Browsing: Williamson

Another week, another list of key players who will miss time due to injury. Atlanta, Charlotte and New Orleans are among the teams forced to navigate the loss of key players, but some are better equipped to offer viable streaming alternatives than others. Let’s look at some of the key injuries at the halfway point of Week 3, starting with the Hawks’ star point guard.

G Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Injured during the Hawks’ October 29 win over Brooklyn, Young will be re-evaluated in four weeks (from November 2) after suffering a sprained right MCL. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (37 percent rostered, Yahoo!) has moved into the starting lineup and is a suitable option for fantasy managers seeking a boost. While his fantasy value has remained low, he’s averaged 19.0 points and 32.7 minutes in the three games the Hawks have played since losing Young. Luke Kennard (eight percent) has seen his playing time increase, but only slightly. And in the Hawks’ last three games, he’s averaged 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 three-pointers.

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The player whose fantasy value has received the most significant boost with Young sidelined is Dyson Daniels (98 percent), who got off to a slow start. Over the last three, he’s averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals while shooting 70.6 percent from the field. Daniels and Jalen Johnson have, according to Basketball Monster, provided third-round value over the last three games. Managers who have either of those players rostered are in a good spot going into the back end of Week 3.

G LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Ball has missed the Hornets’ last two games with a right ankle impingement. That’s the same ankle that was operated on in the spring, ending the point guard’s 2024-25 season in late March. While Ball did go through pregame shootaround ahead of Tuesday’s loss to the Pelicans, one would imagine that the Hornets will exercise caution given the injury history.

Rookie Sion James (three percent) has moved into the starting lineup, with Collin Sexton (34 percent) shifting into the point guard role. In his two starts, James totaled 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers, shooting 58.3 percent from the field. The rookie had his best performance of the season in Charlotte’s November 2 win over the Jazz, tallying 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three three-pointers. What works against James and Sexton more than anything is the Hornets’ schedule: Week 3 is a two-game week, and the second game (Friday at Miami) is part of an 11-game slate.

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G Coby White, Chicago Bulls

Due to a calf injury, White has yet to appear in a game this season, and a status update was expected this week. Before Tuesday’s win over the 76ers, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said the hope is that White will be able to play in a couple of weeks. While he has progressed to sprinting and cutting, he still has not played 5-on-5.

Tre Jones (32 percent) has filled in admirably, providing fifth-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. He’s shooting well from the field and the foul line while averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 steals in 29.4 minutes per game. However, the player whose value may have received the most significant boost is Josh Giddey (100 percent), who has been a top-20 player in eight-cat formats. He recorded his second triple-double of the season on Tuesday and is shooting nearly 42 percent from three on 4.4 attempts per game. This version of Giddey is the one many fantasy managers hoped to see earlier in his career. The question: Should managers sell high on Giddey or hold onto him?

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G Darius Garland, G Sam Merrill and C Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

Garland could make his season debut on Wednesday when the Cavaliers host Philadelphia. While it was reported on Tuesday that he would play, the point guard was still listed as questionable on the team injury report at the time of publishing. And Garland isn’t the only starter on the mend, as Merrill’s hot start was derailed by a hip injury that has sidelined him for the last three games. Last but not least is Allen, who has missed the previous two games with a non-displaced fracture of his left ring finger. Like Garland and Merrill, he is also listed as questionable for Tuesday night.

The most recent replacements in the starting lineup were Jaylon Tyson (five percent), De’Andre Hunter (30 percent) and Larry Nance Jr. (less than one percent). Despite shooting 38.4 percent from the field and offering limited defensive stats, Hunter is ranked just outside the top-100 in eight-cat formats. Tyson is a few rounds behind him, while Nance’s 1-of-9 night against the Hawks on Sunday did not inspire anyone to grab him off the waiver wire before the start of Week 3. Hunter may have some staying power if Garland and Merrill play this week, but he shouldn’t be considered a “must-hold.”

F Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

Harris sprained his right ankle during the Pistons’ November 1 win over the Mavericks in Mexico City, missing the November 3 win over Memphis as a result. And it was “Beef Stew time” in Detroit, as Isaiah Stewart (22 percent) put up 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two three-pointers in 34 minutes. Harris is questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Jazz, but it’s worth considering whether Stewart should be rostered in more leagues regardless of Harris’ availability. Through seven games, he has been a top-100 player despite serving as Jalen Duren’s backup on most nights, thanks in part to an average of 2.3 blocks per game.

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G Stephen Curry and F Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

Curry has been playing through an illness recently, and after Tuesday’s win over the Suns, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the guard will not play Wednesday against the Kings. We’ll see what Curry’s status is for Golden State’s final two games of the week, Friday at Denver and Sunday against the Pacers in San Francisco. However, Butler’s status is more concerning, as he has been dealing with a lower back injury and played only 14 minutes on Tuesday.

He’s officially questionable for Wednesday, but it isn’t easy to envision Butler playing the second game of a back-to-back after not returning for the second half of the previous game. Moses Moody (five percent) started the second half and finished with a season-high 24 points. He and Brandin Podziemski (40 percent) are worth streaming for Wednesday’s game, and Moody may have added value for the rest of Week 3, depending on Butler’s status.

Golden State Warriors v Portland Trail Blazers

Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jonathan Kuminga taking a leap to begin fifth season

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Kuminga is showing signs of growth to begin the season while Raptors center Jakob Poeltl has struggled out of the gate.

G Quenton Jackson, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers can’t buy a break when it comes to injuries. Jackson is the most recent guard to go down, as he strained his right hamstring during Monday’s loss to Milwaukee. While the Pacers have not provided a definitive timeline, hamstring injuries are ones that teams generally exercise caution with. There aren’t any appealing options among the Pacers who could be moved into the starting lineup, including Ben Sheppard (three percent). But this is a time to go “all-in” on Jarace Walker (17 percent) and Aaron Nesmith (27 percent), even if their current fantasy values aren’t all that impressive. Also, center Isaiah Jackson (17 percent) has played well recently and is worth a look, despite the inconsistency concerns.

F Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Following Friday’s win over the Pelicans, Leonard said he was not restricted in any way and planned on playing both games of the Clippers’ Monday/Tuesday back-to-back to begin Week 3. Unfortunately, he sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday’s loss to the Heat, which led to Leonard not playing in Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder. Bradley Beal (74 percent) was also held out of the matchup with the reigning champs, but that was due to knee injury management.

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Kris Dunn (four percent) and Nicolas Batum (less than one percent) moved into the starting lineup on Tuesday, but neither offered much in the way of streaming value. Derrick Jones Jr. (seven percent), who has been a fixture in the starting lineup, is worth a look in deep leagues, especially if Leonard’s ankle injury limits his availability for the Clippers’ final two games of Week 3 (at Phoenix on Thursday, host Phoenix on Saturday).

G Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

While Luka DonÄić was removed from the Lakers’ injury report after sitting out Monday’s win over the Trail Blazers – the team’s second game in as many nights – Reaves was not. He’s questionable for Wednesday’s matchup with the Spurs due to a sore right groin. His availability impacts Jake LaRavia (31 percent), who logged 36 minutes on Monday and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals. Even if Reaves can play against San Antonio, LaRavia is worth holding onto, at least until LeBron James can return from his case of sciatica.

F Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

On Tuesday, the Pelicans announced that Williamson would be re-evaluated in 7-10 days after suffering a low-grade left hamstring strain. New Orleans was also without starting center Yves Missi for Tuesday’s win over the Hornets, leading to Jordan Poole (94 percent) and Kevon Looney (one percent) moving into the starting lineup. Poole isn’t available in most leagues, and there isn’t much to be gained from rostering Looney. But could this be a time when rookie Derik Queen becomes more valuable?

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While he only played 18 minutes against the Hornets, Queen and fellow reserves Jose Alvarado (one percent) and Saddiq Bey (two percent) gave New Orleans a much-needed boost. The Pelicans can’t afford to punt on this season, especially after trading their 2026 first-round pick to move up and draft Queen. But, they also can’t afford not to play him rotation minutes. There may not be much to gain from rostering Queen in the short term, but keep an eye on him in the Pelicans’ final two games of Week 3.

