The 2025-26 NBA season has kicked off with an offensive explosion, and seven superstars—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Aaron Gordon, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, Tyrese Maxey, and Alperen Şengün—are leading the charge. Through the first two games, these players have delivered performances that are rewriting record books and setting the tone for an electrifying season. At the same time Giannis, playing two of the worse teams in the NBA for his first two games, still can’t shoot mid range, still has loads of turnovers, still can’t screen. He simply has not developed at all.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Thunder’s Scoring Tsunami

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making an early MVP case with a jaw-dropping 45.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 47.4% shooting through two games. In the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season opener, a 141-135 double-overtime thriller against the Indiana Pacers, SGA erupted for a career-high 55 points (15-31 FG, 23-26 FT), tying Russell Westbrook for the most 50-point games in Thunder history. He followed it up in Game 2 with 35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, powering OKC to another victory and a 2-0 start. His two-game total of 90 points ranks fourth all-time for an opening weekend in NBA history. SGA’s silky mid-range game, relentless drives, and 88.5% free-throw shooting are making him a nightly highlight reel. The Thunder look like title contenders, and Shai’s in the driver’s seat.

Aaron Gordon: Denver’s Unexpected Scoring Juggernaut

Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets’ high-flying forward, has shocked the league with 50.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on an unreal 81.0% from the field. In Denver’s opener, a 137-131 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors, Gordon exploded for a career-best 50 points, including a franchise-record 10 three-pointers, joining Michael Jordan and Kyrie Irving as one of the few to drop 50 in an opener. Known for his dunks and defense, Gordon’s sudden emergence as a long-range assassin alongside Nikola Jokić gives Denver a terrifying new dimension. This isn’t the AG we knew—this is a superstar reborn.

Luka Dončić: Lakers’ New Wizard Wows in Hollywood

Luka Dončić’s blockbuster move to the Los Angeles Lakers is paying immediate dividends. He’s averaging 43.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, with playmaking flair that’s lighting up Tinseltown. In the opener, a 119-109 loss, Luka delivered 43 points (17-27 FG), 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 41 minutes, showcasing his signature step-back threes and paint dominance. At 26, Luka’s vision and scoring touch are meshing perfectly even without LeBron James on the floor yet this season, making the Lakers’ offense a nightly spectacle. If this is Luka’s baseline in purple and gold, the league’s in trouble.

Anthony Edwards: Ant-Man’s Explosive Start

Anthony Edwards is staking his claim as the NBA’s next big thing, averaging 41.0 points per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Game 1, he showcased his athleticism and shooting touch, setting the stage for a breakout season. Game 2 saw him drop 31 points (11-19 FG, 3-6 3PT) in a loss, but his efficiency and aggression were undeniable. Across both games, Edwards’ blend of highlight-reel dunks, deep threes, and improved playmaking alongside Rudy Gobert has Minnesota dreaming big. At just 24, Ant-Man’s confidence and swagger make every game must-watch TV. The Wolverine is clawing his way to superstardom.

Victor Wembanyama: The Alien’s Sophomore Surge

Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ 7’4” unicorn, is averaging a monstrous 40.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 71.4% FG through two games. His opener was a masterclass, with a double-double featuring rim-rattling dunks, blocks that sent shots into the stands, and smooth perimeter shooting. His length and skill make him a defensive nightmare, while his offensive versatility has Spurs fans envisioning a dynasty under Gregg Popovich. Wembanyama isn’t just the future—he’s the present, and he’s rewriting what a big man can do.

Tyrese Maxey: Philly’s Speedy Scoring Sensation

Tyrese Maxey is torching defenses for the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 40.0 points and 6.0 assists on 54.2% shooting. In the opener, he set the tone with blazing speed and a quick release, racking up points in bunches. Game 2 he had limited minutes, but his full performances show a star who’s taken a leap, complementing Joel Embiid with drives and jumpers. Maxey’s ability to score efficiently in transition and create for others is making Philly’s offense lethal. At 24, he’s no longer a rising star—he’s arrived, and the Sixers are reaping the rewards.

