NBA Player News

Jokic recorded six points (3-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt), 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals in 23 minutes during Serbia's 102-73 win over Iceland in Friday's FIBA World Cup qualifier.

Jokic attempted only seven shots but impacted the game in his usual fashion as a rebounder and facilitator. The 31-year-old averaged a triple-double for the second consecutive regular season in 2025-26, posting 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game while finishing second in MVP voting. Denver has reshaped the supporting cast around him this offseason, but Jokic remains the unquestioned centerpiece of the offense and should once again be among the first players selected in virtually every fantasy format in 2026-27.

Bitadze recorded 23 points (8-18 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in 30 minutes during Georgia's 101-74 win over Montenegro in Friday's FIBA World Cup qualifier.

The 27-year-old averaged 5.9 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 67.6 percent from the field during the 2025-26 regular season, but his path to playing time has become even more crowded following the Magic's offseason addition of Nikola Vucevic. With Vucevic and Wendell Carter both in the mix at center, Bitadze may struggle to see enough minutes to provide consistent fantasy value in 2026-27.

Missi recorded 24 points (9-13 FG, 6-8 FT), nine rebounds, two steals and four blocks in 27 minutes during Cameroon's 78-62 win over Nigeria in Thursday's FIBA World Cup qualifier.

The 22-year-old is coming off his second NBA season and will enter training camp battling for minutes in a crowded New Orleans frontcourt that also features Derik Queen and Karlo Matkovic. Missi's rebounding, rim protection and athleticism give him a clear path to maintaining a significant role, but the presence of Queen and Matkovic could prevent any substantial increase in playing time. His limited offensive range also caps his fantasy ceiling.

Hansen recorded 15 points (7-11 FG, 1-2 3Pt), nine rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 20 minutes during China's 83-57 win over Qatar in Thursday's FIBA World Cup qualifier.

Hansen came off the bench but led China in both scoring and rebounding, continuing an encouraging offseason for the 21-year-old center. The 2025 first-round pick had a limited role as a rookie with Portland, averaging just 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game during the regular season, but he'll have an opportunity to push for a larger role in his sophomore campaign.

Ayton won't play for the Bahamas during upcoming FIBA action, NBA reporter Marc Stein reports.

There's no report of an injury to Ayton, who appears to be sitting out for maintenance purposes. After being shipped to the Wizards this offseason, the 28-year-old big man is lined up as the primary backup big behind Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis ahead of training camp.

Castro signed a two-way contract with the Rockets on Wednesday.

Castro is coming off an impressive season for George Washington, posting averages of 15.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.7 assists across 27.3 minutes per game. He is expected to play a prominent role for Houston's G League affiliate to open the campaign.

Ighodaro has spent the offseason working to expand his offensive game, with the third-year big man specifically focusing on his free-throw shooting and three-point range, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.

Ighodaro attempted just three three-pointers over his first two NBA seasons and shot 45.3 percent from the charity stripe in 2025-26 over 82 regular-season games, so any progress as a shooter could add another dimension to his offensive profile. The 24-year-old also said he plans to be more aggressive while continuing to serve as a "connector" and on-court quarterback on both ends of the floor. Ighodaro averaged 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 65.3 percent from the field and appearing in all 82 regular-season games last campaign.

Duren and the Pistons have seemingly not made any progress on a long-term extension, with Tim MacMahon of ESPN reporting that negotiations have been "nasty."

MacMahon didn't elaborate on just how bad things have been between the two sides and isn't sure if Duren plans to sign an extension. The 2022 No. 13 overall pick spent his first four years with Detroit, though he is coming off his most productive campaign to date, averaging a career-high 19.5 points along with 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28.2 minutes per showing across 70 regular-season games in 2025-26. Additionally, he earned his first All-Star nod. However, it was a different story during the postseason, with the 22-year-old averaging 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks over 30.1 minutes per game in 14 playoff appearances. There are several directions this situation can go, including Duren agreeing to the proposed contract of roughly $35-$38 million annually. He can also accept a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. While there is still time for progress to be made, both sides are likely running out of patience, which won't improve the chances of Duren remaining in Detroit beyond the 2026-27 campaign.

Queta could take an offensive leap in the 2026-27 campaign after averaging a career-high 10.2 points over 76 regular-season games last season, Jack Simone of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.

With Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford out of the picture, Queta was a regular in the starting five last season. The big man averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.8 steals in 25.3 minutes per regular-season tilt. While he averaged a career-high mark in scoring and took a significant jump on the defensive end, there's still plenty of room for Queta to improve offensively. Jaylen Brown was traded to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George this offseason, so there should be more shot attempts up for grabs. Additionally, Jayson Tatum is expected to start the season at full health after missing most of the 2025-26 regular season while recovering from a torn Achilles. Tatum's ability to get his teammates involved could be key to unlocking Queta's full offensive potential. The Celtics also lost Nikola Vucevic to free agency while landing Mitchell Robinson, who represents an upgrade defensively but a downgrade on the offensive end. Queta figures to handle a starting role once again and will look to grow his offensive game while providing Boston with efficient scoring around the rim.

The Nuggets added another playmaker with the signing of DeMar DeRozan on Friday to pair alongside Jokic to help handle the offensive pressure in 2026-27.

Jokic averaged a triple-double for the second straight season in 2025-26, though it's possible the addition of DeRozan slightly cuts into his ball-handling responsibilities. Regardless, the presence of DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, as opposed to the more defensive-minded Peyton Watson, should aid Jokic's efficiency as well as his ability to find open looks all around the court in 2026-27.