The opening week of a season usually draws plenty of reactions. For those of us who follow the NBA closely, we understand the season is 82 games long, and you don’t win a championship in the first week. But we are fans. We love to overreact.

There were plenty of eye-catching moments from the 36 regular season games across the league, including the New York Knicks raising their first championship banner at Madison Square Garden in 53 years, LeBron James making his debut with his fourth team, and Tyrese Haliburton returning to the court for the first time after missing 486 days after tearing his Achilles tendon.

Here are a few observations from the first week of the 2026-27 NBA season.

J-Dub injury casts a dark cloud over OKC season

The Oklahoma City Thunder were having a good week until the last two minutes of their home game against the L.A. Clippers when Jalen Williams suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle after a mid-air collision at the basket, the team announced.

“I just feel bad for him,” a visibly shaken Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in a postgame interview while wiping tears. There was a hush in the arena. OKC players could barely look at their teammate.

Williams landed awkwardly on his left leg after driving to the hoop with 1:14 remaining in the final frame. He was fouled by Clippers guard Kris Dunn, who was assessed a flagrant-1 foul on the play following a review. J-Dub’s left foot was bent to the side. A staffer quickly covered it with a towel. The game was paused while he was stretchered off the floor.

“We just got to hold the fort down until he comes back,” SGA said.

Williams played in just 33 games last season, largely due to a hamstring injury. His return to health — averaging 16.5 points a game so far this season — was one of the reasons the Thunder are favored to win a second championship. Now, OKC will likely play the rest of the season without one of their main guys.

Ant-Man is having a ball with LaMelo

Several pundits were skeptical of Minnesota’s offseason acquisition of LaMelo Ball, including OneManFastBreak. It was one of those head-scratching moves because, on the surface, having two ball-dominant guards armed with strong personalities is usually a bad idea. But that’s why you play the game: give it a test run. The Timberwolves gave it a test run, and they are liking what they’re seeing so far. T-Wolves have boosted their championship odds.

The Timberwolves ruined Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Miami Heat debut with an impressive 131-106 victory. The T-Wolves followed it up two days later with a 115-93 win in Orlando to complete the Florida sweep. Minnesota capped their impressive opening act with a 117-94 win over the Toronto Raptors to improve to 3-0.

The addition of Ball has unlocked Anthony Edwards in more ways than one. Edwards doesn’t have to shoulder the offense every single possession, and LaMelo’s too-cool-for-school attitude is exactly what Edwards and the Timberwolves have been missing.

For so long, the T-Wolves have been leaning on Mike Conley to run the show. Conley is past his prime, and the offense eventually got stale and Edwards was forced to do do too much. With Ball running point and bringing his California vibe, the T-Wolves are playing with more freedom and joy. They are having more fun.

Ant-Man and Melo are hitting it off well. Ant genuinely likes playing with Melo. For the first time in his career, he feels he has a co-pilot capable of taking over at any given moment.

Edwards’ usage rate hovers around 30%, typically ranking him among the higher-usage offensive focal points in the league. Ant-Man averages 20.2 field goal attempts per game. Expect that number to increase a few ticks because Ball will push the pace and give Edwards extra possessions. Ball’s biggest impact could be felt in crunch time, as defenses won’t be able to load up on Edwards.

Hollywood reshuffle: Luka loves playing for his Lakers

It turns out that the L.A. Lakers are going to be just fine without LeBron James.

The new-look Lakers, armed with a Big 3 led by Luka Doncic, are no longer shackled by LeBron’s Klutch crew. Doncic is the undisputed captain of the ship with Austin Reaves as his chief mate. And $130-million man Walker Kessler anchors the squad, tasked with improving the Lakers’ defense.

“We have a tight group. I love playing with these guys,” Doncic said after dropping 52 points against the Utah Jazz to complete a 3-0 week for the Lakers.

Luka and LeBron said all the right things while they were teammates last season. Even though LeBron said it was Luka’s team, let’s be honest here. It wasn’t going to be Luka’s team until LeBron left. Once LeBron bolted for Philadelphia, the baton was passed to Luka. And he is running with the baton.

Giannis era in South Beach off to nightmarish start

Giannis Antetokounmpo made a bold prediction prior to his first game with his new team. The Greek Freak told ESPN’s Hannah Storm while sitting alongside his new frontcourt partner Bam Adebayo that he thinks the Miami Heat will be scary good on defense.

