NBA Player News

Bamba (coach's decision) did not play in Wednesday's 123-103 loss to Memphis.

Utah leaned on Jaxson Hayes and Jaren Jackson in the frontcourt, leaving Bamba without an opportunity in the season opener. The veteran center appears to be a depth option and could struggle to find consistent minutes without injuries ahead of him.

Steinbach (coach's decision) did not play in Wednesday's 110-103 win over Brooklyn.

The rookie big man remained on Charlotte's bench throughout the opening-night victory. With the Hornets having other frontcourt options available, Steinbach may face an uphill battle for consistent playing time early in the season.

Lopez closed with 17 points (7-12 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 27 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's 121-96 win over Sacramento.

The 38-year-old managed only one double-double in 75 regular-season games last season, but Lopez wasted no time matching that total in 2026-27. He's been used mainly as a stretch big in recent years, hurting his rebounding numbers, but with only the unproven Isaiah Jackson ahead of him on the depth chart at center, Lopez could see more traditional usage near the basket and reverse that trend to some degree.

Sabonis had 14 points (5-5 FG, 4-4 FT), 18 rebounds, eight assists and one steal over 34 minutes during Wednesday's 121-96 loss to the Clippers.

The veteran big fell just short of a triple-double in the season opener, but he was one of only four Kings to even score in double digits on the night. Sabonis is likely to have trade rumors circling his head once again as part of a rebuilding roster, but as long as he remains in Sacramento he'll be one of the team's main options and should see more than enough usage to bounce back from a rough 2025-26 that saw him play just 19 regular-season games due to knee trouble.

Allen (knee) said he expects to play Thursday against the 76ers, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Allen is listed as questionable on the latest injury report. He was able to get some shots up Thursday morning, however, and it sounds like he intends to push through the minor injury. The Cavaliers may keep a close eye on his minutes if he's cleared to suit up.

Edey posted six points (3-5 FG), nine rebounds and two blocks across 21 minutes during Wednesday's 123-103 victory over the Jazz.

Edey grabbed three offensive rebounds and protected the rim effectively despite playing just 21 minutes in his first regular-season appearance following two left ankle surgeries earlier this year. Memphis has emphasized managing the center's workload carefully, which could limit his immediate fantasy ceiling. Nevertheless, his rebounding and shot-blocking production in relatively modest minutes illustrates the value he can provide as his conditioning improves.

Hayes closed Wednesday's 123-103 loss to the Grizzlies with five points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-4 FT), five rebounds, three assists, six blocks and two steals across 26 minutes.

Hayes made an immediate defensive impact in his Jazz debut, accounting for half of Utah's 12 blocked shots while adding two steals. The center started alongside Jaren Jackson and Lauri Markkanen, indicating a potentially meaningful role in Utah's frontcourt rotation. Although his offensive production and free-throw shooting were underwhelming, Hayes' defensive upside could make him a useful specialist in deeper fantasy leagues if he maintains substantial playing time.

Kessler delivered 26 points (12-12 FG, 0-0 3Pt, 2-4 FT), nine rebounds, an assist and two blocks across 30 minutes in Wednesday's 127-105 win over the Warriors.

There was a lot of talk about how Luka Doncic and Kessler would thrive playing together, and while one game isn't enough to draw conclusions, this was an impressive performance from the big man. He made all 12 of his field-goal attempts, posting an unusually productive scoring performance for a player whose fantasy value typically centers on rebounds, blocks and efficiency. His 30-minute workload was particularly encouraging, suggesting a prominent role in Los Angeles' frontcourt. Although his scoring output is unlikely to remain this high consistently, his combination of rebounding, rim protection and efficient finishing gives him a solid fantasy foundation, especially if he develops a rapport with the playmaking of both Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Ighodaro (hip) didn't return to Wednesday's 124-83 loss to Portland, Duane Rankin reports. He finished with eight points (4-7 FG, 0-2 FT), three rebounds and three assists over 15 minutes.

Ighodaro came off the bench Wednesday. He was having a productive night, though it came to an end due to a right hip injury suffered toward the end of the first half. This isn't a new issue for the 24-year-old, so it won't improve his chances of suiting up for Saturday's meeting with the Warriors. With Mark Williams (shoulder) out indefinitely, Khaman Maluach will presumably remain the starting center for the foreseeable future. The Suns may also need Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat to take on some minutes at the five.

Poeltl ended Wednesday's 135-92 win over the Bulls with three points (1-1 FG, 1-3 FT), six rebounds, one block and one steal over 22 minutes.

Four of the five Raptors starters scored 20 or more points during Wednesday's regular-season opener, but Poeltl was a non-factor on the offensive side of the floor. Collin Murray-Boyles came off the bench and made arguably a bigger impact on both ends of the floor, so the big-man duo could be looking at an even split in playing time to open the 2026-27 season.