NBA Player News

Sharpe provided 14 points (6-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, two blocks and one steal across 14 minutes during Wednesday's 136-117 loss to the Hornets.

Sharpe stepped up off the bench and delivered when called upon, scoring an efficient 14 points -- a mark he reached or surpassed just four times in 50 regular-season games last year. Though he's firmly behind Nic Claxton on the depth chart, his strong showing on opening night proved that he can still fill up the stat sheet and make an impact in limited minutes.

Claxton contributed 17 points (8-12 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes during Wednesday's 136-117 loss to Charlotte.

Claxton led the Nets in scoring during their season-opening loss, reaching 17 points -- a mark he hit or surpassed just six times last season. However, he pulled down only four rebounds, a notable dip from the 7.4 boards he averaged across 70 regular-season games last year and his 7.7 career average. While Brooklyn overhauled its roster with many new additions, particularly through the draft, Claxton remains entrenched as the team's starting center.

Kalkbrenner supplied 10 points (5-6 FG), 11 rebounds, two blocks and one assist in 27 minutes during Wednesday's 136-117 win over Brooklyn.

Kalkbrenner earned the start in his regular-season debut Wednesday and made the most of it, recording his first career double-double in a solid showing. The 2025 second-round pick was a dominant defensive and interior presence during his time at Creighton, so his early impact at the NBA level isn't overly surprising despite his draft position. Notably, Kalkbrenner logged six more minutes than fellow center Moussa Diabate, while Mason Plumlee didn't see any court time.

Sarr ended with 10 points (5-10 FG, 0-2 FT), 11 rebounds and three assists across 26 minutes during Wednesday's 133-120 loss to the Bucks.

Sarr's workload was a bit underwhelming Wednesday, and the second-year center failed to record a block. He still double-doubled, however, and he dished out a few dimes in the loss. Sarr averaged 1.5 blocks and 0.7 steals in 27.1 minutes per game during the 2024-25 regular season as a rookie, so the defensive stats will likely pile up soon.

Vucevic contributed 28 points (11-18 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists and one steal in 33 minutes during Wednesday's 115-111 victory over the Pistons.

Vucevic was dominant right out of the gate, as he comfortably led the Bulls in shot attempts while rocking a near 25.0 percent usage rate. Vucevic, who turns 35 on Friday, has seen his name in the rumor mill for several months as he's on an expiring contract. But for the time being, he seems focused on the task at hand, leading the Bulls to an Opening Night win against an improved Detroit side.

Kessler supplied 22 points (7-7 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 6-8 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals across 29 minutes during Wednesday's 129-108 victory over the Clippers.

Shooting 100 percent from the field, Kessler looked the part of an elite big man in the Jazz's opener. He led all scorers on the night with 22 points while adding a strong defensive showing. Kessler's growth as a shooter was on display by draining both three point tries -- he made only six total last season. The third-year center finished a rebound shy of a double-double but saw only three quarters of action with the game in hand entering the fourth.

Collins notched 14 points (6-12 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal in 28 minutes during Wednesday's 129-108 loss to Utah.

Going against his former team, Collins trailed only James Harden and Kawhi Leonard in minutes played for LA. Twelve of those came in the final frame with the game out of reach. Nonetheless, it was a positive showing overall. Collins hit the boards well and sank one of two tries from deep. He also showcased defensive upside with three stocks, which could afford him more opportunity going forward.

Davis had 22 points (7-22 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals across 32 minutes during Wednesday's 125-92 loss to the Spurs.

Davis finished with a full line, including a 22-and-13 double-double, despite shooting just 7-for-22 from the field. Outside of the poor shooting and, of course, the result, it was a good night for those who drafted the oft-injured superstar. Look for him to find his rhythm in what could be a favorable matchup against the Wizards on Friday.

Zubac accumulated 19 points (9-13 FG, 1-1 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 27 minutes during Wednesday's 129-108 loss to the Jazz.

Zubac was a bright spot in the Clippers disappointing debut. He led the team in points with 19, as they struggled against a hot-shooting Jazz squad. Zubac was a double-double machine in 2024-25, tying Nikola Jokic for 2nd most (59). However, the Jazz missed only 11 shots total in the first half, limiting rebound opportunities and ultimately putting the game out of reach. The Clippers' next outing is Friday against the Phoenix Suns.

Lively logged four points (1-2 FG, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and three assists across 10 minutes during Wednesday's 125-92 loss to San Antonio.

Lively managed just 10 minutes in the loss, limited by early foul trouble. Matched up against Victor Wembanyama was never going to end well, something that could probably be said for a number of centers across the league. While this was a terrible night for Lively, managers should stick to their guns and hope for an improved performance against the Wizards on Friday.