By Ben Golliver / ESPN, 2026-10-23 19:00:00
新加盟波特兰开拓者队的后卫贾·莫兰特周三说得最好：“第一印象只有一次机会。”
尽管开拓者是多支在揭幕战中表现出色的球队之一，但也有不少球星可能想要重来的机会。毕竟，杰森·塔图姆的波士顿凯尔特人队被活塞队逆转了22分的领先优势，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 在不敌宿敌俄克拉荷马雷霆队的比赛中13投仅1中，而扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 的迈阿密热火队则在主场被明尼苏达森林狼队打得溃不成军。
让我们回顾一下NBA揭幕周的比赛——到周四，每支球队都将至少打一场比赛——重点关注本赛季为新球队出战的关键球员们留下的第一印象。哪些人轻松起步，哪些人开局受挫？
跳转至各球员赛季首秀
出色：科怀 | 利拉德 | 凯斯勒 | 雷霆首发五虎
良好：拉梅洛 | 勒布朗 | 浓眉 | PG-13 | 加兰
糟糕：扬尼斯 | 亚克塞尔对阵卢卡 | 迈尔斯·布里奇斯
出色的第一印象
科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard)，猛龙队
赛程制定者送给伦纳德一份大礼：周三在主场迎战实力孱弱的芝加哥公牛队，这位两届总决赛MVP充分利用了这次机会。伦纳德没有浪费任何时间，迅速走出了一个动荡的夏天——交易延迟以及NBA旷日持久的规避工资帽调查——多伦多球迷给予他热烈的欢迎回归，随后他在一场大胜中砍下23分并送出4次抢断。
对东部对手来说最可怕的是：伦纳德标志性的中距离跳投尚未找到手感，而且只打了24分钟，猛龙队却仍然取得了43分的胜利分差，追平队史第五大胜分。
多伦多凭借首发阵容的出色均衡拉开比分，伦纳德、斯科蒂·巴恩斯、RJ·巴雷特和伊曼纽尔·奎克利各自得分都超过20分。伦纳德能把一支上赛季进攻排名第15的球队提升到什么高度？
达米安·利拉德 (Damian Lillard)，开拓者队
这位开拓者的标志性人物在经历了雄鹿队令人失望的两年弯路以及上赛季跟腱伤病的休战后，于周三让自己的职业生涯重回正轨。这是他自2023年以来首次为波特兰出战，这位九届全明星后卫带来了如此强烈的情感冲击，以至于开拓者队打出一波匪夷所思的21-0开局，并以124-83大胜菲尼克斯太阳队。
没有人会对揭幕战的结果提出异议，但利拉德和莫兰特是否是波特兰理想的首发后场组合，仍是一个悬而未决的问题。对阵太阳队，利拉德得到25分并命中6记三分球，莫兰特则在仅23分钟内贡献14分和8次助攻。
更严峻的考验还在后面：太阳队缺少能够利用波特兰矮小后卫线的大体型、强对抗的外线组织者。但看到利拉德回到他应在的撕裂之城，总是令人欣慰。
沃克·凯斯勒 (Walker Kessler)，湖人队
嗯，完美是很难被超越的。凯斯勒周三在湖人队大胜勇士队的比赛中12投全中，其中包括10记扣篮，并抢下9个篮板。对于一位自去年10月以来首次打常规赛、也是自夏天通过先签后换从爵士队加盟湖人以来首秀的球员来说，这表现相当不俗。
仅凭一场比赛，凯斯勒看起来就已经是卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 九年职业生涯中合作过的最佳中锋。《Inside the NBA》的沙奎尔·奥尼尔更是直言，凯斯勒是“NBA最佳大个子”。
冷静点，沙克：湖人队的惊艳首秀面对的是一支伤病缠身、下半场便缴械投降的勇士队。
尽管如此，凯斯勒快速往返攻防两端的能力还是赢得了湖人队主帅JJ·雷迪克的称赞。这位身高7英尺2英寸的中锋显然明白，如果他总是落在攻防节奏之后，他庞大的身躯将毫无用处。如果凯斯勒能保持整个赛季的健康，并继续作为稳定的顺下终结点，那么东契奇将成为MVP讨论中的重要人物。
雷霆首发五虎
严格来说，俄克拉荷马最重要的新人是阿代·马拉，这位身高7英尺3英寸的新秀中锋在NBA首秀中就掀起波澜，在篮下封盖了文班亚马。但雷霆队在今年夏天出于削减成本的目的将长期首发卢根茨·多尔特交易至亚特兰大老鹰队后，也启用了一套调整过的首发阵容。
