The wait is finally over: The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Tuesday night, promising all kinds of revelations after a wild offseason and an appetizer of a preseason. We are about to see if any of the player movement shifted the balance of power, or which stars are still ascending and which are starting to decline. And for us real hoop heads, we’re dying to know if those preseason darlings can actually carry their success into the real games. These three deep sleepers are holding our attention big time.
Tristan da Silva Is Making Magic Happen
The Magic are in a tricky spot, trying to shake things up with basically the same crew. New head coach Sean Sweeney is on board, but a lot of hope rides on guys taking a step forward internally. If the preseason is any hint, third-year forward Tristan da Silva might be ready to explode. He put up the second-most points on the team, dropping 16.5 per game. This dude was everywhere, filling up the box score with 3.8 boards, 2.8 dimes, and 1.3 stocks in just 21.6 minutes a night. What’s even bigger? He showed both volume and efficiency from deep, draining 3.5 threes per game at 37.8 percent. That outside shot could be his ticket to more minutes on a Magic squad that’s always starving for spacing.
A 7’3″ Rookie Is Dominating the Paint for OKC
Alright, get this: A rookie just rolled into the league with the kind of physical tools that make jaws drop, and he’s backing it up with straight-up eye-popping numbers. We’re talking about Aday Mara, a center who measured 7’3″ barefoot with a ridiculous 7’6″ wingspan at the Combine. You can’t teach that kind of size, and it’s already translating. Over five preseason outings, Mara packed 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and a massive 2.4 blocks into only 23.3 minutes a night. And get this for efficiency: he shot 78.8 percent from the field and 78.9 percent from the line. That’s huge for a shot-blocking specialist who usually tanks your free-throw categories. The only question mark is his role, not his readiness, because the Thunder’s frontcourt is stacked with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, and Thomas Sorber all fighting for minutes. But talent usually finds a way, and Mara looked too good to ignore.
Can Jarace Walker Finally Deliver for the Pacers?
Then there’s Jarace Walker, the fourth-year forward and No. 8 pick from the 2023 draft. He might be brewing a breakout, *if* whatever kept him out of the Pacers’ final two preseason games doesn’t carry over into the regular season. Yeah, it’s a little wild to say that after just two appearances, but those two games were pure entertainment. He put up 8.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game, showcasing a unique mix of size, strength, and skill. His shooting percentages were encouraging too: 46.2 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three. Consistency has been a challenge for him in the past, but man, those flashes were bright.
The NBA season kicks off Tuesday night, and it’s going to be wild to see if these preseason standouts can carry that momentum forward. Keep an eye on da Silva, Mara, and Walker as the new campaign starts; any one of them could be the next breakout star.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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