December 2025-26 Updates for NBA Players from Western Schools

hot this month

Kevin Porter Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks, USC)

tThe Bucks made some drastic moves this offseason to keep the face of their franchise, Giannis Antetokounmpo, happy.

However, Antetokounmpo began to doubt whether he could compete for his second championship in Milwaukee. After suffering an injury in early December against Detroit, many thought we had seen the last of the “Greek Freak” in Cream City.

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

Many off-court issues and a lack of maturity had kept Porter Jr. from reaching his star potential, but he’s not ready to let this second (and possibly last) chance slip away.

He averaged 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 8.4 assists in eight games without Antetokounmpo, while forming a solid defensive partnership with Ryan Rollins.

“Everyone knows I control the ball,” Porter Jr. said. “But when I’m tired, I trust (Ryan) to take over and he’s been doing a great job.”

Antetokounmpo finally returned on December 27 and led the Bucks to two consecutive victories.

With the team sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, there is still a high chance that Giannis will be moved at the trade deadline. If that happens, Bucks fans can at least hang their hat on the Porter/Rollins duo as they move toward a rebuild.

Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers, Gonzaga)

YesAt the height of the rebuilds, the Indiana Pacers reached the NBA Finals last year, but terrible injury luck has seen them fall to the bottom of the league standings.

Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin run the show in Tyrese Haliburton’s absence, but Andrew Nembhard is also making solid strides after his impressive playoff performance last season.

Since the beginning of December, Nembhard has averaged 17.0 points and 7.2 assists per game, demonstrating his ability to bounce back from poor performances.

For example, he followed a 3-for-14 night against Washington with a 31-point explosion against the Knicks on 12-for-19 shooting.

Nembhard has never been the most consistent player in the league, and learning to have higher highs with fewer lows this season will be crucial if he is to be a part of the team’s plans as they look to compete in the second half of this decade.

rookie report

Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento Kings, Stanford)

northA lot of things have gone right for the Sacramento Kings this season. Domantas Sabonis is injured and most of their big-name players, such as Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, are involved in trade rumors.

To make matters even worse, there have been reports of a “disconnect” between head coach Doug Christie and the rest of the team, which could lead to the former Kings fan favorite losing his job.

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The aforementioned Sabonis injury and Drew Eubanks’ injury have created an opportunity for Kings second-round rookie Maxime Raynaud to shine.

Raynaud has averaged 15.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and shot 57.3% from the field since the beginning of December.

He has also made five of his 11 three-point attempts during this stretch and the team is convinced that he will be a solid piece for them in the future.

“He’s a playmaker, so I think that also adds to his poise because while he’s dribbling, he’s looking, which a lot of big guys don’t do,” Christie said. “Watching him, his core gets stronger, his footwork gets better. He’s got the touch now. There’s a lot to be excited about with Max.”

Kobe Sanders (Los Angeles Clippers, Colorado State)

bGetting drafted by a “contender” is not easy, especially when said “contender” starts at 6-21 and becomes the laughingstock of the entire sports world due to the Chris Paul situation.

Despite all that, 50th overall pick Kobe Sanders is getting consistent playing time and has played a role in the Clippers’ recent turnaround.

He has already played six games this season with more than 10 points and has averaged 20.4 minutes per night in his last 19 games.

His impressive shooting during that stretch (47.3% from the floor and 43.2% from deep) has been a huge positive, and he figures to be one for the future.

Prove them wrong

Caleb Love (Portland Trail Blazers, Arizona)

sizeWith another rookie, we all remember Caleb Love’s legendary run with UNC in the 2022 NCAA tournament, and many were patiently waiting for him to declare for the draft.

But circumstances always got in the way. UNC’s tournament ended in heartbreaking fashion in the Championship Game, so Love and the rest of the team picked it up again the following year.

That year was a disappointment and Love knew he couldn’t go out like that, so he transferred to Arizona. He won the Pac-12 Player of the Year award in 2024 and it seemed like the perfect time to finally declare for the draft.

But he was a year away from graduating, so he decided to return for a final year in 2024-25.

Unfortunately for Love, the longer you stay in college, the more time scouts will have to analyze and critique your game. This led to Love going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, but he eventually signed a two-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

After a slow start, injuries to Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant have given Love a chance to shine.

Love has averaged 18.3 points per game over his last four games, and his 66.8 true shooting percentage is the eighth-highest mark in the league among players with at least 50 shots during that span.

Best veterans

Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego State)

YoIf you were wondering, “If Caleb Love is eighth in true shooting percentage as of December 23, who’s first?” then don’t worry, because the answer is Kawhi Leonard with a strange true shooting percentage of 73.8.

“The Klaw” lost nine of his first ten games after returning from a right knee injury, and the Clippers’ ship had seemingly sunk.

However, Leonard has been on a roll over the past four games, averaging an absurd 39.0 points per game to lead his team to four straight wins, which included a career-high 55-point explosion against the East’s top-seeded Pistons.

I have praised him for many years and to see him continue to perform at an incredibly high level despite his injury history is a testament to his greatness.

Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz, Arizona)

METROEveryone was quick to say that Lauri Markkanen had “stopped caring” after signing his massive five-year, $238 million extension in the summer of 2024.

However, Markkanen is back to his best and has generated some All-Star hype in a crowded Western Conference.

The Finnish shooter has scored 27.0 points and 8.4 per night since the beginning of December, winning six of his eight games.

The Jazz haven’t won without him this season, proving his value to the organization.