Messi, Gretzky, LeBron and the other best debut games for new clubs

Lionel Messi started his Inter Miami tenure with a bang, punching in a free-kick game-winner in his first contest with the club during stoppage time. His first action with an American club on American soil couldn’t have gone much better, which led us to think about some other legends who had stellar debuts in their first games with a new team.

Although Irving’s dedication to basketball has been questioned over the last few seasons, his ability to score has never been in doubt. This elite level of production was on full display in his first game with the Nets, as he dropped 50 points in front of the Brooklyn faithful against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After an incredible run with the San Francisco 49ers, Montana would continue his career in Kansas City, spending two years with the Chiefs. In his first game with the team, Montana delivered a signature performance. He threw for two touchdowns and completed 66% of his passes en route to a 27-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Many baseball fans fondly remember Martinez’ run with the Red Sox, which was highlighted by a dominant 1999 season. The Hall of Fame pitcher hit the ground running from day one with the team in 1998. In his first start with Boston, he struck out 11 Oakland Athletics hitters on his way to a seven-inning shutout. Martinez only conceded three hits that day.

Johnson was a hired gun for Houston in 1998, as they acquired the electric hurler in hopes of making a deep postseason run. Right after the Astros acquired him at the trade deadline, he proved that he was still a legitimate ace. He struck out 12 hitters in seven innings on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

During his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden showed that he could be a capable offensive facilitator off the bench in a complementary role. That perception completely changed after he was traded to the Rockets, as the shooting guard proved that he could lead a team. He scored 37 points in his Houston debut, and followed that up with a 45 point performance in his next game.

Gretzky rewrote NHL record books during his time with the Edmonton Oilers, but faced a new challenge when he went to Los Angeles in 1988. The larger spotlight didn’t shake the hockey legend one bit, as he scored a goal and recorded three assists in his first game with the Kings, a victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

Perhaps no athlete has received greater scrutiny for changing teams in recent memory than James, who left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Heat in 2010. All eyes were on James as he suited up for Miami against the rival Boston Celtics to start his Heat career. He dropped 31 points in his first contest.

Many believed that Moss’ best days were behind him, as the star wide receiver’s production dipped significantly during his time with the Oakland Raiders. He would prove everyone wrong in 2007 when he joined the Patriots. Moss eviscerated the New York Jets in Week 1 of that season, catching nine passes for 183 yards and one touchdown.

There was a lot of smoke surrounding Anthony’s desire to play for the Knicks, and it was just a matter of whether he would join the team via trade or free agency. The Denver Nuggets sent him to New York midseason, and Anthony dropped 27 points in his first game with the Knicks. The small forward was happy to be back in his home city.

Halladay is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, but is often left out of the conversation due to his mild-mannered temperament. He made his presence felt right away when he joined the Phillies in 2010. He stifled the Washington Nationals in his first start, striking out nine while only giving up one run in seven innings.