卡森·华莱士顶替了多尔特的位置，加入了一套令人生畏的首发阵容，其中包括两届MVP谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大、全明星杰伦·威廉姆斯和切特·霍姆格伦，以及中锋以赛亚·哈滕斯坦。在周二客场令人信服地击败圣安东尼奥的比赛中，雷霆首发五虎展现出极佳的纪律性和凝聚力，从头到尾让文班亚马倍感沮丧。两天后，俄克拉荷马克服了外线手感不佳的困难，击败了又一位西部强敌：尼古拉·约基奇的丹佛掘金队。
本周，俄克拉荷马还从马拉、后卫贾里德·麦凯恩和老牌防守悍将亚历克斯·卡鲁索身上获得了关键助力。随着威廉姆斯恢复健康，现在就问俄克拉荷马的轮换阵容是否真的比2025年夺冠阵容以及上赛季64胜领跑联盟的那支球队更强，并不算为时过早。
良好的第一印象
拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball)，森林狼队
鲍尔在热火队的比赛中，后撤步三分出手前“挪动”了足足10英尺却没有被吹走步，为森林狼队招来了众矢之的。他滑稽的侧移片段迅速走红，促使NBA裁判协会在社交媒体上澄清确实发生了违例：“[鲍尔]收球后走了四步，构成走步。”
批评者会把鲍尔的散漫视为现代NBA比赛变得不够严肃的证据，而支持者则会指出，鲍尔与安东尼·爱德华兹的新组合极其有趣。双方都有道理，但在迈阿密彻底击溃焕然一新的热火队之后，这支高调张扬的森林狼队不能被轻视为一支只会耍花架子的球队。
爱德华兹充分利用了七年级职业生涯中首次与一位顶级后场组织者并肩作战的机会。这位四届全明星狂砍45分，在与热火队阿德托昆博的超级巨星对决中轻松胜出。仅从赛季开始后的72小时来看，明尼苏达完全有理由成为NBA最具观赏性的球队。
勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James)，费城76人队
对詹姆斯在费城早期表现的最佳褒奖是：76人队仍然感觉是泰瑞斯·马克西的球队。马克西在得分和出手次数上均领跑全队，76人队周二搅局了纽约尼克斯队的戒指颁发之夜，周四又逆转击败骑士队。到目前为止，詹姆斯、杰伦·布朗和乔尔·恩比德都在为这支星光熠熠的阵容继续磨合而牺牲个人数据。
对阵尼克斯队，詹姆斯展现了多种帮助球队的方式：他在一次发球战术中为布朗送出压哨三分助攻；当恩比德陷入犯规麻烦时，他顶上去防守中锋；他还作为组织者和终结者，帮助费城拿下24分的快攻得分。对阵骑士队的最后时刻，他为恩比德和布朗让路，费城完成了29分的大逆转。
尽管詹姆斯的外线手感尚未找到，防守强度也偶有松懈，但他组织进攻和掌控比赛节奏的能力对费城来说是至关重要的补充。
考虑到他们休赛期变动的规模，76人队的表现已经超前于预期。
安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis)，奇才队
戴维斯以34分、12个篮板、4次助攻和2次抢断，率领全面重组的奇才队在揭幕夜击败了处于重建期的密尔沃基雄鹿队。为了不让任何人忽视他的功劳，戴维斯还调侃了华盛顿主场上座率低迷的问题。
“我希望这里能坐得更满一些，”他说。“即使去年我还在这里的时候，赛季首个主场比赛，这里也是‘装扮成座椅之夜’。”
尽管由于缺乏续约合同，戴维斯与奇才队的组合仍显得别扭且充满不确定性，但这位十届全明星的产出和幽默感，对于一支近年来几乎无法给饱受煎熬的球迷带来任何回报的球队来说，是受欢迎的补充。
华盛顿的下一步：融入状元秀AJ·迪班萨，他因脚踝伤势缺席了揭幕战。特雷·杨在对阵雄鹿队的比赛中送出13次助攻，让每个人都参与进来，但迪班萨的回归势必会大幅改变华盛顿的出手分配。
保罗·乔治 (Paul George)，凯尔特人队
在76人队那段短暂而多少有些不顺的两年生涯中，乔治在78场比赛里只有一次得分达到38分。谁能想到？这位九届全明星在周二的凯尔特人首秀中就达到了这一得分，并命中7记三分球。
不幸的是，活塞队在下半场完成史诗级逆转，毁掉了他的首秀。波士顿败于塔图姆糟糕的外线投篮和无法站上罚球线，以及进攻端面对底特律强硬防守时的长时间哑火。