“I think defensively it’s gonna be a nightmare for whoever try to play against us,” Giannis said.

In three games, the Heat were torched by Minnesota, Detroit, and Charlotte. Miami gave up 131 points to Minnesota, 128 to the Detroit, and 115 to Charlotte. That’s 374 points! So far teams are far from being afraid to face the Heat defense.

The loss to the Hornets dropped the Heat to 0-3, marking the franchise’s worst season-opening stretch since 2007-08 and the first time Spoelstra has started a season with three straight defeats as head coach. Prior to the loss to Charlotte, Giannis scored 35 points against Minnesota and 36 against Detroit in the previous two losses. He scored 14 points on just 11 shot attempts against Charlotte.

Despite saying all the right things and embracing the Heat Culture, Giannis appears to be reverting back to his old habits in Milwaukee. The Bucks were not a good defensive team during Giannis’ last few years, and that leaky defense seems to be spilling over in Miami. If the Heat don’t fix their defense, they will more than likely be looking at another play-in game appearance.

Wilson, Boozer, Acuff out of the gates fast in rookie race

Caleb Wilson was the fourth player selected in the 2026 NBA draft, but he may be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. Three games into his pro career, the Chicago Bulls forward is putting up historical statistics. After a 16-point outing in his first game, including a troubling nine turnovers.

Wilson came back with a better performance in his second game (21 points on 7-for-14 shooting). He erupted for 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and didn’t commit a single turnover in his third game.

The last time a Bulls rookie enjoyed this type of three-game start was none other than Michael Jordan. Jordan scored 74 points in his first three games with the Bulls in the 1984-85 season, including 37 in his third game.

Wilson’s main competition for Rookie of the Year could come from third overall pick Cameron Boozer, seventh overall pick Darius Acuff Jr., and 11th pick Yaxel Lendeborg.

Memphis Grizzlies are absolutely thrilled to have Boozer. The former Duke All-American and AP National Player of the Year is fitting in nicely with his new squad and, according to his coach, is already looking like a 10-year veteran.

“The kid is 19, and he’s making big-time plays offensively and defensively that takes other guys 10 years in the league to figure those out,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said about Boozer. “And he is a player that epitomizes that because he doesn’t need to make shots in order to help the team win.”

After a shaky debut where he went 2-for-15 from the field, Boozer bounced back with a 25-point, 14-rebound performance against the Golden State Warriors.

Despite Acuff Jr.’s inefficiency and poor shot selection, the Sacramento Kings — including his teammates Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis — are clearly behind their uber-talented rookie.

“I told you guys from the get-go, I’m not worried about Darius at all. You guys can see how talented he is,” LaVine said following Acuff’s 33-point performance in his second NBA game.

Lendeborg made headlines when he got into a back-and-forth chatter with Lakers star Luka Doncic. The Golden State Warriors rookie didn’t back down. He told reporters he wasn’t impressed with Doncic because all Luka did during the game was complain to the refs.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has dished out more than 200 assists in his rookie season in the NBA. But one particular assist stood out.

It was early in the first quarter of a March 1 game between the Hornets and Trail Blazers in Portland. Ball was pushing the ball up the court on a 2-on-4 fastbreak when he made an extremely difficult play look routine. He had one teammate, Terry Rozier, running with him on the break. Ball threw a bounce pass with his right hand that skipped between Blazers defenders Gary Trent Jr. and Robert Covington and into the hands of a streaking Rozier for a layup.

To be able to fully appreciate the genius of Ball’s assist, you need to pause your TV and hit rewind a few times. It’s so much better when you slow down the video and watch the play over and over. And even after watching it a few times, you still marvel at what he had done. It was straight out of the Pistol Pete playbook or Magic Johnson highlight catalog. Only a handful of gifted ballers would even try it — and that includes current and retired players.

Ball didn’t have a proper angle to get the ball to Rozier, so he put an extra-special spin on the ball to get it through two defenders, with enough speed and touch to hit Rozier in stride. He could have used his left hand to make it easier. But that’s not how LaMelo rolls. So, he added a bit more degree of difficulty by using his right hand.

