The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Week 1 Of The 2025-26 NBA Season

The first week of the NBA season is always highly anticipated, and 2025–26 did not disappoint. With new faces in new places and a hyped rookie class making their debuts, the league’s return has brought record-setting performances, historic milestones, and a scandal that threatens to overshadow it all.

With all respect to career performances by Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon and Lakers guard Austin Reaves, the first week belonged to the defending champions.

The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team in NBA history to start their season with back-to-back double overtime games. Squeaking out a 125-124 victory over the Houston Rockets on Championship Ring Night, the Thunder pulled off a 141-135 victory two nights later in an NBA Finals rematch against the Indiana Pacers.

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he was a frontrunner to repeat the honor, recording 35 points, five assists, and five rebounds against the Rockets, including 30 second-half points. SGA sealed the victory with a pair of free throws with just 2.3 seconds remaining.

Gilgeous-Alexander then dropped a career-high 55 points in their second game, tying Russell Westbrook for the most 50-point games in Thunder history.  

One of the most anticipated debuts belonged to Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg. However, the No. 1 pick failed to live up to expectations, finishing with just 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting as the Mavericks were blown out by the San Antonio Spurs 125-92. Flagg went scoreless in the first half, scoring his first NBA bucket off a midrange jumper to open the third quarter.

While he posted significantly better numbers in his second game with 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds, the Mavericks fell 117-107 to the lowly Washington Wizards.

On October 23, Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Hall of Fame NBA champion Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant and NBA player Damon Jones were among a number of individuals indicted for allegedly conducting rigged sports betting and poker games.

Tied to the mafia, the gambling scandal involves high-tech gadgets, intricate planning, and extortion. Just two days into the season, this story cast a huge black cloud over the season’s opening week, dominating the media and leaving many wondering about the integrity of the league.