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Right here’s a enjoyable, but meaningless stat a pair weeks into the season. Your particular person plus/minus leaders proper now are: 5) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+68), 4) Draymond Inexperienced (+69), 3) Nikola Jokić (+89), 2) Alperen Şengün (+94), and 1) Jaime Jaquez Jr. (+108). Does it imply something? I don’t know. However I seemed it up, so there you go!
The children are alright
This rookie class is nearly as good as marketed
Rookies! We love them! They offer us a lot hope for the longer term, and typically they provide us tangible pluses within the current. The 2025 draft class was extremely anticipated, like listening to Andre 3000 has made a whole album simply taking part in the flute. We had been intrigued. We would have been slightly confused. We puzzled how Kenny G match into all of this.
Let’s study 10 rookies from the lottery who’re exhibiting out, together with a few second-round steals to drop into your group chat. (We’re not hitting on everyone resulting from publication size, however we’ll verify in with different rookies quickly.)
The highest 5 picks
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks: One of the hyped prospects within the social media age hasn’t precisely hit the bottom working and dunking. He’s averaging 13.6 factors however on simply 38.8 p.c taking pictures from the sphere and 30.8 p.c from deep. It’s value noting the Mavs have been taking part in him means out of place at level guard, however he’s struggling to search out consistency. No want to fret, but it surely’s not the beginning we hoped to see.
Dylan Harper, Spurs: Sadly, we’re unlikely to see Harper for the following couple of weeks as he offers with a decrease leg harm. Earlier than that, he might need been my favourite rookie to look at. He has unimaginable physique management and tempo on drives, each within the half court docket and in transition. He’s as artful across the rim as anyone not named Kyrie Irving. He may find yourself as the perfect from this class.
VJ Edgecombe, 76ers: I used to be advised by some scouts earlier than the draft that Edgecombe didn’t present every little thing he may do at Baylor as a result of he was attempting to slot in. Clearly, he’s simply hooping now. He’s averaging 19.1/5.9/4.9 with a 59.1 p.c true taking pictures — within the neighborhood of being simply the sixth rookie in NBA historical past to common 20-5-5.
Kon Knueppel, Hornets: The wing from Duke is off to an important begin. He’s taking part in half-hour an evening and taking pictures the lights out from deep (41 p.c). Knueppel appears to be like fairly snug, however I’d prefer to see extra playmaking in some unspecified time in the future.
Ace Bailey, Jazz: Dangerous begin for the child from Rutgers, as he’s not getting a lot time (17.3 minutes per sport) or many alternatives to attain. He’s not even making 30 p.c of his pictures. However in some unspecified time in the future, the Jazz will actually tank and provides him a silver platter on offense.
Different lottery notables
Egor Demin, Nets (eighth): Demin has made 12 pictures on the season. The primary 10 had been 3-pointers. However he’s exhibiting a strong exterior shot (38.4 p.c) he didn’t have in school. It’s solely 26 makes an attempt, although.
Cedric Coward, Grizzlies (eleventh): One other unbelievable rookie wing for the Grizzlies. Coward has been excellent on each ends of the ground, defending very well for a rookie in his first couple of weeks. He’s additionally pulling down 48.3 p.c of his 3-pointers whereas averaging 15.3 factors. He’s the second-leading scorer amongst rookies.
Any second-round guys value noting?
Sion James, Hornets (thirty third choose): In his first eight video games, he’s averaging 8.8 factors with an 83.7 p.c true taking pictures.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets (thirty fourth): The massive man from Creighton is doing an important job of ending on the rim, grabbing boards and defending the rim.
Will Richard, Warriors (56th): The Dubs did it once more to find some second-round success. Richard isn’t getting numerous time on the court docket, however you’ll be able to inform Steve Kerr needs to play him.
The final 24
Can we lastly have interconference parity?
🏀 East catching up? John Hollinger is able to bounce to a fairly severe conclusion. The East is sort of on par with the West.
🏀 All-time nice? Draymond Inexperienced spoke to Sam Amick about his drive to hitch the best defensive gamers ever.
👀 Ruh roh. Ja Morant was requested if he’s taking part in with the identical pleasure on the court docket. He mentioned, “No,” to that query. Sam Amick examines why buying and selling him is extra sophisticated than you would possibly assume.
🎧 Tuning in. Immediately’s “NBA Day by day” discusses whether or not it’s time to take the Bulls severely.