评估乔治惊艳的揭幕战时需保持谨慎。虽然他非常适合这套依靠三分球运转的进攻体系，但波士顿恐怕不能指望这位36岁的前锋每晚都制造篮下冲击和高频率的罚球。塔图姆仍然是凯尔特人满足这些需求的最佳答案。
达柳斯·加兰 (Darius Garland)，快船队
本周洛杉矶的大部分喧嚣都属于东契奇和湖人队，但加兰值得称赞，他率领伤病满营的快船队在揭幕夜击败了萨克拉门托国王队。
26岁的加兰在与多诺万·米切尔搭档骑士队后降低了得分戏份，但在布兰登·英格拉姆、马克斯·斯特鲁斯和布拉德利·比尔缺阵的情况下，快船需要他火力全开。加兰做到了，他砍下30分，轻松压制了萨克拉门托的新秀后卫达柳斯·阿卡夫二世。
在对阵这支可能垫底西部的国王队完成“软启动”之后，加兰必须率领快船闯过接下来两周的赛程难关：两场与湖人队的直接对话、客场挑战俄克拉荷马、明尼苏达和金州，以及一场备受期待的与伦纳德所在猛龙队的交锋。倒吸一口凉气。
糟糕的第一印象
扬尼斯·阿德托昆博，热火队
新家，老问题？这是萦绕在阿德托昆博心头的疑问，他在30分钟内得到35分和6次助攻，却无法阻止热火队被森林狼队痛击。
阿德托昆博之所以策划离开密尔沃基，是因为雄鹿队已远远落后于东部的顶级竞争者，但他在迈阿密的新帮手们周三并没有挺身而出。冰冷的外线投篮、巴姆·阿德巴约平淡的表现以及令人担忧的防守，共同酿成了这场尴尬的失利。
热火队在接下来赛程中面对一些较弱的对手时应该会有所起色，但除非阿德托昆博和热火队能从他的突破分球中获得更好的结果，否则他们的进攻将难以跟上强队的节奏。这位两届MVP在对阵森林狼时仅有1次助攻却有3次失误，而热火队三分球33投8中的表现，在面对真正的强队时根本行不通。
亚克塞尔·伦德博格 (Yaxel Lendeborg)，勇士队
伦德博格的NBA生涯才刚打了一场球，但他已经在努力取代队友德雷蒙德·格林，成为NBA最大的“垃圾话之王”。在金州揭幕战105-127不敌湖人队的比赛中，伦德博格因多次与东契奇互喷垃圾话而吃到技术犯规。赛后，这位24岁的前锋表示他对东契奇“失去了全部尊重”，因为后者的“抱怨和牢骚”。
伦德博格毫无保留且常常颇有见地的言论引得洛杉矶聚集的媒体哄堂大笑，但在麦克风面前，他最好还是悠着点。在率领密歇根大学夺得上赛季NCAA冠军后，伦德博格以乐透秀身份加盟勇士队，并随即带领球队夺得拉斯维加斯夏季联赛冠军。
不幸的是，金州的常规赛看起来要艰难得多。除了球星斯蒂芬·库里之外，勇士队缺乏稳定的得分点，他们人手不足的前场也被湖人队打爆。湾区这可能是一个漫长的赛季，如果伦德博格在输球后继续如此直率地谈论对手球星，他难免会招致反噬。
迈尔斯·布里奇斯 (Miles Bridges)，太阳队
太阳队老板马特·伊什比亚以引进与自己母校密歇根州立大学有渊源的球员和高管而闻名，但他最新的这位斯巴达人开局坎坷。布里奇斯在休赛期通过与夏洛特的交易加盟，在菲尼克斯不敌波特兰的比赛中11投仅3中，只得到8分。在这位老将前锋出战的29分钟里，开拓者队净胜太阳队35分。
考虑到布里奇斯和中锋哈曼·马卢阿奇都是主帅乔丹·奥特首发阵容中的新面孔，还需要一些耐心。即便如此，布里奇斯必须证明自己能为这支在揭幕战中篮板被对手以56-39碾压的菲尼克斯球队带来更多拼劲。
太阳队指望布里奇斯——他持有一份2280万美元的到期合同——能够有所作为，因为他们在与黄蜂队的交易中送出了2033年首轮选秀权。如果布里奇斯最终被证明不是长期的改变者，菲尼克斯将再次浪费一个宝贵的选秀资产。
由生成式 AI 翻译，翻译内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：What worked -- and what didn't -- in 12 NBA season debuts
What worked – and what didn’t – in 12 NBA season debuts
Newly minted Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant said it best Wednesday: “You only get one chance at a first impression.”
