NBA Player News

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.

Embiid ended with 13 points (4-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals in 33 minutes during Tuesday's 106-100 win over the Knicks.

Embiid tied for fourth place in scoring for the 76ers on Tuesday, but he did lead the team in rebounding while sacrificing some usage to accommodate for the arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The star big man endured a start-stop 2025-26 campaign due to various injuries, and Embiid is looking to play at least 60 regular-season games this year for the first time since 2022-23.

Brown posted 19 points (7-14 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), eight rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal over 35 minutes during Tuesday's 106-100 victory over the Knicks.

Brown was highly effective in his long-awaited 76ers debut, scoring an efficient 19 points to go with a full stat line. The star forward benefitted significantly from Jayson Tatum missing most of last season with an Achilles injury -- Brown averaged a career-high 28.7 points and 5.1 assists per game for Boston in 2025-26 -- and Brown should still be an upper-echelon fantasy producer with a loaded Philadelphia squad even if he's unlikely to replicate last year's success.

James had 14 points (5-13 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 4-6 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal across 34 minutes during Tuesday's 106-100 win over the Knicks.

Making his highly anticipated 76ers debut, James took a clear back seat to Tyrese Maxey, who poured in a game-high 28 points, but led his new team in dimes. Philadelphia's star-studded starting lineup is likely to leave James with less usage than he's handled in the past, but the future Hall of Famer should still produce at a high level even if his best fantasy days are now in the rear-view mirror.

Drummond had 12 points (5-13 FG, 2-4 FT), 14 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal in 24 minutes during Tuesday's 106-100 loss to Philadelphia.

Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two early fouls Tuesday, which helped allow Drummond to log a double-double before the start of the second half. The veteran center might make for a popular fantasy pickup following a productive Opening Night showing, but the expectation is still that Drummond will be stuck in a reserve role going forward.