The spin & touch on that LaMelo pass! pic.twitter.com/beki2S2x53

— NBA (@NBA) March 2, 2021

The carefree, fearless style has defined LaMelo’s young basketball career. He’s a unique player who thinks differently and lets his basketball instincts take over. It’s the same basketball genius that has allowed him to be one of the most exciting players in the NBA.

“He’s damn good for his age,” LeBron James said of Ball, 19, after the Lakers played the Hornets for the first time. “His speed, his quickness, his ability to make shots and baskets in the paint … and he’s going to only get better. Every game is a learning experience for him. He’s going to get better as the season goes on and his career goes on.

“Him and ‘Zo are two very unique players in our league and they showcase that every night.”

Zo is LaMelo’s older brother, Lonzo, the fourth-year point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. Lonzo spent the first two years of his NBA career with the Lakers but was traded to New Orleans in 2019 as part of the blockbuster trade that brought Anthony Davis to L.A. Having Lonzo as a mentor not only prepared LaMelo for the pro game but it also gave him the answers to the test. Watching Lonzo gave him a good view of what to expect in his first season in the Association.

“I think Melo has adjusted to the NBA game better than any of us ever thought this early in his career,” NBA legend and Hornets owner Michael Jordan told The Associated Press. “He has exceeded our expectations so far this season.”

When Air Jordan himself is throwing praise in your direction at this stage of your career, you’re doing something special. And LaMelo Ball is truly special. He’s a generational talent capable of carrying the burden of being a franchise player.

“He plays bigger than he is. He’s 6-7. He plays like a veteran already,” former NBA player and Hornets TV announcer Dell Curry said on Rex Chapman’s podcast. “His teammates love playing with him. He always has a smile on his face. He’s always thinking of the next play. He’s not afraid to say, ‘I made a mistake, that’s on me.’ How many rookies can you find around the league saying that wasn’t me. He’s a different breed.”

It shouldn’t come as a shocker that LaMelo is this good this soon. He was the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft and his father, LaVar, told everyone and anyone who would listen that his youngest son was going to light up the league. Love him or hate him, you have to give LaVar tons of credit for raising two talented ballers who carry themselves on and off the court very well.

It took Hornets coach James Borrego 20 games before finally feeling comfortable handing the keys to LaMelo and letting him run the show as the starting point guard. After coming off the bench through the first two months, Ball got his first start on Feb. 1 and hasn’t looked back since, averaging 20 points, six rebounds, six assists since becoming a full-time starter.

“He has improved in basically every area from the day he stepped in here. I think now that he’s comfortable with his teammates and the system, it’s really about managing the game,” Borrego told USA Today about Ball, who is turning the once lackluster Hornets into one of the most exciting teams to watch.

“I think a lot of his early-season success and his play were built off just straight instinct just how he plays as a basketball player,” Borrego said. “But now, he’s starting to think the game, think about time, situation, who needs a touch, who needs a call and he’s starting to become more of a manager of the game than just a player of the game. That’s really been big for us and that’s probably going to be the biggest step you see the rest of the way this season.”

Borrego and the Hornets are not the ones who have noticed Melo’s star potential. Other players and coaches are noticing it as well.

“Man, he’s good,” Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell told the AP. “I’m not going to lie, I’m very impressed with his playmaking ability, his competitiveness, but his joy. … He’s very talented; he can do many different things.”

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle thinks the NBA rookie of the year race is over.

“Right now, with the way things look, [LaMelo] looks like NBA rookie of the year to me,” Carlisle said. “He’s getting it done statistically, their team is winning. He’s got energy, he’s got a vibe, he’s got swagger. If you like watching players that play with flair, he’s right up there.”

Memo to rebuilding NBA franchises. When evaluating LaMelo Ball, let your eyes dictate. Ignore the noise.

If you’re an NBA scout or executive, don’t judge LaMelo because of what you’ve read or heard about him. Don’t let your disdain for his outspoken father, LaVar Ball, influence your decision.  Don’t listen to the noise from pundits on TV or internet trolls. Watch him play and ask yourself this question, “Is LaMelo Ball the best prospect in the 2020 NBA draft?” The answer is a resounding “yes.”

The young man is a star in the making. He has more followers on Instagram than Zion Williamson. He brings a boatload of buzz to any arena that he plays in (if the coronavirus pandemic allows fans back in arenas). And based on his experiences on his family’s reality TV show “Ball in the Family” on Facebook Watch, he’s extremely comfortable being in the spotlight.

