The 2025-26 NBA season commenced on Tuesday evening with two high-profile matchups. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, led the Oklahoma City Thunder to victory over Kevin Durant’s Houston Rockets in overtime. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler propelled the Golden State Warriors past the Los Angeles Lakers, with LeBron James sidelined due to sciatica, delaying his historic 23rd season debut. NBC aired both games, reintroducing the nostalgic Roundball Rock theme music after nearly 25 years.
The Toronto Raptors are set to kick off their season in Atlanta on Wednesday with hopes of securing a playoff spot following a 30-52 record last season. Canada continues to dominate as the primary foreign supplier of NBA players, boasting 23 Canadians on NBA rosters, surpassing other countries like France, Australia, and Germany by a wide margin.
Key Canadian players to watch this season include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won the NBA championship last season. Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers made significant contributions during last season’s playoffs, while Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets and Shaedon Sharpe of the Portland Trail Blazers are expected to play crucial roles this season. Zach Edey from the Memphis Grizzlies, Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns, Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat, and RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors are also Canadian players to keep an eye on this season.