2025-26 Dec Updates for NBA Gamers from Colleges in West

Sizzling This Month

Kevin Porter Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks, USC)

The Bucks made some drastic strikes this offseason to maintain the face of their franchise, Giannis Antetokounmpo, comfortable.

Nonetheless, Antetokounmpo started to doubt if he may compete for his second championship in Milwaukee. After he suffered an harm early in December in opposition to Detroit, many thought we had seen the final of “the Greek Freak” in Cream Metropolis.

This opened the best way for Kevin Porter Jr., who had missed 19 consecutive video games after the season opener, to shine in Giannis’ absence.

Many off-court points and a scarcity of maturity had prevented Porter Jr. from fulfilling his star potential, however he’s not able to let this second (and presumably final) probability slip.

He averaged 20.1 factors, 6.5 rebounds, and eight.4 assists in eight video games with out Antetokounmpo, as he fashioned a strong backcourt partnership with Ryan Rollins.

“Everybody is aware of that I’m ball-dominant,” Porter Jr. stated. “However after I’m drained, I belief (Ryan) to take over, and he’s been doing an ideal job.”

Antetokounmpo ultimately returned on December 27 and has led the Bucks to 2 consecutive wins.

With the group sitting at eleventh within the Japanese Convention, there’s nonetheless a excessive probability that Giannis is moved on the commerce deadline. If that occurs, Bucks followers can a minimum of dangle their hat on the Porter/Rollins duo as they transfer in direction of a rebuild.

Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers, Gonzaga)

Speaking of rebuilds, the Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals final 12 months, however horrendous harm luck has prompted them to fall to the underside of the league’s standings.

Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin are operating the present in Tyrese Haliburton’s absence, however Andrew Nembhard can be making some strong strides following his spectacular playoff efficiency final season.

Because the begin of December, Nembhard has averaged 17.0 factors and seven.2 assists per sport, showcasing his capacity to bounce again from poor performances.

As an example, he adopted up a 3-14 night time in opposition to Washington with a 31-point explosion in opposition to the Knicks with 12-19 capturing.

Nembhard has by no means been essentially the most constant participant within the league, and studying methods to have larger highs with fewer lows this season shall be essential if he needs to be part of the group’s plans as they appear to contend within the second half of this decade.

Rookie Report

Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento Kings, Stanford)

Not a lot has gone proper for the Sacramento Kings this season. Domantas Sabonis is injured, and most of their big-name gamers, corresponding to Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, are concerned in commerce rumors.

To make issues even worse, there have been experiences of a “disconnect” between head coach Doug Christie and the remainder of the group, which may result in the previous Kings fan favourite dropping his job.

Nonetheless, there’s some mild on the finish of the tunnel. The aforementioned Sabonis harm and an harm to Drew Eubanks have created a possibility for the Kings’ second-round rookie Maxime Raynaud to shine.

Raynaud has averaged 15.8 factors and 9.0 rebounds per contest whereas capturing 57.3% from the sector for the reason that begin of December.

He has additionally drained 5 of his 11 three-point makes an attempt throughout this stretch, and the group is satisfied that he’ll be a strong piece for them sooner or later.

“He has playmaking capacity, so I believe that provides to his poise as properly as a result of as he’s dribbling, he’s surveying, which a number of massive guys don’t do,” Christie stated. “Watching him, his base will get stronger, his footwork will get higher. He already has the contact. Quite a bit to be enthusiastic about with Max.”

Kobe Sanders (Los Angeles Clippers, Colorado State)

Being drafted to a “contender” isn’t simple, particularly when stated “contender” will get off to a 6-21 begin and turns into the laughing inventory of the entire sports activities world as a result of Chris Paul state of affairs.

Regardless of all that, fiftieth general decide Kobe Sanders is getting constant enjoying time and has performed a job within the Clippers’ current turnaround.

He’s already had six video games this season with 10+ factors, and has averaged 20.4 minutes an evening in his final 19 video games.

His spectacular capturing throughout that stretch (47.3% from the ground and 43.2% from deep) has been an enormous optimistic, and he seems to be one for the long run.

Show Them Improper

Caleb Love (Portland Path Blazers, Arizona)

SZticking with one other rookie, all of us keep in mind Caleb Love’s legendary run with UNC within the 2022 NCAA match, and lots of have been patiently ready for him to declare for the draft.

However circumstances all the time obtained in the best way. UNC’s match run led to heartbreaking trend within the Championship Recreation, so Love and the remainder of the group ran it again the next 12 months.

That 12 months was a disappointment, and Love knew that he couldn’t exit like that, so he transferred to Arizona. He gained the Pac-12 Participant of the Yr in 2024, and it appeared like the right time for him to lastly declare for the draft.

However he was one 12 months away from graduating, so he determined to come back again for one final 12 months in 2024-25.

Sadly for Love, the longer you keep in school, the extra time scouts must dissect and criticize your sport. This led to Love being undrafted within the 2025 NBA Draft, however he ultimately signed a two-way cope with the Portland Path Blazers.

After a sluggish begin, accidents to Jrue Vacation and Jerami Grant have given Love the possibility to shine.

Love has averaged 18.3 PPG in his final 4 video games, and his true capturing proportion of 66.8 is the eighth-highest mark within the league amongst gamers with a minimum of 50 photographs throughout that span.

Prime Veterans

Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego State)

If you have been questioning, “if Caleb Love is eighth in true capturing proportion since December 23, who’s first?” then don’t fear, as a result of the reply is Kawhi Leonard with a freakish 73.8 true capturing proportion.

“The Klaw” misplaced 9 of his first ten video games after getting back from a proper knee harm, and the Clippers’ ship had seemingly sunken.

Nonetheless, Leonard has been on a roll within the final 4 video games, averaging an absurd 39.0 factors a sport to tug his squad to 4 consecutive wins, which included a career-high 55-point explosion in opposition to the East’s top-seeded Pistons.

I’ve sung his praises for a few years now, and seeing him nonetheless acting at an extremely excessive stage regardless of his harm historical past is a testomony to his greatness.

Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz, Arizona)

Many have been fast to say that Lauri Markkanen had “stopped caring” after signing his large five-year, $238 million extension in the summertime of 2024.

Nonetheless, Markkanen is again to his greatest and has generated some All-Star buzz in a crowded Western Convention.

The Finnish marksman has put up 27.0 factors and eight.4 an evening for the reason that begin of December, whereas successful six of his eight video games.

The Jazz have gone winless with out him this season, which simply goes to point out his worth to the group.