter accidents above him on Boston’s depth chart. Extremely, provided that he comes off the bench, Pritchard has tried practically 10 3-pointers per sport. He’s enjoying with a inexperienced gentle to this point. It’s not simple to earn extra enjoying time on this Celtics roster, however Pritchard is making the case. — Jay King
Brooklyn Nets
Jordi Fernández: The Nets coach received his large break to take over a staff broadly earmarked for the worst file within the league, however he has Brooklyn enjoying on a string and looking out like a staff preventing for a playoff spot. Within the Nets’ final three video games, they’ve overwhelmed Milwaukee and Memphis, bookending an time beyond regulation loss to Denver. Dennis Schröder and Cam Thomas are combining for 52 factors per sport, whereas Fernández is making small-ball lineups work whereas Nic Claxton is on a minutes restriction. The Nets actually have been one of many nice surprises of the early season. — Jared Weiss
New York Knicks
Lack of 3s: Earlier than Wednesday night time’s sport in Miami, when the Knicks fired up 40 3s, New York was lifeless final within the NBA in 3-point makes an attempt per sport. It’s shocking solely as a result of the additions of Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges, two good 3-point shooters, added to a beginning lineup this offseason that already featured Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, two extra good 3-point shooters. The Knicks must iron out spacing kinks and never flip down as many appears to be like in hopes of getting a greater shot. The efficiency towards the Warmth was a step in the fitting path. — James L. Edwards III
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Philadelphia 76ers
Poor deep capturing: With Joel Embiid and Paul George out to begin the season, the Sixers had been relying on their supporting solid to step up. Tyrese Maxey has been going all out to hold the staff, however his teammates have been bricking all the pieces he’s feeding them. The one Sixer making greater than a 3rd of his 3-point makes an attempt is Kyle Lowry, one thing that ought to at the very least be ameliorated when George and Embiid return. But when Philadelphia goes to meet its potential this 12 months and show this core is price sticking with long-term, the supporting solid must hit open pictures. — Jared Weiss
Toronto Raptors
Jonathan Mogbo’s manufacturing: Because of a spate of accidents, the Raptors have gone deep down their roster to fill out the nightly rotation. A pair of second-round rookies, Mogbo and Jamal Shead, have performed actual minutes. Each have been good, however the way in which Mogbo has been capable of affect the sport as a non-center with no jumper has been a pleasant shock. Mogbo has been glorious in transition, each as a passer and finisher, and is tied for sixth within the league in deflections getting into Thursday night time regardless of enjoying simply 83 minutes via 5 video games. — Eric Koreen
Central Division
Chicago Bulls
Lonzo Ball: It wasn’t way back that the majority hoop heads thought they might by no means see Ball on an NBA courtroom once more. Not solely is Ball again, however he appears to be like nice. His capturing has been cash. His imaginative and prescient and passing are nonetheless on level. He’s even holding the Bulls linked defensively by shifting, swarming, speaking and trapping. Ball is on a 16-minute restriction, and he’ll now be sidelined for at the very least 10 days with a sprained proper wrist. Nonetheless, he’s been a pleasing shock. Greater than that, he’s been one of many Bulls’ most constructive contributors. — Darnell Mayberry
Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley appears higher: Or, I ought to say, the brand new Cavs teaching employees has appeared to have discovered a technique to higher make the most of Mobley whereas Jarrett Allen is on the ground. Mobley is dealing with the ball much more, and his assists are up — working the offense via Mobley has allowed the staff to keep up spacing whereas holding its two bigs on the ground firstly and finish of video games. This can be a shock as a result of, nicely, if it had been potential, the Cavs ought to have been doing it final season. It’s early within the season however Kenny Atkinson deserves credit score. — Joe Vardon
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Detroit Pistons
Jaden Ivey: Though Cade Cunningham is on tempo for a profession season offensively, Ivey has been the Pistons’ greatest shock. Getting into Wednesday, Ivey was averaging at the very least 20 factors for the primary time in his profession and capturing a career-best 42.9 % from 3 on 5.3 makes an attempt per sport. If that’s not spectacular sufficient, Ivey was capturing 50 % within the restricted space on 7.5 makes an attempt per contest. Per NBA.com, the one gamers within the league capturing the next proportion on extra makes an attempt are Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jeremy Sochan, RJ Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Ivey appears to have discovered a rhythm together with his tempo offensively, and his shot appears to be like fluid. — Hunter Patterson
The Pistons will seemingly go so far as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey take them. (Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
Indiana Pacers
