As I settled into my couch with popcorn in hand for the NBA opening night, I couldn't help but feel that familiar thrill that only basketball season brings. Having followed the league for over fifteen years, I've learned that opening night isn't just about the final scores—it's about the narratives that begin unfolding, the rivalries that get reignited, and those individual performances that can set the tone for an entire season. This year's matchups particularly caught my eye, with five games that I believe will define the early narrative of this NBA campaign.
The Lakers versus Warriors matchup immediately stood out to me, and not just because I've been a LeBron James admirer since his Miami days. This game delivered exactly what we hoped for—two legendary teams going head-to-head with everything on the line. What struck me most was how the final score of 123-115 didn't truly reflect how intensely competitive this game was throughout. It reminded me of that perfect quote from Coach Reyes that I came across recently: "This game was a lot closer than the score shows in the end." That sentiment perfectly captures what we witnessed between these California rivals. Stephen Curry's 34-point performance was absolutely masterful, but what really impressed me was Anthony Davis dominating the paint with 28 points and 15 rebounds. The way these two future Hall of Famers went back and forth reminded me why I fell in love with basketball in the first place.
Meanwhile, over in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics-76ers game provided what I consider the most compelling tactical battle of the night. As someone who appreciates defensive strategy, watching Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid trade baskets while their teams adjusted defensively was pure basketball poetry. Tatum finished with 31 points, but what the stat sheet won't show you is how his defensive intensity in the third quarter completely shifted the game's momentum. Embiid's 29 points and 12 rebounds were impressive, yet I couldn't help but notice how the Celtics' defensive schemes limited his effectiveness in crucial moments. This is where Reyes' insight about games being closer than the score shows really resonates with me—the 112-105 final doesn't capture how every possession felt like a miniature battle with significant consequences.
The Bucks-Knicks game particularly interested me because I've been skeptical about Milwaukee's defensive adjustments under their new coach. Giannis Antetokounmpo put up his typical monster numbers—32 points and 14 rebounds—but what surprised me was how Jalen Brunson matched him step for step with 29 points of his own. The back-and-forth in the fourth quarter had me on the edge of my seat, with neither team leading by more than five points for the final eight minutes. This is exactly what Reyes meant when he described such contests as "a war"—each possession carried the weight of the entire game, and the intensity was palpable even through the television screen.
What stood out to me across all these games was how individual performances ultimately made the difference in contests that were much tighter than the final scores suggested. When Reyes emphasized that "that was key" in determining the final outcome, he perfectly articulated what separates great teams from good ones in these opening night matchups. The ability to execute in those crucial moments, to make the right pass or get the critical stop—that's what we saw from the winning teams tonight. Having watched countless opening nights, I can confidently say that these close, hard-fought games often provide the best indicators of which teams have what it takes to compete deep into the season. The final scores might show comfortable margins, but the reality is that most of these games could have gone either way until the final minutes. That's the beauty of NBA basketball, and that's why I'll always clear my schedule for opening night.
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.
