As I settled in to watch the NBA's opening night, that familiar excitement reminded me why this night always feels special. The energy was palpable even through the screen, and the two matchups delivered exactly what we basketball enthusiasts crave - competitive basketball that told us something meaningful about these teams. What struck me most was how both games followed a similar narrative arc - close, hard-fought battles where the final score didn't quite capture how competitive they truly were. I've always believed opening night reveals character, and tonight's games proved that theory correct.
The Lakers-Nuggets contest particularly caught my attention, not just because it was a championship ring ceremony night, but because of how Denver asserted their dominance in those crucial moments. Watching Nikola Jokić operate is like watching a chess master at work - he finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, yet what impressed me more was his timing. When the Lakers made their inevitable third-quarter push, cutting what seemed like a comfortable lead down to just four points, Jokić simply took over. He scored eight straight points during one stretch, and the Nuggets never looked back. What fascinates me about this Denver team is their poise - they never seem rattled, even when opponents make runs. Having watched them throughout last season's championship run, I can confidently say they've maintained that championship DNA.
Meanwhile, the Warriors-Suns matchup felt like a throwback to classic Western Conference shootouts. Stephen Curry's 27 points felt almost effortless, but what really stood out to me was Chris Paul coming off the bench - something we haven't seen in his entire 19-year career. The Warriors' second unit looked more organized than I've seen in years, and Paul's 9 assists with 0 turnovers demonstrated why this experiment might actually work. On the Suns' side, Kevin Durant's 32-point performance reminded everyone why he's still one of the most unstoppable scorers in the league, though I couldn't help but notice their offense sometimes stagnated when Devin Booker wasn't on the floor.
The quote from Reyes that's been circulating - "This game was a lot closer than the score shows in the end" - perfectly captures what I witnessed tonight. Both games featured moments where either team could have seized control, and the final margins didn't reflect how competitive these contests truly were. In the Nuggets' case, their 119-107 victory over the Lakers doesn't show how Los Angeles actually outscored them in the paint or how Anthony Davis' 32 points kept them within striking distance until midway through the fourth quarter. Similarly, the Warriors' 108-104 win over Phoenix came down to the final possessions, despite Golden State leading for most of the game.
What I take away from opening night is that the league's top teams have clearly defined identities. The Nuggets play with a methodical precision that's beautiful to watch, the Warriors have reinvented their bench dynamics, the Lakers have improved their depth, and the Suns' offensive firepower remains terrifying. As someone who's followed the NBA for over two decades, I appreciate how these early games set the tone for the marathon ahead. The standings will undoubtedly shift throughout the season, but the mental toughness displayed tonight - particularly by the defending champions - suggests we're in for another incredible year of basketball. The games may have been wars, as Reyes noted, but what exciting wars they were.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
