Five Underrated Developments from the NBA's Opening Slate

The NBA season is finally back in full swing! All 30 teams have now played at least one game, and it's time to sift through the initial body of work.

From standout performances to emerging trends bubbling under the surface, the opening slate provided plenty of storyline beats to hone in on. Here are 10 immediate takeaways.

1. Anfernee Simons' role with the Celtics is a work in progress.

Despite coming off the bench, Simons still logged 32 minutes in his first outing in green. The time on the floor didn't coincide with a steady stream of production, netting just one shot attempt in the fourth quarter, even with Boston's offense sputtering down the stretch. 

Simons looked comfortable in the high-octane offense when involved, but with Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White dominating on-ball responsibilities, the 26-year-old was stuck lingering on the perimeter. A scorer of his caliber has to see an increase in usage over time if Boston wants to stay afloat in hopes of a miraculous Jayson Tatum comeback.

2. The Brooklyn Nets don't understand modern tanking.

In one of the most egregious tanking efforts since the "Process 76ers," Nets head man Jordi Fernandez trotted out a 13-man rotation to start the campaign, which included four rookies. Sure, the Hornets had a sizeable lead throughout, but it was still just a 14-point contest entering the final frame.

When general manager Sean Marks' office decided to blatantly field such an uncompetitive roster, I wondered if they were aware that the worst team in the league hasn't netted a top-two selection since 2021. Another wasted year for the fourth most relevant basketball team in New York!

3. Anthony Edwards has a path to MVP.

With Mike Conley on the bench, Ant is already prospering as the T-Wolves' primary ball handler. The superstar made half of his 28 field goals en route to a 41-point explosion against a Portland squad littered with excellent point-of-attack defenders.

If he remains efficient from beyond the arc, the All-Star guard will have a chance to average at least 30 points per game for the first time in his career. Minnesota will have to finish as a top-three seed in a loaded West, but Ant can compile the statistical resume to challenge the likes of Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the sport's most illustrious individual award.

4. Jonathan Kuminga has finally arrived.

Although it seemed Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors were happy to go their separate ways, both sides realized this summer that their best path forward was together. With the current "hard cap," few clubs had the money even to consider signing Kuminga, and the Warriors didn't have the capital to acquire a more talented wing.

Across his first two outings, Kuminga has stuffed the stat sheet and finally looks engaged in Steve Kerr's system. It took long enough, but the lightbulb has turned on for the ex-lottery pick.

5. This season feels different, right?

Is it the plethora of overtime games? Maybe the revamped NBC presentation with timeless voices and a legendary jingle? Perhaps a rookie class seamlessly adapting to the pro level. It's hard to articulate, but something about this season feels different.

Scandals and Adam Silver's weekly bizarre quotes aside, the NBA is on the rise. The product is engaging, and the current wave of talent feels historic. Check back in a few weeks, but right now, this is shaping up to be an electric eight months.