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10 things Jamal Crawford saw during 1st month of 2026-27

20-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford breaks down the key storylines he's noticed around the league to start the season.

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford

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NBA TV analyzes Philadelphia's strong start to the season.

Throughout the 2026-27 NBA season, former NBA player and current NBC announcer Jamal Crawford will analyze key moments and storylines around the league.

Here are his takeaways from the first month of the season.

1. Philadelphia 76ers logo Sixers quickly figuring it out

Philly looks like the most dangerous team in the East. They have so much talent that it could be anybody’s night when you play them. And it feels like they’re all okay with it being somebody else’s night. It’s one thing to say that in the offseason; it’s another thing to show it on the floor. They have so many guys who can be the leading scorer and take over for certain stretches of the game, and that’s so difficult to stop.

They’ve figured things out quicker than I thought they would. I’m sure there will be bumps in the road. But it’s pretty remarkable they look this good so early in the season.

2. Boston Celtics logo Tatum has zero hesitation

The No. 1 thing for Tatum is that he looks healthy. When I’m watching his movement and how he’s getting to a spot, there’s zero hesitation. I think playing a bit last season helped him come back this year with a fresh mindset, not worried about the injury.

He also looks more at peace knowing he’s going to have the ball much more than he has in the past. When you know you’re getting plenty of possessions, it helps you feel like you don’t have to shoot every shot. That’s when you feel so much more comfortable playing off the ball. And you can see that he knows he has to empower the rest of the roster, since depth is one of Boston’s superpowers. So he’s doing an unbelievable job picking his spots and being himself, while also helping everybody else stay involved and feel comfortable.

The addition of Paul George has been great as well. He’s older than Tatum, so he can say things like, “When I was the main guy, I did this and this. Then this worked for me, and I stayed away from this.” That’s the type of knowledge he can gain from a player he looked up to growing up. That hits different.

3. San Antonio Spurs logo Wembanyama reaching new levels

Wemby continues to find new ways to impose his will on the game. Even with the 3-guard lineup, it hasn’t slowed him down because he’s like, “No, I’m going to impose my will. I’m going to do this every single night, and I don’t care who’s on the court, whether it’s 3 guards, or anybody else.”

He should always be the first option. And I’m not saying the guards shouldn’t be aggressive. But if there’s ever a choice between who’s getting the ball, then it should go to him. And he’s playing with that kind of force and energy. But it’s not just offense where he’s been dominant. I think he’s the only player I have ever seen where every highlight package shows both sides of the ball.

Opponents are now more conscious of his ability to block shots that other players can’t reach. So they’re more cautious than in previous seasons, but Wemby is still finding ways to get blocks, even the ones where opponents thought they had a clear shot. They think, “I know I can get it from here. He’s nowhere in sight.” And then the ball is swatted off the backboard and they’re left thinking, “What happened?”

It’s unreal to see how he alters offenses because he can single-handedly – literally – make things more difficult for you. I can’t remember another player who impacted offenses so much. Dwight Howard was the closest during my era. But Wemby covers so much more space.

4. Los Angeles Lakers logo Luka in complete control

I’m pleasantly surprised by the Lakers.

Luka is in phenomenal shape, and he’s in phenomenal control of the game. His game wizardry is some of the best I’ve ever seen. Just how he plays and manages the game. He’s scoring so many points, but it looks like he’s not even really trying. We know he is, obviously, but he makes it look so easy – from shooting 3s, to making one-foot stepbacks in the in-between game, to getting to the basket. His energy is so high right now. I think he’s unlocked a new version of himself because he’s in such phenomenal shape, and he’s playing like he’s driven. He’s playing like he understands the responsibility of being the next Lakers star after Shaq, Kobe and LeBron.

It’s just incredible to watch him play because he’s seen every single defense at this point, and nothing is getting him off track. That’s the most impressive part. You know what he’s coming to do, and you still can’t stop it. And he’s not running at 100 miles per hour. He’s just mastered angles, timing, spacing, and shot-making.

And then Austin Reaves steps in and looks like Luka when Luka is out. It’s crazy.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder logo SGA keeps getting better

SGA is so dynamic and so good. He’s another player who’s kind of mastered the game by perfecting his tempo and flow. He knows how to decipher exactly what the team needs, and now he’s just being more aggressive while that’s happening. It’s incredible because he’s already a two-time MVP, and he just seems to get better and better.

And again, he’s someone who came into camp in incredible shape. I think he said this is the best shape he’s been in his whole career. So that’s helped the team overcome all the injuries they’re dealing with right now, and so far they haven’t missed a beat. Who knows how it will play out over time, but he knows how to move the chess pieces and make everybody else feel empowered to play their best.

6. Dallas Mavericks logo Flagg-Irving duo is ‘must-see TV’

The Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving duo is incredible. They play off each other so well and can float between being the dominant, primary ball-handlers. Like, they can invert screen-and-rolls, where Kyrie is screening for him, and that’s tough for defense to stop. They also seem to be fans of each other. Kyrie gets so hype when Cooper does something, and you can tell that Cooper admires Kyrie’s game.