Tanks rather a lot
Your staff ought to wish to lose for these guys
Tanking is frowned upon! Except it will get you the franchise participant you’re on the lookout for. Then you definitely’re a genius architect who may recreate Atlantis in a matter of days.
For the 2026 NBA Draft, it is best to tank if you happen to can’t be aggressive sufficient for the Play-In Match or larger. There are three unimaginable prospects off the rip, as highlighted in Sam Vecenie’s mock draft for the 2026 class. Darryn Peterson at Kansas, AJ Dybantsa at BYU and Cameron Boozer at Duke are all top-flight freshmen who may go No. 1, and all of them may completely change your franchise.
Let’s get you extra conversant in Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer. Tanking is so accepted by us this yr that we wrote this whereas driving in Grasp P’s gold tank.
Darryn Peterson, Kansas: 6-foot-5 | Taking pictures guard | Bucket-getter
What we like: He has absolutely the smoothest sport of the three guys. He doesn’t actually have a weak spot on offense. He can shoot that factor in any respect ranges. Peterson has a decent deal with, will get good separation together with his footwork and may cross if the protection swarms him.
What to enhance: It’s nitpicking, however he doesn’t play like an incredible athlete. He’s not tremendous explosive in comparison with some prospects we see, and he’s “solely” 6-5 or so. He additionally makes up for lots of it together with his 6-10 wingspan.
Comparability we hear essentially the most: Prospect Kobe Bryant. Not the NBA model however what we noticed in highschool. Jogs my memory of Kawhi Leonard with a jumper (bear in mind he couldn’t shoot at San Diego State).
AJ Dybantsa, BYU: 6-9 | Wing | Bucket-getter
What we like: He’s tall, he has nice size and his physique management is unreal when he’s attacking on offense. His footwork is super and he is aware of easy methods to get to his spots. He has a wonderful knack for getting buckets below management.
What to enhance: Outdoors taking pictures. I don’t hate the taking pictures kind, however I’m not satisfied he can shoot. He’s not an important free-throw shooter, and that may very well be a difficulty. A tighter deal with can be good too.
Comparability we hear essentially the most: AJ in contrast himself to a mix of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tracy McGrady. We love optimism. He jogs my memory extra of a Jaylen Brown or Pascal Siakam stylistically. However I can see the SGA type.
Cameron Boozer: 6-8 | Ahead | Bully
What we like: This child is bodily and has the footwork to take full benefit of any errors you make in attempting to soak up his contact. He’s a monster on the boards, his shot appears to be like dependable/productive and he can transfer the ball too.
What to enhance: What place does he defend within the NBA? He can’t actually be a small-ball massive. May not be fast sufficient to hold on the perimeter. That may very well be a difficulty.
Comparability we hear essentially the most: Paolo Banchero — and it isn’t simply the Duke factor.
About final night time
Thunder stay excellent, transfer to 8-0
The primary 12 minutes of the LA Clippers internet hosting the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder seemed nice for the house staff. However such is life once you’re dealing with the Thunder lately. Generally it appears to be like fairly good, and also you would possibly even assume, “Tonight is our night time.” Subsequent factor you realize, a 10-point lead after one quarter turns into you getting outscored by 29 factors and dropping 126-107. The Thunder beat their 7-0 begin to final season’s championship marketing campaign. And so they’ve accomplished all of this with out Jalen Williams, who nonetheless hasn’t made his season debut after offseason wrist surgical procedure.
Bulls 113, 76ers 111: Your Chicago Bulls (6-1) are in sole place of first place within the East. The 76ers led by as many as 24 factors and had been up 13 within the fourth, however Josh Giddey discovered Nikola Vucevic within the nook for the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left.
Hawks 127, Magic 112: Atlanta (4-4) led by as many as 25 factors and did no matter it wished to Orlando’s protection (3-5) with out Trae Younger. Let’s see how Desmond Bane dealt with the loss.
Raptors 128, Bucks 100: The Bucks (5-3) had been on the second night time of a back-to-back, however the Raptors (4-4) flat-out smoked them. Thanasis didn’t play.
Warriors 118, Suns 107: Moses Moody had 24 factors to steer a 63-point bench effort for the Warriors (5-3). Additionally, do not forget that Draymond article we linked above? Kevin Durant responded on social media!
Pelicans 116, Hornets 112: No Zion. No LaMelo Ball for Charlotte (3-5). New Orleans acquired its first win of the season and doubtless saved coach Willie Inexperienced’s job momentarily.
