NBA Player News

He hasn’t been on the radar of fantasy managers this season, and for good reason, given his lackluster production. However, the rookie’s defensive activity makes him capable of having games like Thursday, where he can do a little bit of everything. Watkins played 27 minutes against the Pistons, matching his season-high in steals and recording a new high in blocks. Add in the rebounds and assists, and this was a solid performance as far as category leagues are concerned. However, this does not make Watkins a player worth adding.

For the second consecutive game, Towns struggled with foul trouble on Saturday. While he was productive as a rebounder and defender in his 23 minutes, extended bench time robbed KAT of his offensive rhythm. However, this did not keep the Knicks from winning their first NBA title since 1973. And even with the poor individual finish, Towns’ play throughout New York’s title run may boost his value in fantasy drafts. The Knicks were most lethal when more of the offense ran through KAT, which may be an approach head coach Mike Brown takes in 2026-27. Using a late-first round pick on Towns in standard league drafts would not be a reach.

After totaling nine points in Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals, Bridges cracked double figures in Saturday’s series clincher. On a night when Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby shot a combined 4-of-18 from the field, with the former fouling out, Bridges’ contributions were needed, even if they weren’t extraordinary. Looking ahead to next season, his availability is what gives Bridges value, especially in category leagues. However, the 2025-26 regular season may lead to him going a little later in drafts after many managers were burned by his struggles.

As he has done many times since he arrived in New York, Brunson shouldered a significant amount of the scoring workload on a night when many of his teammates struggled. The captain scored 29 points after halftime, becoming the first player in Knicks franchise history to score 40 points or more in an NBA Finals game. Unsurprisingly, Brunson was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Looking ahead to next season, Brunson has top-25 fantasy potential, even if he did not reach those heights in 2025-26. However, the rotation and responsibilities should be locked in more than they were in head coach Mike Brown’s first season at the helm.