"2023-24 NBA Season: Surprising Stars, Disappointing Starts, and Regrettable Decisions"
The Athletic asked its NBA staff to identify each team's biggest surprise of the early season. Some notable surprises include Joe Mazzulla's presence and coaching style with the Boston Celtics, Cam Thomas' scoring impact for the Brooklyn Nets, Mitchell Robinson's improvement for the New York Knicks, Kelly Oubre Jr.'s performance for the Philadelphia 76ers, and the slow pace of the Toronto Raptors. Other surprises include Patrick Williams' regression for the Chicago Bulls, Evan Mobley's shooting struggles for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the offensive prowess of the Indiana Pacers.