Grading Season Debuts for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Other NBA Stars

Grading notable debuts in NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Walker Kessler impress with new teams

A look around the league and the players on new teams who made the most notable impacts in their first games.

Grading season debuts for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, other NBA stars

As Giannis debuted for Miami and Kawhi made his great escape to Toronto, LaMelo Ball was up to his old tricks and Anthony Davis... finally played a game!

Grading season debuts for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, other NBA stars - RAW CHILI

After three games on Tuesday night, the rest of the NBA teams opened their 2026-27 seasons on Wednesday night. And with it, we finally got a look at a host of

NBA Debut Grades: Giannis, Kawhi and Stars in New Homes

Several NBA stars made high-profile debuts with new teams, offering early glimpses of both upside and risk. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored heavily in Miami’s blowout loss, while LaMelo Ball joined Minnesota’s win with flashes of skill—and a conspicuous uncalled travel. Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis made strong returns to Toronto and Washington, respectively, though Davis’s durability remains a major question.