NBA Player News

Following Wednesday’s loss to the Hawks, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers commented about the need for more size in the starting lineup. He has since adjusted the lineup, with Kuzma replacing AJ Green.

The rookie struggled with his shot in this game but made up for it by getting to the free throw line. This was his fourth career game scoring at least 20 points, with two of those coming in his last four games. There were high expectations for him to be an NBA-ready rookie, and he has had some excellent games this year, though his role early on was too limited for his season-long numbers to be strong. Still, there were some impressive flashes, and if he is able to remain a starter next season, he may be able to make a real impact for fantasy managers.

Plowden continues to pour in the points for the Kings. This was his fourth 20-point game of the season, with all of those coming over the past month. He spent most of this season in the G League, but he has taken advantage of his opportunity to play a larger role role since the trade deadline. He has played well, which should continue in the season finale on Sunday.

Raynaud continues to look like one of the best value picks of the 2025 class. He’s is currently eighth in the class in points per game, but since the All-Star break, he is fifth. Raynaud has been one of the few bright spots in what has been a tumultuous season for Sacramento. Depending on what moves the Kings make this summer, Raynaud could end up being a valuable option in fantasy basketball once again next season.

Carter has had some strong performances as a starter over the past couple of weeks, but this was his best. He set a new career high for scoring in the win, and this was his third 20-point game in his last six outings. The 2024 lottery pick struggled to find a place in Sacramento’s rotation early on, but he has played a consistent role over the past couple of months and has been effective recently. Hopefully he’ll be able to carry some of this into next season, though fantasy managers shouldn’t bank on it.

Ighodaro has reached double figures in rebounds twice in his last six appearances. The second-year center played 21 minutes off the bench on Friday, finishing two points shy of a double-double. With the Suns knowing their seeding for the Play-In Tournament, Sunday’s game against the Thunder may be one where young reserves like Ighodaro play more minutes than usual.

For the first time in his career, Podziemski was able to reach the 30-point mark. It wasn’t enough for Golden State to get the win, but it was an excellent performance for him. Podz is averaging career highs in points, assists and three-pointers per game, and he is wrapping up the season on a hot streak. Golden State will be the 10th seed in the West entering the play-in tournament next week, and Podz will need to stay hot if they want to make it to the playoffs.

O’Neale came off the bench on Friday, and his role may have become more important due to Grayson Allen’s hamstring injury. Allen, who went down during the second quarter, is expected to undergo imaging on Saturday to determine the severity of the injury. If he has to miss time, O’Neale’s role takes on added importance because of what he can bring to the table as a three-point shooter and defender.

The only Suns starter to play more than 21 minutes on Friday was Ryan Dunn (one point, two rebounds, one assist and one steal), who logged 28. Brooks played 21 minutes, checking out for good during the third quarter. With the Suns locked into their seed for the postseason and Grayson Allen (hamstring) going down during the second quarter of Friday’s game, it would be unsurprising if the team rested Brooks and its other key players ahead of Tuesday’s Play-In game against the Trail Blazers or the Clippers.

James recorded another career milestone on Friday, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to record at least 12,000 assists. He joins John Stockton, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd on that esteemed list. As for Friday’s victory, the 41-year-old continues to shoulder a heavier workload, with the Lakers not having Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves due to injury. James has recorded points/assists double-doubles in all three games he’s played since those two went down in Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers will be seeded no lower than fourth in the West, making it possible that LeBron sits out Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Jazz.

Friday’s game was the first for Smart since March 21, and the veteran guard was used in a reserve role against the Suns. While he can be inconsistent at best as a scorer, Smart’s abilities as a perimeter defender make him an essential contributor for the Lakers. Especially with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves not likely to be ready when the playoffs begin on April 18.