Though the Blazers were one of several teams to ace their season openers, there were also plenty of stars who might want a do-over. After all, Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics blew a 22-point lead to the Pistons, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama shot 1-for-13 in a loss to the rival Oklahoma City Thunder, and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Miami Heat were blown off their home court by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Let’s run through the NBA’s opening-week action – through Thursday, every team will have played at least once – with an eye toward the first impressions made by key players suiting up for new teams this season. Which ones launched with ease, and which succumbed to false starts?
Jump to a season debut
Great: Kawhi | Dame | Kessler | OKC starting 5
Good: LaMelo | LeBron | AD | PG-13 | Garland
Rough: Giannis | Yaxel vs. Luka | Miles Bridges
Great first impressions
Kawhi Leonard, Raptors
The schedule-makers gifted Leonard a home opener against the lowly Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, and the two-time Finals MVP took full advantage. Leonard wasted no time moving past a tumultuous summer marked by a delayed trade and the NBA’s lengthy salary cap circumvention investigation, enjoying a hearty welcome back from the Toronto crowd before scoring 23 points and snagging four steals in a blowout victory.
The scariest part for East rivals: Leonard didn’t have his signature midrange jumper dialed in and played only 24 minutes, yet the Raptors still managed a 43-point margin of victory that tied for the fifth largest in franchise history.
Toronto ran up the score with excellent balance across its starting lineup, as Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley each surpassed 20 points. How high can Leonard lift an offense that ranked 15th last season?
Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
The Blazers’ icon spent Wednesday putting his career back on track after a forgettable two-year detour with the Bucks and an Achilles injury that sidelined him last season. In his first game for Portland since 2023, the nine-time All-Star guard provided such an emotional jolt that the Blazers stormed out to a preposterous 21-0 lead and cruised to a 124-83 blowout of the Phoenix Suns.
No one will argue with the results from the opener, but it remains an open question whether Lillard and Morant are the ideal starting backcourt for Portland. Against Phoenix, Lillard scored 25 points and hit six 3-pointers, and Morant added 14 points and eight assists in only 23 minutes.
Tougher tests await: The Suns lack big and physical perimeter playmakers capable of exploiting Portland’s undersized guards. But it’s nice to see Lillard back where he belongs in Rip City.
Walker Kessler, Lakers
Well, it’s hard to beat perfect. Kessler made all 12 of his shots, including 10 dunks, and grabbed nine rebounds in the Lakers’ blowout of the Warriors on Wednesday. Not bad for a guy playing in his first regular-season game since last October and in his first game for the Lakers since arriving from the Jazz in a summer sign-and-trade deal.
After only one game, Kessler already looks like the best center Luka Doncic has played with in his nine-year career. "Inside the NBA’''s Shaquille O’Neal went even further, opining that Kessler is “the best big man in the NBA.”
Slow down, Shaq: The Lakers’ smashing debut came against an injury-plagued Warriors team that rolled over after halftime.