LaMelo is a 6-foot-7, 181-pound combo guard armed with unlimited shooting range and a handle that’ll make any Harlem Globetrotter salivate. Speaking of globetrotting, LaMelo — who turned 19 in August — is well traveled. His basketball odyssey has been anything but ordinary.

After just two seasons in high school, LaVar pulled him out of Chino Hills and placed him in a professional league in Lithuania. He took another detour and played in his father’s Junior Basketball Association (JBA). After contemplating another trip overseas, he decided to stay in the States and enrolled at SPIRE Institute in Ohio where he played for Jermaine Jackson, who later became his manager. LaMelo’s last pre-NBA stop was New Zealand where he played 12 games for the Illawarra Hawks, averaging 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

LaMelo’s upbringing on the basketball court is unlike any before him, making it near impossible to compare him to even his own brother, former L.A. Lakers No. 2 overall pick and current starting New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball. But LaVar is convinced his youngest son is the best of all the Ball boys.

“Definitely Melo’s better than Lonzo at this age, on the fact that the people that Melo [was] playing against at 16 were not the same people Lonzo was playing at 16, 17,” LaVar said during an interview with Fox Sports Australia.

“I took Melo out of high school, so he’s not studying chemistry tests and social studies and all that,” LaVar said. “You’re practicing 24/7. All you’re doing is working on basketball… so you’re not playing regular high school guys, where Gelo and Zo played the high school route. That’s why Melo is so much better, because he’s got so much more experience, because I learned. This is a better road right here, if we do this. That’s why he’s prepared to come over here and be successful playing against grown men, because he already did that.”

OneManFastBreak.net breaks down the eight best players eligible for the 2020 NBA draft.

1-LaMelo Ball, G, Illawarra Hawks (New Zealand)
NBA comparison: Lonzo Ball
Scouting report: LaMelo Ball’s size allows him to play both guard positions, but he’s most comfortable at point where he can control the game. Does he shoot too much? Yes. Does he take bad shots? Yes. But with the proper coaching and right system, you can reel him in. He’s a much better shooter than big brother Lonzo and far superior athlete than other big bro LiAngelo. Melo is a gifted scorer who can score on all three levels. He can shoot the 3-ball, pull up at midrange and can finish at the rim with either hand. His creativity with the ball is comparable to Lonzo, but Lonzo has the huge edge over Melo on defense. Melo tends to drift and lose focus defensively. He’s so anxious to get the ball back on offense, he takes too many chances and gambles way too often. But at 6-7 and the potential to fill out to close to 200 pounds as his body matures, Melo’s defensive deficiencies can be fixed.

2-Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia
NBA comparison: Victor Oladipo
Scouting report: Anthony Edwards is a 6-5, 225-pound beastly shooting guard who can get buckets. He’s what most scouts would call a professional scorer. He reminds some scouts of a bigger version of Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo. Interestingly enough, Edwards played college ball for coach Tom Crean, who coached Oladipo when he was at the University of Indiana. Edwards can score in a variety of ways, but he’s most effective shooting off the dribble from midrange or behind the 3-point line. The 19-year-old averaged 19 points per game for a 16-16 Bulldogs squad that finished next-to-last in the SEC. It tells you he made and took a lot of shots on a bad team. The big red flag on Edwards’ resume is that he shot only 29 percent from 3-point range in college. But Crean warns scouts that “you’re going to miss a lot” if you’re purely judging Edwards by his shooting numbers.

3-Obi Toppin, F, Dayton
NBA comparison: Amar’e Stoudemire
Scouting report: Obi One is a late bloomer. It took a couple of years for the basketball community to take notice, but he’s got everyone’s attention now. He dominated at the mid-major level, leading Dayton to a 29-2 record and 18-0 in conference. If the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t cancel the NCAA tournament, Toppin and Dayton would have been a Final Four favorite. The 6-9 forward was the consensus national player of the year in college basketball, winning the Naismith and Wooden awards. He’s fundamentally sound, understands spacing and operates well in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations. Toppin is a smooth, versatile athlete who can play out in the wing or play a traditional power forward. He is compared to former Phoenix Suns star Amar’e Stoudemire for the way he dunks. If there’s one knock on him is that he’s 22 and may have already hit his ceiling. But who needs a ceiling if you can dunk like Obi One.

