12 NBA Season Debuts: Kawhi and Dame Shine, Giannis Struggles

Twelve NBA players made season debuts with new teams or in new roles during opening week, and the early returns split sharply between hot starts and rough stumbles, according to ESPN senior writer Ben Golliver. Newly signed Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant summed up the stakes this week: "You only get one chance at a first impression," he said, as cited by ESPN.

Which teams had season-opening success?

The Trail Blazers were among several teams that opened cleanly, according to Golliver's reporting for ESPN. Kawhi Leonard's Toronto Raptors debut also landed in the "great" category after the schedule gave the two-time Finals MVP a home opener against the Chicago Bulls, which Golliver wrote he used to his advantage. Golliver also listed Damian Lillard, center Walker Kessler, and Oklahoma City's starting five among the opening week's strongest first impressions, without citing specific box-score numbers in the portion of the report reviewed.

How did LeBron James and LaMelo Ball fare in new roles?

Golliver placed LeBron James, LaMelo Ball, Anthony Davis, Paul George and Darius Garland in a "good" tier for opening week, a notch below the top group but still positive debuts. LaMelo Ball's week included a notable officiating moment separate from the game outcome: referees confirmed after the fact that he had traveled on his way to making a 3-point basket, ESPN reported.

Which stars had rough debuts?

Not every marquee name opened well. Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics blew a 22-point lead in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, according to ESPN. San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama shot 1-for-13 in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, per the same report. Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat were outplayed on their own home court by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Golliver grouped Antetokounmpo, forward Miles Bridges and the Golden State-Dallas matchup involving rookie Yaxel Lendeborg in the "rough" category for the week.

What happened between Luka Doncic and the Warriors' rookie?

Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg described a testy exchange with Luka Doncic during the Warriors' matchup, telling ESPN he "lost all respect" for the Dallas star afterward. The comment came amid a broader night ESPN flagged as one of the rougher individual showings of opening week, though the report reviewed did not include final box-score figures for that specific matchup.

What should NBA fans watch for next?

Golliver's rundown covers games played through Thursday, by which point every team will have taken the court at least once, according to ESPN. Readers tracking the early-season picture should watch for:

• Whether Wembanyama's shooting rebounds after his 1-for-13 start against Oklahoma City
• If Antetokounmpo's Heat correct course at home following the loss to Minnesota
• How Tatum's Celtics respond after blowing a 22-point lead to Detroit
• Whether Leonard, Lillard and the Thunder's starting five sustain their fast starts

The full breakdown of all 12 debuts, including additional team-by-team detail, is available in ESPN's original report.