The 2024-25 NBA regular season has officially begun as the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves in a star-studded opener. It was an intriguing debut from head coach JJ Redick, who seems to have connected with the Lakers in a way fans have been waiting to see.
The result was a 110-103 win over the Timberwolves, with Los Angeles moving to 1-0 and securing ample reason to be optimistic about what the future holds.
It was an excellent debut for Redick, who had the Lakers playing with far more energy than fans have grown accustomed to seeing. Los Angeles was aggressive in how it crashed the boards, quick to rotate on defense, and in constant motion on offense.
The end result was a tremendous defensive performance and a balanced offensive effort that saw Los Angeles trust that the right plays would pay off in the end.
Los Angeles went just 5-of-30 from beyond the arc, but its determination to take the best available shot held Minnesota's defense accountable. It filled in the gaps by going all-out in the effort department, pulling down 15 offensive rebounds and holding the Timberwolves to 41.5 percent shooting from the field.
It was an imperfectly perfect way to begin the 2024-25 regular season, and the five starters all provided positive performances in the process.
Anthony Davis: A+
Watching Anthony Davis play defense is an experience that every basketball fan should appreciate. A player his size shouldn't cover ground as quickly as he does, but that's the beauty of his game as the proverbial Swiss army knife on the defensive end of the floor.
Davis not only paced the Lakers through the game with his defensive prowess, but he took over as a scorer and dominated in the most essential of moments.
When Davis wasn't knocking down jump shots, he was blocking them. When he wasn't controlling the glass, he was getting to the line by attacking off the bounce or burying shots on the move when Minnesota thought it could avoid contact.
Davis' stat line of 36 points, 16 rebounds, three offensive boards, four assists, three blocks, and a steal is remarkable, but even that fails to do his performance justice.
Rui Hachimura: A-
If the first half is a sign of things to come, then Rui Hachimura is in for an excellent season. He played with remarkable energy, making plays on both ends of the floor as he abandoned fear and committed to every action.
Hachimura quieted down during the second half, but he made sure to make his voice heard during the fourth quarter to complete a promising 2024-25 debut.
Hachimura was the Lakers' best player during the first quarter and sustained his energy throughout the game. He was less assertive as a scorer in the second half, but he played hard on defense and made the Timberwolves pay whenever they thought they could relax against him.
As for the numbers, with 18 points, five rebounds, one assist, and two steals, Hachimura produced a stat line that the Lakers would be happy to see him average in 2024-25.
LeBron James: C+
LeBron James officially tied Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history during the Lakers' season opener. That alone was incredible to witness. Seeing James embrace his off-ball role by setting screens and directing traffic with his voice and mannerisms was the icing on the cake.
James put together a perfectly solid showing for the Lakers, and while it may not have been his best to date, it was an encouraging sight to see.
James tallied 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, shooting 7-of-16 from the field and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. Those numbers are an accurate depiction of his performance, as he spent most of the game helping fill in the gaps for the Lakers' offense.
There were moments during which James' defensive effort was underwhelming, but the Lakers can't have asked for much more than this in the type of game they played.
Austin Reaves: B-
If the 2024-25 regular season opener is a sign of things to come, then Austin Reaves will have a significant role in the Lakers' success. It's far from a surprise, but Reaves reminded the critics of how well-rounded he is with his showing against the Timberwolves.
Some might point to Reaves posting 12 points and four assists on 5-of-14 shooting from the field and an 0-of-5 performance from distance, but that only scratches the surface of his quality.
Reaves was endless in his effort, competing on both ends of the floor and driving the Lakers' success on the offensive glass. He pulled down nine rebounds, including four on offense, and was significantly more locked in on defense than how he played in 2023-24.
Reaves will be tasked with producing bigger numbers as a scorer and facilitator moving forward, but his effort on defense and the glass was essential to Los Angeles' success.
D'Angelo Russell: C
D'Angelo Russell failed to begin the season in peak form as a shooter, but he made his mark in other areas. He was active in the passing lanes, determined during his drives to the rim, and aggressive in exploiting Minnesota's lackadaisical moments.
Shooting 4-of-12 from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range is tough to stomach, but Russell looked far more engaged in other aeas of the game than he did a season ago.
Russell finished with five assists and two steals. Beyond the numbers, he was consistently looking for ways to set his teammates up, was quick to loose balls, limited his own turnovers, and was regularly in the right spots on defense.
It wasn't the star-caliber performance he's capable of on offense, but if this level of non-scoring value can continue in 2024-25, then Russell will be a much better player.