Published 23:25 IST, October 29th 2019
NBA: Kyrie Irving, Kristaps Porzingis and other debuts to take note of
NBA: Quite a few stars made their debut for their new teams already in the 2019-20 season. Here's a look at their displays after some exciting season openers.
It's safe to say that 2019-20 season of the NBA has started with a bang. After an off-season that saw plenty of trades and switches, there were quite a few debuts to look forward to. And the NBA did not disappoint. Here's a look at some of the stars who stole headlines on their debuts for their new teams in the NBA this season.
Kyrie Irving
Who better to start with than a man who went down in the history books after his debut? Much was expected of Kyrie Irving before the Brooklyn Nets vs Minnesota Timberwolves game. Interestingly, Irving surpassed these expectations. The former Boston Celtics star netted 50 points on his debut for the Nets, thus setting the record for most points registered on NBA debut.
Kristaps Porzingis
A total of 23 points may seem low compared to Irving's 50-point showing, but Kristaps Porzingis did enjoy a productive debut for the Dallas Mavericks. Kristaps Porzingis had not played in over 600 days, but if there was any rustiness, it did not show. The former New York Knicks star started the game with a comfortable first bucket and ended the game even better, after netting a basket from distance.
Al Horford
Facing your former team on a debut for your new team could be a daunting task for some. For Al Horford, however, it was just another day in the office. The former Boston Celtics star started the game in typical Al Horford fashion, scoring 16 points in just over 31 minutes of action.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed a fruitful debut against Utah Jazz. After moving from the Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander had 23 shot attempts on his debut. He also finished with 26 points in the game despite ending on the losing side.
Markelle Fultz
12 points, six assists and two steals summed up Markelle Fultz's debut for Orlando Magic. The former No 1 overall pick saw 24 minutes of action and made his presence felt in his first game after nearly a year. Could the former Philadelphia point guard propel his new team to the Eastern Conference playoffs?
Julius Randle
A reported three-year $63 million contract meant that there were expectations resting on the shoulders of Julius Randle. An efficient display on his debut for the New York Knicks will mean that the move could very well pay off. 25 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals summed up a fruitful debut for the former Pelicans power forward.
Updated 00:19 IST, October 30th 2019