Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out for Thursday's preseason game against the Detroit Pistons. His absence is due to an illness, as reported by Eric Nehm of The Athletic. This decision ensures Antetokounmpo can recover fully before the regular season. Additional analysis on this update can be found by visiting RotoWire.com.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, previously listed for rest, has been confirmed to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Hornets. This update, reported by Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, indicates his availability and readiness for the upcoming exhibition contest.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was initially listed for rest, is now confirmed to participate in Thursday's preseason game against the Hornets. Rylan Stiles of SI.com provided this report, assuring fans of his availability for the upcoming matchup.
LeBron James is confirmed to miss the Los Angeles Lakers' regular season opener scheduled for October 21. The star forward's absence stems from sciatica affecting his right side, a significant development for the team as they prepare to kick off their 2025-2026 campaign. This injury will prevent James from participating in the highly anticipated first game, requiring the Lakers to adjust their initial lineup and strategy without their key player.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, currently recovering from an ankle injury, has expressed his expectation to be fully ready for Opening Night. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Morant's optimistic outlook, suggesting he anticipates a return to action for the start of the regular season.
With LeBron James sidelined for three to four weeks due to sciatica, Luka Dončić is expected to take on significantly increased responsibility for the Los Angeles Lakers. While his fantasy draft outlook is considered least impacted among the team's starters due to his existing top-5 ADP, fantasy managers will be closely monitoring his efficiency with the added workload. Some reports suggest James's absence could even strengthen Dončić's MVP case as he leads the team in the early part of the season.
Indiana Pacers backup point guard T.J. McConnell is expected to miss a minimum of one month of action. The veteran guard sustained a hamstring injury during the team's inaugural preseason game, as confirmed by coach Rick Carlisle on Thursday. This setback means McConnell will be out for a significant period, impacting the Pacers' backcourt depth as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Cooper Flagg is a key focus in a newly released rookie draft guide, providing essential information for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. The guide outlines expectations for the Dallas Mavericks rookie's performance this season and offers recommendations on his draft stock. Fantasy managers can utilize this analysis to understand Flagg's potential impact and make informed decisions during their upcoming drafts.
Dylan Harper is highlighted in a comprehensive rookie draft guide, offering crucial insights for fantasy basketball managers. The guide details what fantasy managers can anticipate from the San Antonio Spurs rookie this upcoming season and provides strategic advice on how he should be valued and selected in fantasy drafts. This analysis aims to help managers effectively integrate Harper into their fantasy rosters.
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is making significant progress in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, sustained five months ago during the Eastern Conference semifinals. Tatum recently demonstrated his improved condition by dunking, sharing a video of the feat on X and crediting his shoes. Despite the long and arduous recovery process, Tatum has not ruled out a return during the 2025-26 NBA season, emphasizing a full recovery over rushing back. When healthy, Tatum is a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player, averaging 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game since his third season. With the Celtics in a transition year and projected to be under-.500, Tatum might wait until the 2026-27 season, though a playoff return remains a small possibility if the team performs better than expected.
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić has earned top accolades ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, with general managers overwhelmingly predicting he will win the MVP award. GMs expressed high praise for the 30-year-old, identifying him as the player who forces opponents to make the most adjustments, the best center, best international player, best passer, and the player with the best basketball IQ. Jokić also finished third in voting for best leader and received votes for most versatile player and the player GMs would want to take a game-winning shot. Furthermore, he placed third in the survey for which player GMs would choose to build a new franchise around, underscoring the continued high regard for his game.
San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama has earned top accolades ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, with general managers overwhelmingly selecting him as the player they would choose to build a new franchise around. Wembanyama secured a dominant 83% of the votes in this category, highlighting his immense potential and perceived long-term value. Additionally, a podcast segment from Kevin O'Connor's mailbag briefly noted "The Wemby-Kornet connection in San Antonio," indicating ongoing discussion and interest surrounding his on-court dynamics with the team.
Rookie prospect Ace Bailey is generating optimistic buzz ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, particularly in connection with the Utah Jazz. Kevin O'Connor, in his recent mailbag, expressed optimistic takes on breakout teams, specifically mentioning the Jazz. A key question raised was whether Utah and Ace Bailey can collectively "take the next step," suggesting expectations for significant development and impact from Bailey as he potentially contributes to the team's improvement.
Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers are being previewed ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, with the team noted as being "even deeper than they were before" as they pursue championship aspirations. However, Leonard's situation is also under scrutiny as the NBA has reopened its investigation into reports that the Clippers attempted to circumvent the salary cap during his 2019-20 free-agent negotiations. Both Leonard and the Clippers have consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding these allegations.
Joel Embiid's 2025-26 season is shrouded in uncertainty as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery, with recent videos showing him working out without a brace and participating in full-court scrimmages. Despite feeling good and making progress, the Philadelphia 76ers star still has 'boxes that need to be checked' before a return-to-play date can be set. The team's outlook hinges on Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey being healthy together, a scenario that occurred for only 15 games last season. Embiid returned from the offseason noticeably slimmer, and the team hopes he can resume their pursuit of the Eastern Conference finals. The Sixers face a dilemma balancing a veteran-contending roster with a young core, and their over/under win total is projected at 42.5.
Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe did not practice on Thursday due to hip soreness, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. Edgecombe, the third overall pick in June, has been drawing praise for his athleticism and playmaking chops. Coach Nick Nurse reportedly likes the look of an Edgecombe-Maxey backcourt, potentially even in a three-guard alignment. Despite this minor setback, Edgecombe's potential is considered sky-high.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George, who has been managing a knee issue, was observed participating in contact work following Thursday's practice. This positive development, reported by Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com, signals a significant step forward in his rehabilitation. Engaging in contact drills suggests George is progressing well and potentially nearing a return to full team activities, which is encouraging news for the 76ers.
Norman Powell, a shooting guard/small forward with an ADP of 84, has joined the Miami Heat and is anticipated to be a key contributor, especially with Tyler Herro sidelined. Previously with the Clippers, Powell averaged 3.0 made three-pointers per game, ranking 19th in the league. In Miami, he is expected to provide crucial floor spacing, creating opportunities in the post for Bam Adebayo and slashing lanes for Wiggins. His consistent three-point shooting is projected to continue offering significant value for the Heat.
Boston Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard, with an ADP of 78, is projected to start and play significant minutes in the upcoming season. Despite a potentially elevated draft cost, he remains a strong fantasy target for three-point value, having shot 40.7% from beyond the arc and making 3.2 threes per game, ranking 14th in the league. The Celtics' team philosophy, which favors three-point shooting, is expected to continue. Pritchard had a standout 2024-25 season, earning the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. He also set an NBA record for most three-pointers made off the bench in a single season with 246 and led all bench players in points with 1,079.
Kevin Durant is steadily climbing the NBA's all-time scoring list and is on pace to surpass Michael Jordan. With 30,571 career points, Durant trails Jordan's 32,292 points by 1,721. Durant scored 1,647 points last season and has played 1,123 career games. He is also mentioned in fantasy basketball mock drafts, being selected 16th overall in a 12-team league. Additionally, Durant is 100 three-pointers away from surpassing Vince Carter for 10th on the all-time list.
