The NBA is finally back after the exciting cycle of last year’s postseason. Rookies such as Cooper Flagg and V.J. Edgecombe have begun to make their explosive debuts on the court, showing their true worth to NBA teams. Teams such as the Bulls, 76ers, and Kings are preparing to take the next step towards playoff success, while teams like the Thunder, Nuggets, Knicks, and Pacers are hoping to retain their spot in the postseason by making necessary moves and addressing injuries.
One of the best stories to emerge from the NBA so far is the electric start by the Chicago Bulls, who have started 2-0 after being projected to win only 32 games this year. Last year, they traded away their core to the Sacramento Kings for the return of their 2025 pick, which they lost when they first traded for DeMar DeRozan, as well as key role players to round out their roster. With those moves and the removal of two important stars, Josh Giddey has stepped up as the de facto leader for the Bulls players, showing the beginnings of a new Chicago culture.
Additionally, V.J. Edgecombe has marked his territory as the next great 76er, having the third most points in an NBA debut of all time, a record still held by Wilt Chamberlain’s 43-point debut. Over the four games he has played, he has scored more than 85 points, showing he has the potential to be the next great scorer of the league and potentially a competitor for Anthony Edwards for years to come. Edgecombe comes from a ghetto in the Bahamas, living with his mother off a generator for the majority of his childhood. As a child, he discovered a passion for basketball and moved to the United States to play high school basketball and grind his skill set to a sharp point.
A sadder secret that has been revealed is the less-than-stellar start by the hometown Pacers. After the inspiring Game 7 push in the NBA finals last summer against the 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, Tyrese Haliburton, the star point guard for the Pacers, suffered a horrific ACL tear in the early minutes of that exciting Game 7. This injury has left the Pacers without direction for this year. Should they tank and hope to get a good draft pick for the future, or should they continue to try and compete and hope Haliburton is back in time for the playoffs? So far, the Pacers have not won any games, achieving a 0-3 record, but this is not representative of their potential for the year. Andrew Nembhard still has room to grow as a ball handler, and every game has been within the Pacers’ reach.
It’s hard to make predictions based on just a couple of games in the NBA, as everything could change by the deadline, but every team in the league has a chance at making something happen this year. If you are a basketball fan, be happy about the improved parity of the league and the high skill floor it takes to play in the league now.