Bennedict Mathurin: Mathurin’s season-ending damage final season was unlucky for him and for the staff, which made it to the Japanese Convention finals anyway and proved to be aggressive towards the Celtics. I didn’t see Mathurin returning and having this affect via 5 video games, trailing solely Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam in scoring. Halloween simply handed, so let’s not begin nonsense discuss like, “So and so is the favourite to be NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months,” however via 5 video games, Mathurin has proved a reputable bench risk. — Joe Vardon
Milwaukee Bucks
Poor effort and focus: After a robust opening night time towards the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bucks introduced a lazy strategy to the primary half of their video games towards the Bulls and Nets. In each contests, the Bucks paid for it as a result of each groups carried the boldness they gained within the first half to the second half. Bucks coach Doc Rivers known as the 2 losses “horrible video games.” Frankly, it’s been surprising to look at a staff that entered the season believing it might contend for a title convey such poor focus and energy within the first week of the season. — Eric Nehm
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Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks
Dyson Daniels: Amid a tough begin that noticed the Hawks lose twice to the lowly Wizards and endure quite a few accidents, the play of Daniels has been among the many few brilliant spots. Acquired within the Dejounte Murray commerce with New Orleans, the 21-year-old Australian has been a terror on protection with 15 “shares” (complete steals and blocks) in simply 4 video games. Daniels is also contributing a decent 12.8 factors per sport on 35.3 % capturing from 3. The 6-foot-8 Daniels appears to be like like a long-term fixture within the backcourt as a defensive stopper subsequent to Trae Younger. — John Hollinger
Charlotte Hornets
Nick Richards: Possibly Tre Mann is the better reply, as he’s practically doubled his scoring common this season, however Richards has stepped into the void that’s the heart spot for the Hornets with Mark Williams out. Richards’ counting stats are up, as are his per-100-possession stats. The Hornets are 2-2, partially, due to their shocking effectiveness on the offensive boards. They lead the NBA in offensive rebounding price, based on Cleansing The Glass, after rating twenty eighth final season, and so they’re first in putback factors per miss. It’s all helped them put up the league’s fourth-most environment friendly offense per 100 possessions regardless of being simply thirteenth in efficient field-goal proportion. Richards is second within the NBA in offensive rebounds per sport and within the one hundredth percentile amongst bigs in offensive rebounding price, whereas averaging 13.5 factors and 11.8 rebounds per sport. — Mike Vorkunov
Miami Warmth
Bam Adebayo’s lack of scoring: Getting into this season, probably the most fascinating storylines in Miami was the potential enlargement of Adebayo’s offensive arsenal. Whereas Adebayo is already among the best two-way gamers within the league, the hope was that extending his capturing vary to the 3-point line and surrounding him with higher guard play would make him an excellent greater risk offensively. By 4 video games, he’s the fourth-leading scorer on the Warmth, averaging 11 factors per sport, and he’s tried greater than 10 pictures in a sport solely as soon as. Miami has to make him an even bigger precedence. — Will Guillory
Orlando Magic
Anthony Black’s enjoying time: The Magic have one of many deepest groups within the league, however Black is averaging a hefty 25.6 minutes per sport. It’s not that Black isn’t proficient. He was the sixth decide within the robust 2023 draft, in any case. It’s that he’s carved out a key position this early in his second season, at 20 years outdated. He performed a major consider Orlando’s opening-game victory in Miami after Jalen Suggs confronted early foul bother. Given Black’s positional dimension and really feel for the sport, he has an opportunity to grow to be a vital member of the Magic’s nucleus. — Josh Robbins
Washington Wizards
Bilal Coulibaly’s development: Workforce officers and followers hoped Coulibaly would take an enormous step on offense in his second NBA season. However through the preseason, he was nowhere close to this assertive — or this good. (To be honest, he missed Washington’s last two exhibitions due to an injured left index finger.) Apart from a excessive price of turnovers, he’s been very good in an enhanced playmaking position. It’s not simply that he’s averaging 18.8 factors and even that he’s capturing 59 % from the sector and 42 % from 3. It’s his general confidence. And, keep in mind, he turned 20 in July. He has been spectacular and that’s vital for Washington’s rebuild. — Josh Robbins
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Northwest Division
Denver Nuggets
Christian Braun: I believed it might take Braun just a few weeks, and even months, to correctly acclimate himself to his new position as Denver’s beginning capturing guard. As a substitute, he’s been among the best two-way gamers on the roster to this point. He’s not making an attempt to exchange what the Nuggets misplaced with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He’s being himself. He’s getting out in transition. He’s chopping to the basket. He’s scoring off alternatives, and he’s been stellar defensively. Now, if solely Denver can discover itself a bench… — Tony Jones
Minnesota Timberwolves
