New beginnings: How are NBA stars performing on new teams?

Let's examine how some of the offseason's biggest movers have performed in their first few weeks on new teams.

(All stats are current through Nov. 12.)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Heat

Statistically speaking, the Heat can't ask for much more from Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is also shooting better from midrange than ever before, and he's generally carrying Miami's offense. However, there are some causes for concern.

Antetokounmpo is getting to the rim less frequently than at any other point in his career, and his at-rim efficiency (66%) is the worst it's been in 12 years. Are those just noisy early-season numbers, or are they troubling signs of physical decline for the soon-to-be 32-year-old? In addition, Antetokounmpo's disappointing defensive effort has contributed to Miami's stunning bottom-six ranking on that end of the floor. He still has the length and sheer size to wreak havoc in spurts, but he's no longer a defensive menace in space, and he hasn't exactly been locked in.

The Heat (5-6) have started to stabilize after an 0-4 start, though Antetokounmpo and the team still have obvious work to do - especially with his potential 2027 free agency or giant extension looming.

Kawhi Leonard, Raptors

Leonard played only two games for Toronto before left knee swelling sidelined him for weeks and put an early damper on his Raptors reunion. The two-time Finals MVP didn't look right on the offensive end, yet his defensive prowess and offensive gravity still elevated the Raptors in obvious ways.

Leonard's presence better insulated the defensively challenged RJ Barrett, while pairing him with Scottie Barnes - currently sidelined by a strained groin - allowed starting point guard Immanuel Quickley to fill a more ideal role as a secondary playmaker and off-ball shooter. Without Leonard (and Barnes), many of Toronto's roster limitations have come under the microscope, with Quickley and Barrett looking especially vulnerable.

The Raptors need Leonard back not just for his individual production, but because his presence in the lineup puts everything - and everyone - into place. Even while looking like a shell of himself over the season's first few days, Leonard still graded out as one of the league's most impactful players according to some advanced metrics.

No one expected the injury-prone and scandal-plagued star to suddenly suit up for 70-plus games, but after trading multiple first-round picks for him and handing him a $115-million extension, the Raptors have to hope this is just an early-season blip.

LeBron James, 76ers

It's too early to tell whether James is just pacing himself and acclimating to a star-studded new environment, or whether the league's all-time leading scorer is finally seeing a more rapid decline.

James is averaging a career-worst 15.1 points while shooting a career-low 23.7% from deep and 51.1% inside the arc, which would be his lowest mark in 22 years. He's also the only 76ers starter with a negative on/off differential. Then again, James is still averaging roughly seven rebounds and seven assists while playing solid defense for a surprisingly stingy Sixers squad.

At this point in his career, perhaps James is ready to serve as a calming influence and connector on both ends rather than a top offensive option. If Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and especially Joel Embiid can stay healthy, that arrangement probably suits the 10-3 Sixers just fine.

Jaylen Brown, 76ers

Brown has enjoyed a mostly successful debut month in Philly, where he's fit in nicely while accepting his role in the team's Maxey-led offense. Brown's drives and general downhill pressure remain vital, he's cut his turnover rate to a career-low 10.7%, and he's been an overall positive contributor. The five-time All-Star owns a plus-4.4 on/off swing per 100 possessions after years of net-negative seasons in Boston. The Sixers should be pleased with what they've gotten from their former rival and newest star.

However, Brown's performance in a highly anticipated revenge game against the Celtics had to make Sixers fans a little uncomfortable, as it proved to be a microcosm of his divisiveness (and why Boston traded him in the first place). His efficiency was middling, he recorded twice as many turnovers (four) as assists (two), his defense was terrible (particularly off the ball), and he finished a game-worst minus-27 in 26 minutes.

On one hand, one bad night shouldn't overshadow what's been a strong start to Brown's Sixers career. On the other hand, you can't lay that kind of egg after telling Jayson Tatum, "He should stay ready at all times."

Paul George, Celtics

There's a reason we thought the Celtics might've improved by trading Brown, and it has just as much to do with George as it does with any addition by subtraction. George can't shoulder the same offensive burden as Brown at this stage of their respective careers, but he's a much better 3-point shooter, a better spacer for teammates, and a more consistent defender. All of that has made the 36-year-old a perfect fit for head coach Joe Mazzulla's system.