4-James Wiseman, F-C, Memphis
NBA comparison: Chris Bosh
Scouting report: James Wiseman is a tough one to evaluate since he only played three games at Memphis before shutting it down following an ugly eligibility battle with the NCAA. Wiseman, 19, has immense potential and has all the physical tools to be a dominant center. He has a great frame with long arms and excellent agility. He runs the floor well and is a high-level athlete for a 7-footer. What worries some teams is his lack of aggression. He can get pushed around, which is bad news if he’s going to play center full time. He’ll need to fill out more (listed at 235 pounds) and develop some upper body and lower body strength. He also relies a little too much on his left hand, but that appears to be the case for most lefties (look up James Harden, Lamar Odom, Manu Ginobili). Wiseman may have some black marks on his basketball resume, but the talent is undeniable. He can potentially be a 20-and-10 guy at the pro level and fit in any system.

5-Onyeka Okongwu, F-C, USC
NBA comparison: Serge Ibaka
Scouting report: Onyeka Okongwu was LaMelo Ball’s high school teammate for two seasons at Chino Hills, and a member of two California high school state championship teams. The two-time California high school player of the year has all the physical tools to be very good pro. The 6-9, 235-pound forward-center is blessed with soft hands, which enables him to catch seemingly every lob pass you throw to him near the rim. He’s also an outstanding shot blocker who can anchor a defense. Okongwu, 19, was one of the few brights on a disappointing season for the USC Trojans. His defense is ahead of his offense at this stage of the game but his offense is quickly catching up. He was mainly a roll guy in Andy Enfield’s scheme at USC, but he’s capable of facing up or playing with his back to the basket. Having played with the Ball brothers in high school, Okongwu is very comfortable on the big stage.

6-Deni Avdija, G-F, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
NBA comparison: Detlef Schrempf
Scouting report: Deni Avdija was once one of the best kept secrets in the draft, but the cat is out of the bag now. NBA execs are well aware of his talent and potential. The 19-year-old prodigy has been playing professionally for three years in the Euroleague for Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv. The 6-8 wing player has an intriguing skill set. He plays an all-around game with a deadly 3-point stroke. He is comfortable handling the ball or playing off the ball. He shoots with confidence and can put the ball on the deck if you run at him. What makes him different than most European players is he’s got a little bounce to his game and can finish strong at the rim. He’s got a great feel for the game, something he picked up from his father, Zufer, who also played professionally in Europe. Avdija is poised to become only the third Israeli to play in the NBA, after Omri Casspi and Gal Mekel. If a team is willing to roll the dice, Deni could be the steal of the draft.

7-Isaiah Stewart, F-C, Washington
NBA comparison: Montrezl Harrell
Scouting report: When you see Isaiah Stewart you see an imposing player who looks like he’s been living inside a weight room. He’s a rugged player who has an NBA-ready body. He’s Dwight Howard without the hops. He’s not a fluid athlete, a bit herky-jerky at times, but he brings a lunch-pail mentality to the table. Stewart averaged 17 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and shot 59 percent in his one season at Washington. He uses his 6-9, 250-pound frame very well and doesn’t shy away from contact. He compares favorably to super sub Montrezl Harrell. Stewart isn’t a polished player on offense, but he makes up for it with energy and effort. He has a high motor and loves to compete. He arguably outplayed his competition in high-profile matchups against top 2020 prospects James Wiseman, Onyeka Okongwu and Zeke Nnaji. “I feel like I am someone who can play in an NBA game tomorrow physically,” Stewart told ESPN.

8-Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State
NBA comparison: Andre Miller
Scouting report: Haliburton was difficult to evaluate because he’s so unique. The closest NBA comp was Andre Miller. Miller played 17 years in the NBA for various teams. He didn’t wow you with anything he did on the court. He was solid and consistent. That’s Haliburton in a nutshell. Tyrese is not an explosive athlete. He plays a below-the-rim game and his shot looks … um … unorthodox. He shoots it on the way up and he doesn’t get much lift. It’s not the type of shooting form you teach young players. But it works for Haliburton. His sophomore season at Iowa State was cut short by a wrist injury, but he was still named second team All-Big 12 despite missing games.

Caption credit: LaMelo Ball played one season for the Illawarra Hawks in New Zealand. (Getty Images)