Shining Stars and Struggling Teams: Early Takeaways from the NBA’s First Week

The 2025/26 NBA season is officially underway, and early results suggest it could be an exciting one.

Last years champions Oklahoma City Thunder have won all their games so far, with last season’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the line, scoring 31 points and 9 rebounds in Wednesday’s win against the Sacramento Kings.

Despite going to overtime in both their first matches, they managed to clutch up there as well, with their second game being a rematch of last season’s finals match, against the Indiana Pacers.

Although they came so close to winning it all last year, taking OKC to a game 7 match up, it seems that with star man Tyrese Haliburton out injured for most of this season, the Pacers are going to struggle; losing all 4 games so far doesn’t bode well for their 25/26 campaign.

Edgecombe leads the race so far for Rookie of the Year and has been nicknamed ‘The Generator’ by fans

The worst start so far has to be the Brooklyn Nets’, who have lost their first 5 games, and are widely predicted to finish dead last; unsurprising as they are the only team in the entire NBA to not have a current or former All-star player. They are the youngest team in the league, after receiving 5 first round picks in the 2025 draft, a league record, but so far only 3 have had game time, with Drake Powell and Danny Wolf yet to play.

Another disappointing start to the season is that of the Dallas Mavericks, as although they only got to the play-ins last season, they have a star studded roster with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, and got unbelievably lucky with the 2025 draft, achieving the number 1 pick in Cooper Flagg.

Whilst Flagg has been solid, achieving 10 total assists and 21 total rebounds, many were expecting more from this heavily anticipated young star. Impressing everyone instead has been number 3 pick, VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers.

With 89 total points, and 22 total assists, Edgecombe leads the race so far for Rookie of the Year, and has been nicknamed ‘The Generator’ by fans, a reference to his heart-warming speech on draft night, stating, “I ain’t have no electricity… I lived off a generator for seven years,” acknowledging his single mother’s sacrifices during his upbringing.

Along with Edgecombe on the Sixers’ roster is seven-time all-star Joel Embiid, and 2024 all-star Tyrese Maxey (who recorded 39 points and 10 assists in Tuesday’s game against the Wizards), creating a cohesive team who could shock the Eastern Conference this season, and really battle for a good seed in the playoffs.

Wembanyama was hungry to pick up the fifth win after an interviewer told him he had matched the best start in history

Finally, one of the most exciting teams to watch so far has been the San Antonio Spurs, who have already claimed five wins. This is hardly shocking, as they have received a top 4 pick in the last 3 drafts: No 1 pick Victor Wembanyama in 2023, No 4 pick Stephon Castle in 2024, and No 2 pick Dylan Harper in 2025.

Wembanyama was hungry to pick up the fifth win, after an interviewer told him he had matched the best start in history. “Spurs never went 5-0? I’m surprised. I’m really surprised because the Spurs have the highest win percentage in like the last 30 years,” he expressed after their win against the Toronto Raptors. “Wow. Let’s beat that record.”

With rookies shining, established sides living up to expectations, and others already disappointing their loyal supporters, the 2025/26 NBA season is shaping up to be one fans won’t want to take their eyes off.