Still, Kessler earned praise from Lakers coach JJ Redick for his ability to change ends quickly. The 7-foot-2 center clearly understands that his gigantic frame won’t do him any good if he’s stuck trailing the action. If Kessler can put together a complete season from a health standpoint and continue to serve as a constant vertical target, then Doncic will be a major factor in the MVP discussion.
Thunder starters
Technically, Oklahoma City’s most important newcomer has been Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 rookie center who made quite the splash in his NBA debut by swatting Wembanyama at the rim. But the Thunder also trotted out a tweaked starting lineup after trading longtime starter Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a cost-cutting move this summer.
Cason Wallace stepped into Dort’s sport, filling out an imposing group that includes two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren and center Isaiah Hartenstein. In a convincing road win over San Antonio on Tuesday, the Thunder starters exhibited excellent discipline and togetherness while frustrating Wembanyama from start to finish. Two days later, Oklahoma City overcame poor outside shooting to put away another top West challenger: Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets.
Oklahoma City also got key boosts from Mara, guard Jared McCain and veteran stopper Alex Caruso this week. With Williams healthy, it’s not too early to ask whether Oklahoma City’s rotation is actually better than the 2025 championship team and last season’s group that led the league with 64 wins.
Good first impressions
LaMelo Ball, Timberwolves
Ball did his part to position the Timberwolves as lightning rods by shuffling a good 10 feet without incurring a traveling violation while launching a step-back 3-pointer against the Heat. Clips of his comical sidestepping immediately went viral, prompting the NBA referees’ association to clarify on social media that an infraction had occurred: “[Ball] takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels.”
Detractors will paint Ball’s looseness as evidence that the modern NBA game has slipped into a less serious endeavor, while proponents will point out that Ball’s new partnership with Anthony Edwards is wildly fun. Both sides make valid points, but the loud and brash Timberwolves can’t be dismissed as frivolous after absolutely wrecking the new-look Heat in Miami.
Edwards took full advantage of playing alongside a primetime backcourt playmaker for the first time in his seven-year career. The four-time All-Star went off for 45 points to handily win the superstar showdown against Miami’s Antetokounmpo. Based solely on the first 72 hours of the season, Minnesota has a strong case as the NBA’s most watchable team.
LeBron James, Philadelphia 76ers
The best compliment that can be paid to James for his early work in Philadelphia is that the 76ers still feel like Tyrese Maxey’s team. Maxey posted team highs in points and shot attempts as the 76ers spoiled the New York Knicks’ ring night celebrations Tuesday and came back to defeat the Cavaliers on Thursday. So far, James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid have all sacrificed their individual numbers as the star-studded roster continues to acclimate.
James found a variety of ways to be helpful against the Knicks: He lined up Brown for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer on an inbounds play, he shifted up to defend centers when Embiid encountered foul trouble, and he helped Philadelphia rack up 24 fast-break points as both a distributor and a finisher. Down the stretch against Cleveland, he made way for Embiid and Brown as Philadelphia put the finishing touches on a 29-point rally.
Though James hasn’t found his outside stroke and has displayed occasional lapses of defensive intensity, his ability to organize an offense and manage game flow are crucial additions for Philadelphia.
Given the scope of their offseason changes, the 76ers have looked ahead of schedule.
Anthony Davis, Wizards
Davis catapulted the overhauled Wizards to an opening-night win over the rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks with 34 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Lest anyone overlook his handiwork, Davis poked fun at Washington’s home attendance woes.
“I’d like it to be a little more packed in here,” he said. “Even when I was here last year, [for] the very first home game, it was ‘Dress Like a Seat’ night in here.”
Though Davis and the Wizards remain an awkward and uncertain partnership given his lack of a contract extension, the 10-time All-Star’s production and humor are welcome additions to a franchise that has had little to offer its long-suffering fans in recent years.
The next step for Washington: incorporate No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa, who sat out the opener because of an ankle injury. Trae Young kept everyone involved with 13 assists against Milwaukee, but Dybantsa’s return is bound to shake up Washington’s shot distribution in a major way.
Paul George, Celtics
During his short-lived and somewhat ill-fated two-year run with the 76ers, George scored at least 38 points only once in 78 games. Wouldn’t you know it? The nine-time All-Star hit that mark and drilled seven 3-pointers in his Celtics debut Tuesday.