Lacking KAT … on protection: When the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Cities for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, the fast response was a priority for an offense that was seventeenth in effectivity final season changing one in every of its two finest weapons. Within the first 4 video games of this season, the place they missed KAT was on protection. His dimension, rebounding and synergy with Rudy Gobert had been essential within the Wolves’ top-ranked protection final season. Thus far this season, the Wolves have had issue ending possessions as a result of they offer up offensive rebounds. And they’re getting labored in transition as a result of Randle doesn’t but have the cohesion with Gobert that Cities had. It could simply take time to click on in. In the meantime, the Wolves protection has plummeted to thirteenth in a really small pattern dimension. — Jon Krawczynski
The revamped Timberwolves are nonetheless seeking to hit their stride on protection. (David Sherman / NBAE through Getty Photos)
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
SGA’s 3-point makes an attempt: The Thunder’s mission to chuck up 3s from in all places has bled into the sport of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. By no means earlier than has he put up near this many lengthy balls. He took solely three a sport over the previous two seasons. By Oklahoma Metropolis’s 4-0 begin, he’s averaging greater than eight. Gilgeous-Alexander’s power has at all times been contained in the arc. It’s price monitoring how the development continues. — Fred Katz
Portland Path Blazers
Two wins already: Oddsmakers positioned the Blazers’ over/below line for season wins at 21.5. In different phrases, that is anticipated to be one of many NBA’s bottom-feeder groups. But, listed below are the Blazers after the primary 10 days with wins over two returning playoff groups — New Orleans and on the LA Clippers — of their first 5 video games. There was some encouraging play — Toumani Camara is rising as an NBA All-Defensive team-type participant, and Deandre Ayton has double-doubles in each sport. And there have been some discouraging tendencies — Deni Avdija is struggling together with his shot and lottery decide Donovan Clingan is having a tough time getting prolonged enjoying time. However general, the largest shock is the younger Blazers are usually not solely profitable however beating seasoned, playoff-hopeful groups. — Jason Fast
Utah Jazz
Kyle Filipowski: The pattern dimension to that is small — really, it’s restricted to this week, when Filipowski was ushered into service due to the damage to Taylor Hendricks. However Filipowski has been good on each ends of the ground. He’s proven to be a flexible piece with the power to attain on the inside and the perimeter. He made his first profession NBA begin on Thursday night time towards the San Antonio Spurs and must be a rotation piece via his rookie season. — Tony Jones
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Pacific Division
Golden State Warriors
Buddy Hield: The final we noticed Hield, he was having bother getting on the ground within the playoffs for a Sixers staff that wanted additional depth and craved capturing round Joel Embiid. It was honest to wonder if the Warriors signed him to a four-year, $37 million deal (with choose outs) on the declining stage of his profession. That continues to be potential, however Hield has seemed like an ideal slot in Steve Kerr’s motion system, instantly changing into a well-liked locker room character. He already has video games of 21, 22, 27 and 28 factors in 15, 20, 29 and 29 minutes. He enters the weekend making 50 % of his high-volume 3s. — Anthony Slater
LA Clippers
Terance Mann’s struggles: Some individuals could also be shocked by Ivica Zubac’s offensive emergence, however they shouldn’t be. Zubac has at all times had offensive manufacturing in him. However so has Terance Mann, who has gotten off to a tough begin. Within the first 4 video games of this season, Mann has extra fouls (15) than factors (14), whereas lacking all six of his 3s and all three of his free-throw makes an attempt. Mann has at all times had underwhelming quantity, however that at the very least got here with high-level effectivity. Thus far, Mann appears to be like like a participant who’s misplaced offensively, and Amir Coffey and Kris Dunn are closing video games over him. — Legislation Murray
Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis: Davis is enjoying arguably his finest basketball as a Laker on this younger season, averaging 30.6 factors, 12.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals and a pair of.0 blocks. Coach JJ Redick mentioned he wished to empower Davis and make him the focus of the offense, and to this point, he’s backed up that messaging. Davis is on tempo to submit the very best scoring common of his profession and his second-highest utilization proportion (31.5 %). The Lakers are making certain he touches the ball everywhere in the flooring, with the intention being for him to the touch it on every possession. Mix that together with his usually elite protection, and Davis can be within the MVP dialog if the season ended at present. — Jovan Buha
Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn: Everybody knew the rookie’s protection would translate. At Virginia, Dunn was among the many higher defensive gamers within the nation. The query was his capturing. Three ACC assistant coaches advised me they admired Dunn’s protection and revered his rebounding and athletic capacity however had no real interest in guarding him from 20 toes. That’s what makes Dunn a shock, the largest on this rookie class. Not solely is he taking over Phoenix’s hardest defensive assignments (guarding LeBron James, Luka Dončić and James Harden), however he’s making 3s and capturing with confidence. It has earned him a spot in Mike Budenholzer’s rotation, and if he retains it up, it is going to maintain him on the courtroom within the last minutes of shut video games. — Doug Haller
