The 2025-26 NBA season started on Tuesday with two high-profile games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning MVP, celebrated their championship win by defeating the Houston Rockets in overtime. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler led the Golden State Warriors to a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, with Luka Doncic shining for the Lakers as LeBron James sat out due to sciatica.
The Toronto Raptors will kick off their season in Atlanta, aiming for a playoff spot after missing out for two consecutive years. Canada remains the leading foreign supplier of NBA players, with 23 Canadians currently playing in the league.
Key Canadian players to watch this season include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort from the Thunder, who played pivotal roles in the NBA Finals, Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin from the Indiana Pacers, Jamal Murray from the Denver Nuggets, Shaedon Sharpe from the Portland Trail Blazers, Zach Edey from the Memphis Grizzlies, Dillon Brooks from the Phoenix Suns, Andrew Wiggins from the Miami Heat, and RJ Barrett from the Toronto Raptors. These players are expected to make significant impacts on their respective teams this season.
