Early NBA notebook: Wembanyama powers inside, Rockets weigh point guard options, Lakers depth questioned
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Oct. 24, 2025 — The NBA’s 80th season opened with both on-court fireworks and off-court turmoil. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former player-coach Damon Jones were arrested Thursday in separate FBI probes involving illegal sports betting and fixed poker games, casting an immediate shadow over the league’s first week.
Wembanyama trades threes for bruising drives
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, sidelined for last season’s second half by deep vein thrombosis, returned in dominant fashion Wednesday in Dallas. The 7-foot-4 forward scored 40 points while attempting only two three-pointers, a stark contrast to the 8.8 long-range attempts he averaged a year ago. Scouts noted that 75% of his preseason shots came in the paint, up from 40% last season, and his free-throw rate nearly doubled during exhibition play. “He’s going to take over the whole league if he stays healthy,” one Western Conference scout said.
Rockets search for stability at point guard
Houston lost rookie Amen Thompson to cramps during Tuesday’s overtime defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder, forcing coach Ime Udoka to let center Alperen Sengun initiate the offense. With veteran floor general Fred VanVleet out for the season after an ACL tear, executives are split on whether Houston needs to acquire another experienced playmaker. Some believe rookie Reed Sheppard can grow into the role; others worry about his defense after he was beaten on five of 11 drives he guarded in the opener. Sengun’s 39-point night, including five three-pointers after hitting 21 all last year, offered an alternative hub. “He’s thinking the game at a higher level than a lot of his teammates,” a scout said.
Kuminga impresses, Horford addition praised in Golden State
Amid a tense restricted-free-agent summer, Jonathan Kuminga opened the season with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists against the Los Angeles Lakers, drawing praise for his energy and unselfishness. League executives also highlighted the Warriors’ under-the-radar signing of 38-year-old Al Horford on a one-year, $5.6 million deal, calling the versatile big man an ideal fit for a roster that values size and shooting.
Lakers feel LeBron’s absence
Los Angeles dropped its first game without LeBron James, who targets a mid-November return from a calf injury. Luka Doncic poured in 43 points, but the rest of the lineup shot 5-for-17 from deep and struggled defensively. Deandre Ayton finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while Marcus Smart labored off the bench. “Luka is awesome, and the rest of the team is who we thought they were,” one scout said, adding that James, even at 40, remains the club’s best transition creator.
Source: ESPN