"I think an underrated thing about PG is his work ethic and the mental side of the game. The tactical side of the game," Mazzulla told theScore before a win in Toronto. "It was good for him to kind of go through some struggles (in training camp) as far as figuring out the system a little bit. It comes with a lot of work, but it's something that he takes pride in, just understanding the game on both ends. Seeing how competitive he is and how hard he is on himself, it makes him very coachable."

"He's been an amazing teammate," added Tatum. "I don't want to say he's fit in perfectly, because we don't need him to fit in. He's done a great job adjusting. Second-oldest guy on our team, the most decorated, the most accolades - him coming in with an open mind, willing to try different things and observe, it's really kind of uplifted our team."

Whether George can stay healthy and whether the Brown-less Celtics have enough downhill pressure or offensive variance remains to be seen, but for now, PG-13's arrival has gone swimmingly. He also stole the show during a win in Philly while everyone was watching Tatum vs. Brown.

LaMelo Ball, Timberwolves

Of all the players on this list, none is changing his league-wide perception more than Ball.

The gifted point guard's talent was never in doubt, but his consistency, maturity, decision-making, and durability sure were. It's why the Hornets traded him after one of the most successful seasons - and arguably the most promising year - in franchise history.

It's still too early to declare Ball a changed man, but in his first three weeks facing the pressure of playing for a contending team, he's answered the bell. He's been an efficient and more selective scorer, kept the Timberwolves' offense afloat without Anthony Edwards, cut out most of the head-scratching decisions with the ball in his hands, and locked in defensively - all while suiting up for every game.

If this is the player Minnesota can count on consistently, the Wolves may have found a championship-level costar for Edwards.

Anthony Davis, Wizards

An ankle injury that kept Davis out of the lineup for a couple games led to the usual jokes about the big man's availability, but AD's game has been nothing to laugh at. Davis has shown up, produced, and mostly made life easier for Washington's young players.

Unsurprisingly, his play hasn't translated to wins for a 4-9 Wizards squad that seems to be stuck between two timelines. If Davis continues to play like this and stays upright, he should tempt contenders into sending valuable assets Washington's way - an outcome that would benefit all parties involved. As impressive as Davis has looked, the worst thing the Wizards could do is give the 33-year-old a mammoth extension.

Ja Morant, Trail Blazers

Who had Morant emerging as a caretaking, sweet-shooting, defensively engaged vet in Portland? Probably no one, yet that's the player who showed up through four games before Morant suffered a hamstring injury that's expected to sideline him for most of the month.

Morant still isn't getting to the rim like he used to, and the career 31% 3-point shooter is unlikely to remain near 43% on the season, but his floater game looks great and he's done everything the Blazers have asked of him thus far.

Does he look like a max player worth the $87 million owed to him over the next two seasons? No, but he's been a positive contributor on one of the league's most pleasantly surprising teams - a team that merely traded Jerami Grant and Kris Murray for him.

Walker Kessler, Lakers

Kessler's traditional stats are never going to justify the four first-round draft picks the Lakers relinquished control of to acquire him (two unprotected picks, two swaps), but he can still prove immensely valuable to the franchise. To do that, Kessler needs to be a great pick-and-roll threat and lob partner for Luka Doncic, he needs to win his matchups and rebounding battles, and he needs to do everything possible to keep Los Angeles' shoddy defense together. Check, check, and check.

When Kessler's healthy, he's a walking double-double with elite rim-protection. Playing with Doncic has also given Kessler the easiest points of his life.

About that rim protection: Among the 100 players who've contested the most shots at the rim, Kessler's defensive field-goal percentage of 45.7% ranks seventh (per NBA.com), just behind reigning Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama (45.3%).

Peyton Watson, Cavaliers

Cleveland spent its last tradable first-rounder to acquire Watson, who's set to earn an average salary of $22 million per year over the next four years. So far, the results haven't justified that price.

Though the young forward is far from the team's biggest issue (see James Harden), Watson's low-impact play is certainly concerning. His defense has been fine, but he's shooting 47% inside the arc, 24% from deep, and 69% from the free-throw line while generally looking out of sorts. If the starting lineup doesn't turn things around, head coach Kenny Atkinson might have to move the front office's prized offseason acquisition to the bench.

Joseph Casciaro is theScore's lead NBA reporter.