Key Highlights
- You can find Tim alongside Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast. Follow on XEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWith at least 41 games in the books for every NBA team, let's take stock of what we've learned from the first half of a 2025-26 campaign already full of surprise contenders, historic performances and plenty of twists and turns.
- (And one trade!)A pair of young teams -- the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the resurgent Detroit Pistons -- raced out to massive leads in both conferences.
- Trade sagas surrounding star forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis have dominated headlines for months.
- Meanwhile, uncertain futures for LeBron James and Chris Paul have put a spotlight on the league's next generation. There have been many other standout storylines through the first half.
- And after conversations this week with coaches, executives and scouts around the league, let's examine one thing we've learned from each team. Stats are updated through Wednesday's games. Jump to a team: ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GS HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WASAtlanta HawksLesson at the halfway mark: Trae Young's defense wasn't the only issue. Much was made of Young's awkward fit in Atlanta before he was traded to the Wizards last month.
