Top 5 NBA Debut Games With A New Team

Offseason NBA player movement, including free-agent signings, trades, and the rookie draft, makes opening-night games among the most must-see games on the schedule. First impressions can often be among the most anticipated moments of the season, and these performances help shape some of the most defining moments in league history. 

His first season in Brooklyn amounted to just twenty games, but it was the first one that was easily the most memorable of a less-than-memorable three-year stint. Hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 23, 2019, the Nets' new point guard exploded for 50 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in a thrilling overtime loss against the Timberwolves. Even though he was on the losing end of a 127–126 battle, Irving made history as the first player to post a 50/7/7 stat line without a single turnover.

Years before Irving hit the half-century mark, Vandeweghe’s 47-point effort was the benchmark for over 35 years. Traveling to Kansas City to take on the Kings at Kemper Arena on October 27, 1984, Vandeweghe shot 19-for-23 from the field and 9-for-9 from the free-throw line to lead the Blazers to a 140–119 victory. With all five Blazers starters hitting double digits, the visiting team led at the end of each quarter throughout the game.

When the Milwaukee Bucks traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard, many thought that the Bucks had set themselves up to make another run at an NBA title. While that didn't exactly play out as planned, on October 26, 2023 — the first night Lillard pulled on a Bucks jersey — he had you thinking otherwise. In a 118–117 nail-biting victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, Lillard set a team record with 39 points in his debut game.

The overexaggerated press conference/party introducing James and Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat, creating a superteam with Dwyane Wade, and their declaration of not 1, not 2, not 3, etc., championships did not pan out as planned. However, that didn’t stop James from giving fans in South Beach hope in one of the most anticipated debuts ever. Kicking off the Big Three era, James put up 31 points in an 88–80 loss to the Boston Celtics on October 26, 2010.

When the Denver Nuggets traded Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and a pair of first-round picks to the Philadelphia 76ers for Allen Iverson, they believed they had the answer (pun intended) to their playoff problems. Making his Mile High City debut on December 22, 2006, Iverson notched 22 points and 10 assists in a 101–96 loss to the Sacramento Kings. The dynamic duo of Iverson and Carmelo Anthony gave the Nuggets one of the league’s most dynamic scoring combinations, which, unfortunately, would not live up to expectations.