The 2025-26 NBA season has kicked off with a bang, and the first 10 days have been full of action. We’ve seen record-setting offense, with teams playing at a faster pace than ever before. While four teams have maintained a perfect record, others are still searching for their first victory.
Early trends can change, but the first couple of weeks have already given us a lot to talk about. The games have been defined by higher scores, more fouls being called by referees, and teams applying more defensive pressure all over the court. Let’s look at some of the key numbers and stories that have shaped the start of the season.
🚀 The Game is Getting Faster and More Physical
The most noticeable trend so far is the explosion in scoring. Across the league, teams are averaging 117.7 points per game, a number not seen in 64 years. This is happening for two main reasons: a faster pace of play and incredible offensive efficiency. The pace, or number of possessions per game, is the highest it’s been in 30 years, and scoring efficiency is on track to set a new league record.
With more action comes more contact. Referees are calling an average of 45.7 fouls per game, the highest in three decades and a 23% increase from last season. This means more free throws, which is the most efficient way to score. It’s not just happening on jump shots; fouls on drives to the basket are also way up. This increase is partly due to teams playing more aggressive defense, with defenders picking up their opponents further up the court on 18.2% of possessions—a sharp rise from previous years. This intense defensive style has also led to more turnovers, making the game even more fast-paced and unpredictable.
💪 Undefeated Teams and Dominant Stars
Several teams have found a way to win and remain undefeated. The Sixers have a perfect 4-0 record, thanks to some amazing fourth-quarter comebacks and the league’s best 3-point shooting. Amazingly, three of their wins came after being down by 10 or more points in the final quarter. They’ve achieved this despite data suggesting their shot quality is among the worst in the NBA, proving that timely shooting and solid fundamentals—like a low turnover rate and high free-throw rate—can make all the difference.
Meanwhile, the Spurs are off to their best start in franchise history at 5-0, thanks to Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 star is playing a more physical game, taking 61% of his shots in the paint compared to just 37% last season. This change has led to a huge jump in his free-throw attempts and greater overall efficiency. The defending champion Thunder are also perfect at 6-0, largely because of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s incredible play in close games. He has scored 46 “clutch” points—more than double any other player—and has been the go-to guy in critical moments. Not far behind, the Bucks have started strong at 4-1, with Giannis Antetokounmpo dominating inside. He is averaging a staggering 26.5 points in the paint per game, on pace to shatter the previous record held by Shaquille O’Neal.
🔄 New Strategies, Mixed Results
Some teams have made major changes to their game plan this season, with varying degrees of success. The Heat have completely transformed their offense, playing at a record-setting pace of just 12.6 seconds per possession. They are pushing the ball in transition nearly a quarter of the time and using far fewer set plays like ball-screens. This new, faster style has worked well, boosting their offense to a top-10 rank after years of struggling to score.
On the other hand, the Knicks have also adopted a new strategy under a new coach, taking nearly half of their shots (49.4%) from 3-point range—a massive increase from last season, where they ranked near the bottom. However, this shift hasn’t paid off yet. With key players like OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns struggling to make their shots, their offense currently ranks in the bottom third of the league. These different outcomes show how changing a team’s style can be a high-risk, high-reward move. Finally, an early trend to watch is the Western Conference’s 12-6 record against the East, continuing a pattern of dominance that has lasted for over two decades.
