Just over a dozen games into the 2025-2026 NBA season, the landscape has been rapidly reshaped. The conventional wisdom established over the summer has already been discarded, as reigning champions assert their dominance, a third-year phenom redefines the MVP race, and a historic rookie class makes its presence felt immediately.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the chaotic and thrilling first stretch of the season:
1. Victor Wembanyama is the MVP Frontrunner
The most stunning development is the immediate and complete ascension of Victor Wembanyama. Entering his third NBA season, the 7-foot-4 Spurs unicorn has not just improved; he has leapt into the conversation for the “Best Player Alive.”
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Dominant Stat Line: Wembanyama is posting unprecedented numbers, including elite scoring, rebounding, and a league-leading block rate. His versatility has him logging monster games that include 40-point, 15-rebound outings and multiple games with 9+ blocks.
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Team Success: The San Antonio Spurs are a major early-season surprise, jumping directly into the Western Conference playoff picture. This success validates the decision to pair Wembanyama with No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and focus on building a winning culture now, not later.
2. The Oklahoma City Thunder Are Built to Repeat
The reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have shown zero championship hangover. Despite dealing with early injuries to key rotational players, OKC has maintained a perfect record and looks even deeper than the championship squad.
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SGA’s Continued Reign: Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing at an even higher level, opening the season with historic scoring outbursts, including a 55-point performance against the Finals rival Pacers.
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Resilient Depth: Players like Aaron Wiggins and rookie Ajay Mitchell have stepped up dramatically, proving the Thunder’s depth and internal development machine is the best in the league. They have already survived multiple grueling overtime contests, showcasing championship mettle.
3. The Rookie Class Is Driving Immediate Change
The 2025 draft class was touted as special, and the top picks are delivering on the hype, instantly influencing the competitive windows of their teams.
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Cooper Flagg (Mavericks): The No. 1 overall pick for the Dallas Mavericks is quickly finding his footing, showing the versatile forward talent that made him a generational prospect. He is a primary reason the Mavericks, even with early injuries, have remained competitive.
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Dylan Harper (Spurs): The No. 2 pick in San Antonio has been NBA-ready from day one, injecting scoring and playmaking into the Spurs’ backcourt and complementing Wembanyama perfectly.
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VJ Edgecombe (76ers): The No. 3 pick has been an instant-impact performer for the Philadelphia 76ers, making up for the absence of veterans. Paired with Tyrese Maxey, the rookie has the Sixers in the mix in the East sooner than expected.
4. The Eastern Conference Status Quo Has Shattered
The preseason hierarchy in the East has been flipped on its head by early-season volatility, particularly among the traditional powers.
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Celtics’ Struggle: The heavily retooled Boston Celtics, dealing with an injury to Jayson Tatum and major turnover, have stumbled to a worrying start. The team looks disconnected and has struggled with rebounding and closing games, raising questions about whether they will pursue a major mid-season trade or pivot toward a reset.
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Knicks and Bucks Surge: The New York Knicks (under new leadership) and the Milwaukee Bucks (post-Lillard trade, with the addition of Myles Turner) have looked incredibly sharp. The Knicks’ new offensive identity is fluid and diverse, while the Bucks, led by a motivated Giannis Antetokounmpo, have solidified themselves as the likely team-to-beat in the East.
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Magic are Relevant: The Orlando Magic, after acquiring Desmond Bane, are showcasing the offensive potential many expected. Bane’s scoring and playmaking have immediately elevated the ceiling of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
5. Parity is the Western Conference’s Only Constant
Beyond the Thunder and Spurs, the West is a grinder. The early weeks have confirmed that there are at least eight to ten teams that could legitimately finish in the Top 6, making the Play-In tournament bloodbath inevitable.
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Teams like the Houston Rockets (who acquired Kevin Durant) and the Minnesota Timberwolves are both performing at an elite level, showing the depth of the top tier.
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The Los Angeles Lakers, despite managing LeBron James’s minutes, have shown flashes of brilliance led by Luka Dončić and an absurd scoring surge from Austin Reaves, demonstrating they can still compete on any given night.
The key takeaway remains that the league is in the midst of a generational shift, and the new era, spearheaded by Wembanyama and the Thunder’s continued dominance, is making for a must-watch season.