Alperen Şengün: Houston’s Triple-Double Titan

Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün is a stat-sheet stuffer, averaging 39.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists on 50.0% shooting. His opener showcased his post dominance and passing wizardry, with a near-triple-double that set the tone for Houston’s 2-0 start. Game 2 kept the momentum, with Şengün’s soft touch and Jokić-like vision creating nightmares for opponents. His ability to score, rebound, and facilitate at 23 years old has the Rockets looking like playoff locks. Şengün’s Turkish hammer is pounding, and Houston’s frontcourt is a force.

A Season Already Ablaze

These seven stars aren’t just playing well—they’re setting the NBA on fire. With 50-point outbursts, triple-doubles, and record-breaking efficiency, the 2025-26 season is shaping up to be a historic one. Shai’s scoring, Gordon’s shooting, Luka’s playmaking, Edwards’ explosiveness, Wemby’s dominance, Maxey’s speed, and Şengün’s versatility are just the beginning. As we roll into Week 2, the question isn’t who’s playing better—it’s how much higher this ceiling can go. Oh and they are driving TV ratings crazy (unlike Giannis.) These players can dribble, control the game, shoot from any distance, provide solutions for their teams in tough matchups.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Not Eclipsing

the New-Age Scorers

In a season opener that’s seen a barrage of 40+ point explosions from the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Aaron Gordon, and the rest of our highlighted seven, you might wonder where Milwaukee’s Greek Freak fits in. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP and perennial All-NBA beast, is off to another monster start—historically so, in fact. But against the easiest opponents possible. Through the Bucks’ 2-0 beginning (a

133-120 rout of the Wizards followed by a gritty win over the Raptors), he’s posted 30.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, becoming the first player ever to hit 60-30-10 in a season’s opening duo. Game 1: 37 points, 14 boards, 5 dimes on 16-of-26 shooting. Game 2: A double-double that sealed the historic line, with his relentless drives and rim-finishing keeping Milwaukee’s offense humming. Of course to be fair, while the other players mentioned in this post where playing the toughest team’s in the league, Giannis was playing the very worse. And he is still a ball hog as you can see on the chart.

Giannis isn’t quite “close” to the supernova pace of those seven right now: He hasn’t shown the kind of tangible, eye-popping improvement that’s catapulting the others into uncharted territory. Those guys? We’re seeing Aaron Gordon morph into a 50-point, 10-three sniper (81% FG be damned); Luka Dončić

seamlessly integrating into a new Lakers system with 43-12 lines; Victor Wembanyama expanding his alien toolkit to 40-15 dominance; and Tyrese Maxey evolving from spark plug to 40-point Ferrari. It’s leap-year growth: New skills, higher ceilings, “holy crap, he can do that now?” moments that scream evolution. Again last night, no mid range shooting.

Giannis? He’s Giannis. The 30-15-5 is elite, sure—it’s MVP-adjacent and has the Bucks looking cohesive early under Doc Rivers—but it’s a refinement of what he’s done for years. His free-throw woes persist (around 57% last season, no signs of a breakthrough yet) and there’s no radical shift in playstyle to suggest he’s adapting to the league’s scoring arms race. Last year, he averaged 30.4-11.9-6.5; this year, it’s tracking eerily similar, just with more rebounding grunt work. No added pull-up range, no sudden point-forward explosion, no “I’ve unlocked mid-range mastery” arc like SGA. It’s dominance, but it’s familiar dominance—beautiful in its brutality, but not the “amazingly improved” revelation that’s got the others rewriting highlight reels. And in the 4th quarter nobody is expecting him to become clutch. Gary Trent Jr scored the same amount of points in half the minutes. In fact why was Giannis even on the floor at the end as the Bucks were blowing the Raptors out?

Don’t get it twisted: Giannis is still a walking triple-double threat who’s dragging Milwaukee toward contention despite roster flux (hello, Myles Turner spacing). If the Bucks gel around his paint-pounding, he could average 32-12-7 by midseason and remind everyone why he’s the Freak. But in this early-season fireworks show, where the narrative is all about who’s leveled up now, Giannis feels like the grizzled vet holding the fort rather than igniting the revolution. He’s close in impact, miles ahead in hardware, but that lack of a clear “new trick” keeps him a step behind the evolution parade—for now. Keep watching; the Greek Freak doesn’t stay stagnant for long.