NBA League Pass surfing is back! + Victor Wembanyama debuts and early Bulls trouble

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How are the Bulls already in trouble?

It’s been one game.

Early Takeaways

I missed scrolling League Pass so much. We are so back. After Tuesday night’s two-game appetizer, the NBA threw us into the pool’s deep end on Wednesday night, with a 12-game slate. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a full opening night in the NBA without League Pass having a rough start. It took about 20 to 30 minutes after tip-off for my account to work, but we were soon surfing the NBA. Here are my favorite takeaways from the first full night (and yes, we’ll get to Victor Wembanyama’s debut in a separate section):

• Hornets redemption: I put the Hornets last in the Power Rankings, guaranteeing their 116-110 opening-night win over the Hawks. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray combining for 7-of-33 shooting was a tough strategy.
• The Wizards’ defense: The Pacers had the highest-scoring season-opener by any team since 1990, a 143-120 win over Washington. Take the over in Wizards games this season.
• KP’s revenge game: The Knicks nearly survived an 11-of-44 shooting night from the Jalen Brunson–Julius Randle combo. Kristaps Porziņģis dropped 30 in his Celtics debut, including nine straight in the game’s final 2:34 to close the 108-104 win.
• 1995 NBA Finals revenge game: This summer, the Rockets spent hundreds of millions of dollars to put veterans around their young core. The Magic did not. Orlando beat Houston 116-86.
• Cavs survive Cam: Every point by Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus (both 27 for both) helped Cleveland overcome Cam Thomas’ 36-point explosion off the bench. Jacque Vaughn can’t possibly keep Thomas off the court, right? Cleveland won 114-113, and Ben Simmons had 10 rebounds, nine assists and four points.
• Jimmy Butler is a blessing: Cade Cunningham cooked early en route to a 30-point performance, but he missed a 3-pointer that could have won the game. Miami won 103-102 at home, but let’s be honest. This is the real highlight:

Next up: Time to tag in Shams!

The Latest From Shams

All-NBA guards collab

The Kings and Warriors had a thrilling seven-game playoff showdown last season that eventually went Golden State’s way. Now, two stars from that series are teaming up. Sacramento All-Star De’Aaron Fox is finalizing an endorsement deal with Curry Brand, league sources tell me. With the deal, Fox will become the first NBA player to sign with Steph Curry’s signature line at Under Armour, a venture that launched in 2020. As far as Curry and Fox’s budding on-court rivalry goes, we won’t have to wait long to see them square off: Tomorrow night, the Warriors visit the Kings, who are looking to build on last year’s 48-win campaign, and Sacramento heads to Golden State five days later.

Updates from Philly

Here’s one additional note on the James Harden situation ahead of the 76ers’ opener tonight in Milwaukee: I’m told Harden reported back to the 76ers facility yesterday after being away for more than a week, but the team told him not to travel on their two-game trip to start the season as his ramp-up process continues. Philly faces the Bucks and Raptors before its home opener Sunday against Portland. While it seems unlikely Harden would be ready for game action by then, we’ll see how the next few days unfold. Take it away, Zach.

A Wemby Flurry Saves Debut

First NBA game started badly, ended fine.

Within the first minute of Wemby’s NBA career, he’d already blocked Kyrie Irving’s jumper. He then knocked down his first NBA bucket – a 3-pointer from 26 feet away – within four minutes before making another. After that? It was a lot of waiting for Wemby to do something. In fact, we mostly waited for him to play, due to foul trouble. The fouls were rookie mistakes. Refs called a moving pick due to bad timing between Wemby and Jeremy Sochan (who is playing point forward and probably shouldn’t). Wemby was called for an offensive foul after fighting for post position by using his arms instead of his legs. An unnecessary reach-in foul marked his fifth foul of the night. Wemby immediately came out and sat until the 7:12 mark of the final period. We were just waiting.

Then, the flurry happened: an immediate alley-oop score, another 3-pointer, a dunk through a foul and a mid-range jumper. Wemby helped the Spurs battle the Mavs during this fourth quarter stretch. Then, the young Spurs kind of ignored him as Luka Dončić eventually buried San Antonio to win the game, 126-119.

Several key takeaways:

• Play Wemby with Tre Jones: Give him an actual point guard.
• That jumper looks so smooth: He was 4-of-7 on jumpers. Only one was a bad force.
• Keep the hands high: Wemby is a walking funhouse mirror. His verticality is the most insane in NBA history.
• He’s a wing: Set him up to cook from the perimeter and elbow.
• The other rookie: Dereck Lively II (No. 12 pick) was great for Dallas, adding 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. He shouldn’t come off the bench!
• Oh, yeah: Luka is so good. There’s nothing the Spurs could do.

LISTEN: Dave DuFour and Mo Dakhil react to Wemby’s debut.

Trouble In Chicago Already?!

Bulls’ locker room heated after loss.

Chicago’s good defense from a season ago didn’t appear in its 2023-24 opener against the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cooked the Bulls, whose offense looked exactly as inept as last season’s. But it’s just Game No. 1, so what’s the big deal? They can bounce back this weekend, right? Apparently, the Bulls already have chaos. Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune shared this after their 20-point loss: “Billy Donovan says when he walked into the Bulls locker room tonight, players were already in heated conversations. He asked if they wanted him to leave to handle conflict. Players said yes, so he did. Donovan emphasized that embracing conflict is key for this year’s roster.”

Embracing conflict is key for this year’s roster? An impromptu players meeting with heated conversations? It’s opening night at home! You can’t already have internal problems! There are 81 games left.

Bounce Passes

• Even if only for MJ’s scrimmage with the Bobcats, read this oral history.
• Brandon Ingram is the toughest opponent Brandon Ingram has.
• “One Mo Thing” examines the Nuggets beating the Lakers with one play.
• Law Murray breaks down each team’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Soon, we’ll discuss the NBA’s In-Season hype video called “The Heist.”

Screen Game (All times Eastern)

(Top photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

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