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Ranking the 10 splashiest debuts from 2022-23 NBA season opener

By Jacob Ellerbee

NBA PG Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks in action against Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NBA PG Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks in action against Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NBA star Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics on opening night (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Now that all 30 NBA teams have played in at least one regular season game, we can start to dissect some of the players and coaches who made their debuts on opening night. We’re talking first-time leaders making their NBA head coaching debuts, we’re talking players making their NBA debuts, and veteran players making their debuts with their new teams in 2022-23.

There was absolutely no shortage of debuts from the opening slate of games, as we saw a ton of NBA player movement this offseason and a stacked rookie draft class. So, let’s dive in and look at the 10 splashiest debuts of the 2022-23 NBA regular season, starting with a head coach.

10. Joe Mazzulla wins his NBA head coaching debut with Boston Celtics

He has the designation of being labeled the “interim” coach of the Boston Celtics, but Joe Mazzulla looked like a seasoned coach on the sidelines for the 2021-22 Eastern Conference champions. With all the distractions created by the exiled Ime Udoka, Mazzulla had his team firing on all cylinders. Despite having just two seasons of head coaching experience— at the NCAA-Division II level, no less— Mazzulla looks poised on the sidelines and is getting his players in position to be successful.

Winning his first game as an NBA head coach against the Philadelphia 76ers, a popular pick among many experts to usurp the Celtics as the best team in the East, is just icing on the cake.