On October 22, the reigning champion Boston Celtics tipped off the 2024-25 NBA season in front of a packed TD Garden. The Celtics win against the Knicks that night was over 2 months ago, and there has been so much NBA action since. From a shocking start in Cleveland to utter disappointment in Philly, this is the recap of the first two months of the NBA season. There have been the good, bad, and the ugly, and then teams like the Raptors and Wizards, who are in a tier of their own.

The Good

The obvious pick for the good is the Cavaliers. The Cavs were supposed to be a solid contender in the East, but nobody expected them to be 25-4 atop the conference. Star guard Donovan Mitchell hasn't taken a superstardom jump, but he has put up some of his most efficient shooting from beyond the arc and has had the lowest number of turnovers of his career. After showing some regression last year, Darius Garland, a point guard, has taken the leap that Cavs fans have been hoping for; he is in the top 20 assists while shooting at 49% and a staggering 45% from 3. Combine that with an ever-improving frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarret Allen and a bend but don’t break defense, and there is a recipe for success in Cleveland. Whether this success is sustainable remains to be seen, but they will have a big test in a four-game road trip out west.

Aside from Cleveland, the Celtics are as good as advertised, with Jason Tatum leading the way. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have led the best defense in the league in Orlando, young stars Jaylen Green and Alperen Sengun have led the Rockets to a shockingly good start, and Jaren Jackson Jr. has taken the leap alongside the Memphis Grizzlies to become a force in the West.

The Bad

The Pacers look like a shell of the young and exciting team that made the Eastern Conference Championship last season. Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is down in points, rebounds, and assists and has the worst shooting percentage of his career. Pascal Siakam has remained efficient as ever, but his stats have also taken a slight dip, and this drop in offense, combined with poor team defense, puts the Pacers at 15-15, slipping from the Eastern contenders.

The Denver Nuggets were looking to make an appearance here, but the Joker and co. have righted the ship. The same could be said about the Bucks, who had an unprecedentedly bad start but have begun to improve. Still, both teams show problems. Their defenses, which were expected to be some of the best in the league, have been average, and the holes behind each team’s MVP candidate (Nikola Jokic for the Nuggets and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Bucks) have been gaping wide.

The Ugly

This section is for a team expected to contend with the Celtics in the East: the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers had a tremendous offseason, most notably picking up superstar Paul George in free agency. They were supposed to have an unparalleled big three with 2022 MVP Joel Embiid, 2023 most improved player Tyrese Maxey, and, of course, George. Unfortunately, this big three has panned out like most: a dumpster fire. Embiid has only played seven games, George is day-to-day almost every week, Maxey was out for a month, and the trio have only played four games together. This turmoil has led to the Sixers sitting at 9-17 and near the bottom of the East standings.

In the West, the Timberwolves and the Suns, two teams that were supposed to contend, are clinging to play in spots. Neither team has been able to support its stars, and players like Rudy Gobert and Bradley Beal are playing the worst basketball of their careers. The role players aren’t playing their roles well, and the teams will need to turn things around if they want to make noise in the competitive West.

Rookies

As expected, 2024 has been a weak rookie class, with the top of the draft having disappointing starts. However, there have been some hidden gems from later in the draft. Social media sensation Jared McCain has been the lone bright spot on a disappointing Sixers team, averaging 15 points per game to pace the rookie class in just 25 minutes per game. However, his season was cut short after receiving knee surgery. College stars Zach Edey and Yves Missi weren’t expected to translate well to the NBA, but they have been some of the best rookies this year. Edey is second in the class in rebounds and first in true shooting percentage, while Missi has led rookies in rebounds on a horrible Pelicans team. The great rookie on the Wizards isn’t their second overall pick, Alex Sarr, but instead guard Bub Carrington from the University of Pittsburgh. Bub is near the top for rookies in both assists and steals per game while also being top 10 in points. He has taken an unexpectedly large role on a bad Wizards team and is doing more than alright. Hopefully, the Pitt guard can continue his run throughout the season.

The NBA season is still young, but these first few months told us a lot. This fun start to the league promises an exciting conclusion that should see a new champion crowned.