NBA Player News

Jokic was in foul trouble after picking up four of them in the third quarter and then picked up his fifth in the fourth quarter. He was also dealing with a right hamstring injury and spent a lot of time on an exercise bike while DeMarcus Cousins was having the best playoff game of his career. Jokic will have plenty of time to recover from the hamstring injury this summer as the Nuggets are headed to Cancun.

After spending most of his rookie season in Sioux Falls with Miami’s G League affiliate, Johnson is looking to carve out a role with the “big club” in 2025-26. He shot the ball exceptionally well on Monday, making 80 percent of his field goal attempts. Add in the other stats, and Johnson contributed a complete stat line in Miami’s first win in Las Vegas. Johnson’s chances of being a fantasy-relevant player to begin next season are slim, but he should potentially have opportunities to change that during training camp.

Give Ware credit for responding to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s recent comments about the young center’s need to improve his professionalism and consistency. The 7-footer shot 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in Monday’s victory and grabbed 15 rebounds. Once he moved into the starting lineup last season, Ware was able to develop into a solid fantasy option in standard leagues. He possesses a high ceiling heading into Year 2, especially if he’s consistently aggressive on both ends of the floor.

Larsson and the Heat picked up their first win of the summer on Monday, and he led the way offensively as a scorer and playmaker. While Kel’el Ware being called out over the weekend grabbed the headlines, he wasn’t the only Heat player whose competitiveness left something to be desired in Miami’s first two games. Larsson stepped up against the Celtics, and the Heat will need him consistently next season.

While González has not shot the ball well in his two appearances in Las Vegas, going 7-of-24 from the field, the competitiveness and ability to contribute in various ways have been on display. The first-round pick was solid on the glass and as a playmaker, which was also the case in Boston’s win over the Grizzlies on Friday. Due to the changes to the Celtics’ roster, González will have opportunities to contribute next season. While not a lock to be fantasy-relevant next season, he’s worth holding in dynasty league drafts.

Scheierman had another productive showing on Monday, finishing one assist shy of a double-double. With Jayson Tatum set to miss most of the 2025-26 season, if not all of it, as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Jrue Holiday gone, rotation minutes will be available on the perimeter. Scheierman’s ability to make plays for himself and others makes him someone to watch, even if he isn’t guaranteed to be fantasy-relevant.

Irving was injured in early March and does not have a concrete timeline for returning to game action. However, Harrison’s words about the point guard will spark optimism regarding his return to the court. “Kyrie’s ahead of schedule, but we kind of knew he would be because of the way he attacks his rehab,” Harrison said, according to the Dallas Hoops Journal. “He’s going two or three times a day. As much as he wants to rush it, we don’t want him to. But he’s going to be fine.” Due to Irving’s injury, the Mavericks signed D’Angelo Russell in free agency and re-signed Dante Exum. They’ll handle the point guard responsibilities while Dallas awaits Kyrie’s return, with Russell being worth the risk in standard league drafts.

Walsh started well on Monday, but the 2023 second-round pick could not keep his cool, resulting in a premature trip to the showers. He picked up two technical fouls during the first half, the second after shoving Pelle Larsson out of bounds. With his contract for the 2025-26 season only partially guaranteed, Walsh can’t make his case from the locker room. He finished with 12 points, three rebounds, one steal and one three-pointer, shooting 5-of-8 from the field.

Having already agreed to a two-way contract with the Mavericks, Nembhard knows he’ll be in training camp with the team this fall. However, his performances in Las Vegas have likely opened some eyes within the organization and throughout the league. Nembhard was the lone Mavericks player to score in double figures against the Hornets and was also responsible for eight of the team’s 15 assists. Nembhard won’t be worth the risk in fantasy drafts, but he could be an intriguing option for the future based on how he’s played in Las Vegas.

Simpson cleaned some things up after shooting poorly in Saturday’s win over the 76ers. In addition to improving his shooting, the point guard committed just one turnover on the evening. Due to Charlotte’s depth at the point, Simpson’s chances of entering next season as a fantasy-relevant player are slim. However, due mainly to LaMelo Ball’s injury history, there may be opportunities throughout the season for Simpson to step into a larger role.

Knueppel was far more impactful Monday evening after a pedestrian performance in his summer league debut on Thursday. The fourth overall pick in last month’s draft shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and was solid defensively, which likely mirrors what the Hornets will ask of Knueppel once the regular season begins. He’ll be more valuable to dynasty league managers than those competing in redraft leagues, but Knueppel possesses a relatively high floor in his new home.