Many of the NBA's top draft picks from 2018 made their debut Wednesday, and a few of the would-be future stars lived up to the lofty expectations right away.
The biggest spotlight shone on the matchup in Phoenix, where No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton debuted for the Phoenix Suns against the Dallas Mavericks and No. 3 overall selection Luka Doncic. As fate would have it, Ayton scored his first NBA points on Doncic, drawing the foul.
Ayton finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the Suns' 121-100 victory.
Doncic didn't shoot the ball well (5 of 16 from the field), but scored 10, had eight rebounds and four assists and showed several flashes of why the Mavericks are so excited about him, including this effortless behind-the-back assist.
In Orlando, Mo Bamba, the No. 6 overall pick, came off the bench for 13 points and seven boards in the Orlando Magic's win against Miami Heat. He blocked two shots, but altered several others. The Magic wanted a rim protector, and the 7-foot center showed his stuff in his debut.
STUDS OF THE NIGHT
Anthony Davis scored 32 points and filled the stat sheet everywhere else (16 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and steals) in the Pelicans' 131-112 win over the Rockets.
Guard Kemba Walker scored 41, hitting 7 of 13 from long range, in the Hornets' 113-112 loss to the Bucks.
Pistons center Andre Drummond had 24 points and added 20 rebounds in a 103-100 win against the Nets.
Magic forward Aaron Gordon had 26 points and 16 rebounds in a 104-101 win over the Heat.
DUDS OF THE NIGHT
The Nets lost by only three to the Pistons, which makes its terrible 3-point shooting line (5 of 27) even more painful.
HIGHLIGHT
Allonzo Trier, who went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, scored 15 points in his debut and looked like a steal for the Knicks with several outstanding plays, including this thunderous drive and dunk.
WHAT'S NEXT
Lakers (0-0) at Trail Blazers (0-0) — The LeBron James era begins for the Los Angeles Lakers. Everyone knows what James brings, but how will the revamped Lakers lineup work with him? We obviously won't have the answer after one game, but plenty of NBA fans will be watching as King James begins the next phase of his career.
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