NBA Player News

Both of Miami’s stars struggled in Wednesday’s season opener, with Adebayo and Jimmy Butler combining to score 12 points. In a shocking performance, the former did not score his first (and final) field goal of the night until the third quarter. Given the track record, fantasy managers must trust Adebayo will bounce back, possibly as soon as Saturday night in Charlotte.

Friday’s game wasn’t going to be an easy matchup for Jackson, especially after Zach Edey exited during the first half with a nasal injury. He didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, and the rebounds and defensive status were minimal. That will happen when faced with the task of dealing with Victor Wembanyama. Also, he’s shot over 49% from the field over the past two weeks. Shooting 16-of-44 in two wins over the Spurs has minimally impacted Jackson’s numbers. He’ll be fine.

Instead of replacing the injured Ja Morant (foot) with a point guard, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins decided to go with a shooter (Kennard). The move worked like a charm. Desmond Bane had one of the best all-around performances of his NBA career, and Kennard shot the ball well while also dishing out four assists. Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues, his season-long fantasy value hasn’t been much to write home about. However, nights like Friday prove that Kennard can add value when the Grizzlies are shorthanded on the perimeter.

With Memphis losing Zach Edey during the first half with a nasal injury, more production was needed from Aldama off the bench. He responded by providing solid value in the points, rebounds, and 3-point categories. Aldama’s 29 points were a season-high, and his eight games of 20 or more are three better than his tally for the 2023-24 campaign. A player who was essentially worth a late-round flier in most drafts, Aldama has been close to a top-75 player in 9-cat formats. Those who drafted Santi are likely enjoying successful runs in their fantasy leagues.