NBA Player News

Collins closed Tuesday's 121-113 victory over the Celtics with six points (3-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 25 minutes.

Collins started for his new team, as expected, but certainly fell short of the mark when it comes to having a sizeable impact. The two combined steals and blocks were nice, but more is going to be expected from him, particularly on the offensive end. Despite the struggles, he remains a clear hold in all formats.

Reed accumulated six points (2-3 FG, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal over 17 minutes during Tuesday's 121-113 victory over the Celtics.

Reed turned in a serviceable performance, doing just enough to keep him in the discussion for standard fantasy leagues. Assuming he can play at least 17 minutes per game, he should be able to do just enough to hold value, particularly in big-friendly builds. Given that Javonte Green was shooting the lights out in this one, there is also a chance that Reed could see a little more court time on most nights, a fact that shouldn't be lost on fantasy managers.

Thompson ended Tuesday's 121-113 victory over the Celtics with 11 points (4-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists and one steal in 33 minutes.

Thompson recorded a double-double, turning in a solid first-up performance. After signing a new deal during the offseason, the hope was that his role would elevate this season. If Tuesday's effort is anything to go by, that could certainly be the case. He was one of only two Pistons players to log at least 30 minutes, a fantastic sign for anyone who took a chance on him in drafts.

Walsh had zero points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt), six rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 13 minutes during Tuesday's 121-113 loss to the Pistons.

Walsh failed to score despite earning the start, logging just 13 minutes. Having Walsh as a starter was certainly a curious move, and first impressions were not good. Even if he is to remain with the opening five, Walsh is not someone fantasy managers need to pay too much attention to, outside of very deep leagues.

Robinson posted four points (2-2 FG, 0-2 FT), three rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal in 18 minutes during Tuesday's 121-113 loss to the Pistons.

Robinson was given the starting nod for the season opener, supplanting Neemias Queta. Despite the promotion, Robinson still played just 18 minutes, providing very little outside of his three combined steals and blocks. Luka Garza also featured in the rotation, logging eight minutes off the bench. Given that all three could spend time at the center spot, it's hard to know who should be prioritized in fantasy. For now, let's work under the assumption that Queta will play the most minutes, perhaps providing him with the safest floor.

Tatum closed with 13 points (6-23 FG, 0-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and 11 assists across 38 minutes during Tuesday's 121-113 loss to the Pistons.

Tatum simply couldn't get anything going from the floor, en route to just 13 points, including 0-of-7 from the perimeter. If we're being honest, this could be one of his worst shooting performances of the season, a reassuring fact for fantasy managers. With that said, Tatum certainly had his fingerprints all over the game, handing out a game-high 11 assists. It appeared as though his playmaking was by design, an interesting wrinkle, should it be an ongoing theme.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 32 points (13-27 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks across 36 minutes in Tuesday's 116-104 win over the Spurs.

Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers Tuesday, and he was just as potent on the defensive side of the ball to help the Thunder take down the Spurs to begin the 2026-27 campaign. The 28-year-old averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals over 33.2 minutes per contest in 68 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. He also shot 38.6 percent from deep, the second-highest mark of his career. Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off his second consecutive MVP season, but he could earn a third if he continues to play this well moving forward.

Castle ended with 24 points (9-21 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 1-1 FT), seven rebounds and one assist over 28 minutes in Tuesday's 116-104 loss to Oklahoma City.

With Victor Wembanyama shooting 1-for-13 from the field and finishing with only 12 points, Castle took over as the top option offensively for the Spurs. However, his efforts weren't enough, as San Antonio couldn't earn the win to begin the year. The 2024 No. 4 overall pick finished the 2025-26 campaign by averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.1 steals, all career highs, across 30.0 minutes per contest in 68 regular-season games. Castle is expected to have an even better season, and while his 12 attempts from deep Tuesday were considerably higher than usual, an improved three-point shot could help him earn a spot on the All-Star team for the first time in his career.

Simmons underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair a torn right Achilles tendon, James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento reports.

Simmons had a quality preseason, averaging 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists over 17.4 minutes per contest (two games). The 30-year-old was on track to suit up for the Kings on opening night, though those plans were halted after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice. Now, Simmons will focus on rehab. However, it's unknown what the future holds regarding his career in the NBA.

Caldwell-Pope notched 10 points (3-8 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, one assist and one block across 26 minutes during Tuesday's 106-100 victory over the Knicks.

The veteran sharpshooter played a fairly significant role in his 76ers debut, contributing 10 points off the bench. Dean Wade (ankle) was sidelined Tuesday, so it remains to be seen if Caldwell-Pope will continue to see minutes in the mid 20s consistently once Wade is healthy.