Opening week offers more than a fresh set of standings. For some players, it marks the end of months of rehabilitation. For others, it is the first step in an NBA career.
Wednesday night brought both, along with a career performance from Memphis guard Ty Jerome. Here are five players whose opening-night appearances deserve attention.
Ty Jerome Lights Up Memphis
The biggest scoring surprise came from Jerome, who poured in a career-high 45 points in the Grizzlies’ 123–103 victory over Utah.
Jerome finished with seven rebounds and six assists while shooting 17-for-25 from the field, including five three-pointers. His 45 points established a Memphis record for a season opener.
The former Virginia guard, selected 24th overall in 2019, has traveled through Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Golden State and Cleveland before landing in Memphis. Calf and ankle injuries disrupted his first season with the Grizzlies.
Wednesday offered a much different beginning, with Jerome taking command of the offense and delivering the finest scoring performance of his NBA career.
Anthony Davis Makes His Long-Awaited Wizards Debut
Washington finally got to see Anthony Davis in a regular-season Wizards uniform, and he delivered.
Davis recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in a 128–116 victory over Milwaukee.
His appearance ended a lengthy absence that began when he suffered ligament damage in his left hand on January 8 while playing for Dallas. Washington acquired him in February, but his recovery prevented him from appearing for the Wizards last season.
More than nine months after his previous regular-season game, Davis reminded everyone how much he can influence a game when healthy.
Tyrese Haliburton Returns to Lead Indiana
For Tyrese Haliburton, simply stepping onto the court represented a major milestone.
The Pacers guard had not played an official game since tearing his right Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. After missing the entire 2025–26 season, he returned with 23 points and 12 assists in Indiana’s 123–120 victory over New Orleans.
Indiana needed his playmaking as it recovered from a difficult second quarter and rallied to win. One game cannot answer every question following an Achilles injury, but Haliburton gave the Pacers an encouraging start.
Cameron Boozer Finds Ways to Contribute
Cameron Boozer’s first NBA game showed how a rookie can contribute while struggling to score.
The third overall selection in the 2026 draft finished with seven points, 11 rebounds and five assists in Memphis’ win over Utah. He shot just 2-for-15, including 0-for-6 from three-point range.
The son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer arrived from Duke after earning AP national player of the year honors. His rebounding and passing helped Memphis even as his shot failed him.
Darryn Peterson Begins His NBA Journey
On the other side of that Memphis matchup, Utah rookie Darryn Peterson opened his career with nine points in 31 minutes.
Selected second overall out of Kansas, one pick ahead of Boozer, Peterson immediately received substantial playing time.
His scoring debut was quiet, but the opportunity was clear. Utah is giving its young guard room to develop alongside Keyonte George, with opening night providing his first taste of the adjustment from college basketball to the NBA.
