With Opening Week of the 2026-27 NBA regular season officially in the books, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return for Episode 73 of The New Twenty Four to break down some of the biggest performances, emerging storylines and early surprises from around the association!

The guys begin by highlighting several remarkable opening-week performances as well as top storylines that stood out to them in this week's Opening Tip segment. Prior to shifting their weekly hoops conversation shifts toward the NBA's newest generation of talent, as Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg and Cameron Boozer headline an intriguing start for the 2026 rookie class. With No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa still awaiting his regular-season debut, which first-year players have made the strongest impressions so far? Plus, the guys revisit the 2025 draft class, examining the early sophomore performances of Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, Derik Queen and Cedric Coward.

The turning a leaf toward seeking to answer a fascinating league-wide question: Are fans witnessing great defense or simply bad shooting? Following several offensively challenged outings around the NBA, including the low-scoring battle between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, Gavriel and Torrence debate whether teams around the league are stepping up defensively or still struggling to establish their offensive rhythm.

And with several franchises experiencing contrasting starts to the new campaign, how much should we really take away from the first week of an 82-game season? The guys examine the significance of early winning and losing streaks, including the defending champion New York Knicks' 0-3 start, while discussing which teams have impressed them and which early struggles could be cause for concern.

Finally, the two look ahead to Week 2 with another edition of Games To Watch, featuring 76ers-Pacers, Thunder-Mavericks, Cavaliers-Hawks, Knicks-76ers & a Western Conference showdown between Luka Dončić's Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors on the national schedule this week.

All that and more on Episode 73 of The New Twenty Four, as we continue keeping you up to date on the latest developments throughout the 2026-27 NBA season!

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The wait is officially over as the 2026-27 NBA regular season gets underway! Following a busy summer featuring Passing The Torch, The 32nd Team and 30 Teams In 24 Days, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return for the Season 3 premiere of The New Twenty Four, breaking down the biggest storylines surrounding the association as the defending champion New York Knicks begin their pursuit of back-to-back titles.

The guys open up the episode by highlighting several notable contract extensions around the league, ranging from Jalen Duren, Brandin Podziemski, Payton Pritchard, Cason Wallace and Brandon Miller among other league storylines to stand out at the top of the year, before sharing their thoughts and reactions to the unfortunate news surrounding Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon just weeks after signing with the franchise. They also discuss what the latest setback could mean for the three-time All-Star's future in the NBA.

From there, the conversation shifts toward the next generation of talent in the return of Rookie Watch, as AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson among several other members of the 2026 NBA Draft class prepare to make their regular-season debuts. As the two share which first-year players they're most excited to watch and offer their early predictions for the 2026-27 Rookie of the Year award.

The two also examine the race for NBA Most Valuable Player, with San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama entering the season as the betting favorite to capture his first MVP award. Can Wembanyama separate himself from a talented field featuring Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić and several other established stars? Plus, Contenders Circle returns as the guys identify the franchises that they believe have the strongest chances of competing for the 2027 NBA championship, including potential dark horses and teams facing heightened expectations.

Finally, Gavriel and Torrence take a moment to share the top games fans should have their eyes on throughout Opening Week.

All that and more as The New Twenty Four officially tips off its third season, bringing listeners another year of NBA news, analysis and conversations from around the league!

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After coming within three victories of capturing their sixth NBA championship, can Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs finish what they started and bring another Larry O'Brien Trophy back to The Alamo?

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger bring their journey through 30 Teams In 24 Days to its conclusion by heading to San Antonio to examine the Spurs' championship aspirations entering the 2026-27 NBA season following a remarkable 62-win campaign that saw the franchise reach its first NBA Finals since 2014.

The guys discuss San Antonio's offseason, including the addition of Tobias Harris, the retention of several key contributors and Victor Wembanyama's five-year contract extension. Including whether the Spurs can build upon last season's success and finish the upcoming campaign with the NBA's best regular-season record.

Gavriel and Torrence then move along to assess Wembanyama's pursuit of both NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors, along with the developing backcourt debate involving Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox. With Stephon Castle also factoring into the equation, the guys discuss how San Antonio can maximize its talented collection of guards while continuing to develop its younger players.

The conversation then shifts toward head coach Mitch Johnson and the championship-or-bust expectations surrounding the franchise following last season's NBA Finals defeat against the New York Knicks. They also revisit San Antonio's historic Game 4 collapse and examine whether Johnson can make the necessary adjustments to guide the Spurs back to basketball's biggest stage.

Finally, the two friends share their takes as to whether San Antonio can capture its sixth NBA championship before evaluating the Spurs' projected 59.5-to-60.5-win range and delivering their final official predictions of the 2026-27 edition of 30 Teams In 24 Days.

With all 30 franchises officially covered, the guys also reflect on the conclusion of their monthlong journey throughout The Association and look ahead to the premiere of Season 3 of The New Twenty Four on Wednesday, October 21.

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