Unfortunately for George, the Pistons pulled off an epic second-half comeback to spoil his debut. Boston was undone by Tatum’s poor outside shooting and inability to get to the free throw line, and the offense’s lengthy cold stretch against Detroit’s imposing defense.
Caution is in order when it comes to assessing George’s sparkling opener. Though he’s a clear fit in an offense that thrives by generating 3-pointers, Boston probably can’t count on the 36-year-old forward to generate rim pressure and a high volume of free throws on a nightly basis. Tatum remains the Celtics’ best answer to those needs.
Darius Garland, Clippers
Most of the hoopla in Los Angeles this week belonged to Doncic and the Lakers, but Garland deserves kudos for carrying the injury-ravaged Clippers to a win over the Sacramento Kings on opening night.
Garland, 26, downshifted as a scorer once he was paired with Donovan Mitchell on the Cavaliers, but the Clippers need him to crank it all the way up as they cope with the absences of Brandon Ingram, Max Strus and Bradley Beal. Garland delivered by scoring 30 points and easily outplaying Sacramento rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr.
After that soft launch against a Kings team that might finish in the Western Conference’s basement, Garland must lead the Clippers through a schedule gauntlet that includes two head-to-head games against the Lakers, trips to Oklahoma City, Minnesota and Golden State, and a much-anticipated showdown with Leonard’s Raptors over the next two weeks. Gulp.
Rough first impressions
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Heat
New home, same problems? That’s the nagging question for Antetokounmpo, who posted 35 points and six assists in 30 minutes but couldn’t stop the Heat from getting waxed by the Timberwolves.
Antetokounmpo orchestrated an exit from Milwaukee because the Bucks had fallen far behind the East’s top contenders, but his new supporting cast in Miami didn’t exactly rise to the occasion Wednesday. Cold outside shooting, an unremarkable showing from Bam Adebayo and a troubling defensive performance all contributed to an embarrassing loss.
The Heat should look better against some softer opponents on their upcoming schedule, but their offense won’t be able to keep up unless Antetokounmpo and the Heat can get better results from his drive-and-kick passing. The two-time MVP had only one assist against three turnovers against Minnesota, and Miami’s 8-for-33 showing from deep just won’t get it done against serious competition.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors
Lendeborg’s NBA career is one game old, but he’s already mounting a strong effort to supplant teammate Draymond Green as the NBA’s biggest yapper. During Golden State’s 127-105 opening loss to the Lakers, Lendeborg was hit with a technical foul for repeatedly exchanging words with Doncic. Afterward, the 24-year-old forward said he “lost all respect” for Doncic because of his “whining and complaining.”
Lendeborg’s unfiltered and often insightful musings prompted genuine laughter from the assembled media in Los Angeles, but he would do well to pace himself in front of the microphones. After leading the University of Michigan to an NCAA title last season, Lendeborg joined the Warriors as a lottery pick and promptly led the franchise to the Las Vegas summer league title.
Unfortunately, Golden State’s regular season is shaping up to be much more challenging. The Warriors lack consistent scoring aside from star Stephen Curry, and their undermanned frontcourt was overwhelmed by the Lakers. This could be a long season in the Bay Area, and Lendeborg will inevitably face backlash if he continues to speak so frankly about rival stars after losses.
Miles Bridges, Suns
Suns owner Mat Ishbia has a well-known history of bringing in players and executives with ties to his alma mater, Michigan State, but his latest Spartan addition is off to a rocky start. Bridges, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Charlotte, scored only eight points on 3-of-11 shooting in Phoenix’s loss to Portland. The Blazers outscored the Suns by 35 points in the veteran forward’s 29 minutes.
Some patience is needed given that Bridges and center Khaman Maluach were both new additions to coach Jordan Ott’s starting lineup. Even so, Bridges must prove he’s capable of bringing more grit to a Phoenix team that was mauled 56-39 on the glass in the opener.
The Suns are counting on Bridges, who holds a $22.8 million expiring contract, to shape up because they parted with their 2033 first-round pick in the deal with the Hornets. If Bridges doesn’t prove to be a long-term difference-maker, Phoenix will have squandered another prime draft asset.
By Ben Golliver / ESPN