Sacramento Kings
Capturing guard place: After labrum surgical procedure, there have been no ensures Kevin Huerter can be prepared for the common season. However he was cleared proper earlier than opening night time, and Mike Brown instantly plugged him again into the beginning capturing guard position that many believed Keon Ellis had ripped from him completely. The Kings explored Huerter’s commerce market this summer time however didn’t discover an interesting sufficient provide. Huerter’s worth plummeted throughout a career-worst efficiency final season. However he had a profitable observe file earlier than that, and he’s seemed like his outdated self capturing and shifting within the early going. That’s a big growth, lengthening Sacramento’s rotation by shifting Ellis right into a bench position. — Anthony Slater
Kevin Huerter fires a 3 over Portland’s Kris Murray. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Photos)
Southwest Division
Dallas Mavericks
Klay Thompson: It’s not fairly a shock, however it is crucial for the Mavericks that Thompson has performed nicely. It was at all times going to be attention-grabbing to see how good he’d be in Dallas since he’s 34. It’s not just like the Warriors let him stroll as a result of he’s in his prime. However Thompson has shot the ball nicely — he’s hitting practically 40 % of his practically 10 3s per sport, although he struggled Thursday towards Houston. It’s much more pertinent since he’s traditionally been a sluggish starter — he’s a profession 35.7 % 3-point shooter in October. Thompson has slot in nicely with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, and his dip in scoring is smart since he’s enjoying a much less important offensive position than in Golden State (his utilization was right down to 19.4 % getting into Thursday), however the Mavericks want him to hit pictures. — Mike Vorkunov
Houston Rockets
Bounce in offensive effectivity: The Rockets have a borderline top-10 offense (eleventh in effectivity getting into Thursday, per Cleansing the Glass), and it’s not nearly Jalen Inexperienced’s fourth-year leap, capturing enchancment or a significant change in scheme. It’s merely in regards to the delicate energy of screening. Final season, coach Ime Udoka urged beginning heart Alperen Şengün, who generated 9.6 factors off screens per sport, to be extra prepared to create scoring alternatives for others round him. Şengün received stronger and improved his conditioning within the offseason — along with the arrival of Steven Adams, the display screen god himself — which has labored wonders. Getting into Thursday, Houston was scoring 15.6 factors per sport straight off Şengün screens, and the Rockets’ athletes are thriving. — Kelly Iko
Memphis Grizzlies
Santi Aldama: With all due respect to the Jay Huff expertise (wahoo!), I’d say Aldama’s begin has been extra notable for Memphis’ long-term future. Maybe motivated by the shortage of a contract extension, Aldama has damaged out in his fourth season, averaging 12.8 factors on 52.1 % capturing whereas being pressed into service as a starter thrice in 5 video games. Included in that complete had been 10 made 3s after Aldama shot simply 33 % on low quantity from distance final season. If the 23-year-old Spaniard provides a real stretch sport to enhance his cell 6-11 body, he turns into a way more credible inside-outside risk. — John Hollinger
New Orleans Pelicans
Zion’s inefficiency: All through his profession, Zion Williamson has confirmed to be probably the most environment friendly, high-volume scorers in NBA historical past, however he’s been the precise reverse to begin the 2024-25 season. After lacking the Pelicans’ regular-season opener on account of an sickness, Williamson is capturing simply 36.4 % from the ground in his final 4 outings, and his staff has misplaced three of these 4 video games by at the very least 15 factors. He’s had dangerous capturing video games earlier than, however he’s by no means struggled this a lot over a four-game span. — Will Guillory
San Antonio Spurs
Wemby’s Jekyll-and-Hyde begin: The Spurs’ offense is a large number (twenty ninth in effectivity as of Thursday morning), which is considerably comprehensible within the second 12 months of a rebuild, however Wembanyama’s scoring has ebbs and flows. On some nights, like the primary dwelling sport towards Houston and Thursday towards Utah, he appears to be like just like the dominant, versatile large we’ve come to adore. On different nights — Wednesday’s nationwide TV showdown towards Chet Holmgren — he appears to be like out of it. Gregg Popovich mentioned it’d take Wembanyama a couple of month to seek out an offensive rhythm coming off a size summer time of basketball. However the second-year large mentioned he feels advantageous bodily, talking extra in regards to the high quality of pictures he’s getting. And he’s proper; there’s duty on the a part of Chris Paul and Popovich to create advantageous conditions — however the Spurs will finally go so far as Wembanyama’s shoulders will take them. Devin Vassell is inching nearer to a return, which ought to convey some spacing familiarity and forestall defenses from loading up. — Kelly Iko
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(High photograph of Klay Thompson and Victor Wembanyama: Jerome Miron / Imagn Photos)
