NBA Player News

Mitchell’s absence will leave the Cavaliers without their best scorer on Friday. In his absence, Keon Ellis or Max Strus could move into a starting role, creating more opportunities for them to produce. Sam Merrill is also a candidate to slot in as a replacement starter.

Vassell’s contributions in Game 5 won’t jump off the page, but he was solid and recorded a complete stat line in the Spurs’ season finale. That tracks with his fantasy production during the regular season, with the Spurs’ wing finishing outside the top-100 in eight- and nine-cat formats. Vassell will likely remain a player who offers consistent late-round fantasy value, but his ceiling is limited. Especially as players like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper improve.

San Antonio’s starting backcourt struggled mightily in Game 5, with Castle and De’Aaron Fox totaling 13 points on 4-of-25 shooting from the field. As well as Castle played in the Spurs’ Game 3 victory and for most of the postseason, turnovers and foul trouble were also factors for the second-year guard. The experience should serve him well in the future, but Castle has to become a more efficient offensive player. His fantasy value will remain limited until that changes, especially when considering Dylan Harper’s emergence.

Fox’s first NBA Finals appearance is one that should, in theory, motivate him for years to come, as he struggled for most of the series. The miscues late in Game 4 were followed by a subpar performance in Game 5, and down the stretch, the Spurs would have been better off relying on Dylan Harper. Regarding fantasy basketball, Fox can provide reliable top-75 value, but his ceiling is limited on this Spurs roster. It’s worth noting that Fox’s extension, worth nearly $222 million over four years, goes into effect next season. While the Spurs may not have to make a decision immediately, there will come a point when they need to play Harper and Stephon Castle. Stay tuned.

Harper was San Antonio’s best player in Game 5, and his lack of opportunities in the fourth quarter contributed to the Spurs’ inability to hold off the Knicks. A similar scenario occurred in Game 4, and Harper is the first rookie since Richard Dumas in 1993 to record consecutive 20-point games. After the defeat, teammate Devin Vassell said that there were times during the season when Harper was frustrated with his playing time. Given how well he played during San Antonio’s run to the Finals, minutes should not be a concern for Harper in 2026-27. Don’t be surprised if he breaks out next season.

While he had moments of dominance in his first NBA Finals appearance, Wembanyama’s conditioning and the Knicks’ ability to limit his effectiveness at times were issues. Dominant as a rim protector in Game 5, the 7-foot-4 center was unable to assert himself consistently on the offensive end, even with Karl-Anthony Towns in foul trouble for most of the night. These finals will serve as a learning experience for Wembanyama, who will have an argument to be Pick 1.1 in fantasy drafts next fall. Also, keep in mind that he won’t turn 23 until January. There’s a lot more for Wembanyama to learn before he reaches his prime.

After totaling 51 points in Games 3 and 4, Anunoby entered Game 5 in the mix for NBA Finals MVP. However, he struggled for most of the night, and Jalen Brunson going off for 45 points put to rest any conversations about who would take home the Bill Russell Award. Even with the subpar Game 5, Anunoby’s play throughout the Knicks’ title run cemented his status as one of the top two-way players in the NBA. He can offer top-50 fantasy value during the regular season, even threatening top-25 status, and he’s surpassed 65 games each of the last two seasons.

Hart finished Saturday’s win with his fourth double-double of the players, reaching double figures in points for the second time in three games. In fact, remove Games 3 and 5, and he totaled nine points in the other three contests. However, Hart’s most important contributions rarely come in the points category, as evidenced by his 11 rebounds on Saturday. Also, his 3-of-6 night from beyond the arc was huge, as the Knicks struggled to get going as a whole. Because of inconsistent scoring, he can be undervalued in category leagues, but Hart has provided top-100 value. There’s no reason why he can’t do that again in 2026-27.

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.