And both of them are electric. Next time either of them does a big play, look at how the fans react. Look at their teammates. Shoot, look at Dusty May. He’s like, “Oh my god.” They’re just so much fun to watch. Whenever they’re on, and I’m free, I always make sure to catch those guys because I know that they’re must-see TV.

7. New York Knicks logo Knicks finding their footing

The Knicks started slow, but we knew Brunson and that team would find their footing. The one thing they have that no other team has is the familiarity of being a champion. They just went through it. So they know exactly where they need to be internally, and how to maintain that level for an entire season.

The difference now is they’re the hunted team, and opponents were locked in on them from Day 1. It took them some time to adjust, and they had to deal with a shortened summer. Plus, the added distraction of being a champion for New York. They couldn’t go anywhere this offseason without seeing Knicks fans. But now they’re starting to look like the team that won it all in June.

8. Impressive rookie class

The 2026 draft class is looking special with six players averaging over 30 minutes per game. Here’s what I saw from that group during the first month.

Golden State Warriors logo Yaxel Lendeborg: He’s played so great and hasn’t been intimidated at all by the NBA. Very few rookies are coming in with the attitude of, “Hey, I’m here and I belong.” He’s coming in with that kind of spirit and guys with that mindset are usually successful. He’s just played his butt off. When you ask Steph Curry, what’s the difference between last year and this year, he says, “Yax.” That’s all you need to know to understand how good he has been so far.

Washington Wizards logo AJ Dybantsa: I love his game. It’s incredible how hard he plays. I watched him against OKC the other day and, besides the offensive things he’s doing, he took the challenge of guarding Shai. There are veteran guys who wouldn’t try to guard Shai from the start. So that really impressed me to see his no-fear mentality.

Sacramento Kings logo Darius Acuff, Jr.: Speaking of no fear … I’ve never seen a rookie this aggressive and confident putting shots up with two bona fide All-Stars in the starting lineup with him. He hasn’t backed down, and he’s even become more aggressive, which has helped the game really slow down for him. And now he’s like, “You know what? If I can do this in games 5, 6, 7 and 8, imagine game 40.” He’s just doing this off of talent and having no fear about anything – shot attempts, opponents, whatever. He should get even better as he adjusts more to the NBA rhythms.

Memphis Grizzlies logo Cameron Boozer: He’s solid as a rock. People have always underrated him, and all he’s ever done was win. Go back and check his high school resume from AAU to state championships to Team USA to college; he just always won. He has what it takes, and it’s been fun to watch his game translate to the NBA.

Chicago Bulls logo Caleb Wilson: His energy reminds me of a young Kevin Garnett. He has that spirit animal of “I’m going for it. I don’t care who I’m playing against. I’m going right at you and it’s going to be a confrontation when you’re playing against me.” I love that energy and how he plays. I’m really enjoying his growth early this season.

Utah Jazz logo Darryn Peterson: We know he’s a bona fide scorer. He’s still finding his rhythm and when to pick spots. But he’s in there with a young team, so I’m sure he’ll figure it out soon.

9. Old guard still delivering

It’s not just about the rookies and the next wave of talent. You love to see the pillars of the game continue to deliver, from Steph to KD to LeBron to Dame.

Golden State Warriors logo Stephen Curry: I just saw a graphic of him compared to his 1st MVP season, and his numbers this season are better. It’s amazing because it’s less random and more sets. They’re finding new ways to get him loose and unleashed. And that was strategic going into the season, I’m sure, just so there wasn’t as much wear and tear on him. And it’s worked. Steph is one of the greatest shows on earth, and one of the greatest ever in NBA history. So watching him still do his thing is unbelievable.

Houston Rockets logo Kevin Durant: He continues to be so efficient. I personally wish he shot more. But that’s just me being a fan of his. He’s leading these young guys and allowing them to grow, while still being as effective and efficient as ever.

Philadelphia 76ers logo LeBron James: Behind the scenes, there are so many things the Sixers are seeing from him that they may not have known. Like, “Oh, he’s always the first one in the gym, and always the last one to leave. He’s always taking care of his body. He’s always keeping the game first even with all the media requests and business opportunities he has.” And that all helps him continue to play with the same joy he had when he first entered the league.

Portland Trail Blazers logo Damian Lillard: Everything feels right with Dame in a Portland uniform. He’s playing like someone who has a chip on his shoulder, and I’m loving it. A lot of Portland’s success this season is because of him and the fighting spirit he’s showing. He’s been so fun to watch, especially early in the season when Ja was playing. All of us were questioning how it was going to work out, but seeing them find their chemistry and mojo was awesome to watch. Living in Seattle, I’m close to Portland and know what he means to the Pacific Northwest. So it’s been really cool to watch them be successful and for Dame to look like Dame.

10. Wide-open title chase

The field of title contenders is huge. Usually, there are 5 or 6 teams that truly think they have what it takes to win it all. This season I think it’s double that, with 10-12 teams in the mix. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a season with this many teams in the hunt. It’s going to be incredible to watch.

Have a question for Jamal Crawford? Submit it here for the next NBA Mailbag.

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