Does scoring 50 points even mean anything anymore? In just the first week of the season, four players have already dropped 50, including Aaron Gordon, Lauri Markkanen, Austin Reaves and you guessed it…SGA (he accomplished the feat five times last season).
Defense has been virtually nonexistent across the association this season, with teams averaging 118.3 PPG - the highest rate in modern NBA history. Among the usual suspects leading the way in defensive rating - the Thunder, Spurs, Knicks, and Heat - the Chicago Bulls rank 2nd after finishing last season 18th. The Bulls are now 3-0, marking their best start since 2021-22.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his magnificent start to the season, pouring in 37 points Tuesday night in a win over the New York Knicks. That brought his scoring average to 36.2 PPG through four games. Speaking of impressive starts, Tyrese Maxey raised his scoring average to 37.5 PPG with a 39-point outburst versus the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. Maxey has the 76ers off to a 4-0 start, despite Joel Embiid’s minutes restriction while he recovers from offseason knee surgery. In the wake of a disappointing 24-58 finish last season, there is reason for optimism in Philadelphia. Maxey is playing at an MVP-level, rookie guard VJ Edgebombe is turning heads, and Joel Embiid is seemingly rounding into form (back-to-back 20-point games).
Looking ahead, the NBA Cup returns for its third edition on Friday, October 31st. Does it really matter? Not particularly. But it does manage to spice up the otherwise monotonous regular season with special courts, a bit more energy, and financially motivated players. Players on the championship team will earn approximately $500K each, while the runner-up will take home around $205K per player. Group play will run through November 28th, with the top eight teams advancing to the Knockout Rounds. From there, play will shift to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the semifinals and championship. Previous winners include the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023, and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024, who took down the eventual league champion, Thunder.