G Jalen Green and F Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns

Green may be closing in on a return to the court, as he has played 5-on-5 as recently as Tuesday morning ahead of the Suns’ loss to the Warriors. Could Thursday’s game against the Clippers be in play for the guard to make his Suns debut? If so, one would imagine that Green’s minutes will be restricted due to the amount of time missed. His availability impacts Grayson Allen (34 percent) the most, and managers who have Allen rostered should not drop him immediately.

Phoenix is also waiting on Brooks, who has missed the last five games with a core muscle strain. Royce O’Neale (25 percent) has been effective as his replacement in the starting lineup, providing top-75 value in eight-cat formats (as has Allen). He’s another player to hold onto until Brooks is on the court and able to play without restrictions.

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G Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Harper injured his left calf during Sunday’s loss to Phoenix, with the rookie leaving the arena on crutches while wearing a walking boot. He’s expected to miss multiple weeks, leaving the Spurs down another rotation guard with De’Aaron Fox still recovering from a hamstring injury. Is there anyone worth targeting behind starters Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell? No. Jordan McLaughlin (less than one percent) played 19 minutes off the bench on Sunday, but that isn’t enough time to impact fantasy basketball, and his upside is minimal.

San Antonio’s overall depth could be boosted soon, as Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk and Lindy Waters III are all questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Lakers. However, none are likely to get the run needed to impact fantasy basketball immediately.

C Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Kessler has missed Utah’s last two games with left shoulder bursitis and will miss at least two more, as the team sent him home early for further evaluation. Utah ends its four-game road trip with games against Detroit (Wednesday) and Minnesota (Friday), then begins Week 4 with a Monday/Tuesday home back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Pacers. The concern is that Kessler also dealt with left shoulder bursitis during the preseason, missing all but one exhibition.

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Jusuf Nurkić (11 percent) has started the last two games, totaling 14 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot. While the scoring can be inconsistent, the rebounding production is what makes Nurkić an appealing streamer for Utah’s final two games of Week 3. Also, Isaiah Collier (hamstring) was available for Monday’s win over the Celtics but did not play, possibly a byproduct of how well Keyonte George (63 percent) has played to start the season. Walter Clayton Jr. (two percent) will likely take the more significant hit to his playing time once Collier begins to play in games.

F Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards

Wednesday’s game against the Celtics will be Middleton’s second missed game, this one due to a sore right knee. Justin Champagnie (less than one percent) started Monday’s loss to the Knicks, finishing with four points, one rebound and one assist in 17 minutes. Rookie Tre Johnson (12 percent) played 21 minutes off the bench and was reasonably productive, tallying 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block and two three-pointers. He’s a better streaming option than Champagnie, especially for fantasy managers who have the room to consider holding onto Johnson for the long haul once Middleton is cleared to return.

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Thereâ€s no need to mince words — things are bad in New Orleans. Really bad. Referring to the Pelicans as an utter disaster would qualify as a euphemism at this point.

Following the Pelicans†31-point loss to the champs over the weekend, they are without a win in six tries, 28th in offense, 29th in defense, dead last in assists and rank even lower than that in vibes, optimism and outlook. If starting DeAndre Jordan in the year 2025 wasnâ€t the biggest indicator of a team in disarray, the early returns portray a group of lost individuals without a plan or direction.

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So where should the blame for this mess be attributed? The head coach is oftentimes the first in line when teams grossly underperform, and a handful of rival front offices expected Willie Green to have been relieved of his duties as early as Monday morning. But Green alone isnâ€t the cause of this catastrophe. Green can only work with the roster thatâ€s been given to him by head of basketball operations Joe Dumars and general manager Troy Weaver.

(Greenâ€s schemes, lineup combinations and overall on-court product have been a relative dud, but his most-used group — Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Yves Missi and Jeremiah Fears — has actually outscored opponents by 11 points in 30 minutes!)

(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

There was a world that existed where even if the Pelicans continued on their current path, the franchise would head into the summer of 2026 flush with cap space and tantalizing draft assets in a class with names like Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa.

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Unfortunately, New Orleans chose the other door, the one full of asset mismanagement and miscalculations. Swapping out control of Indianaâ€s 2026 first-rounder for its 2025 selection (the 23rd pick) was premature, overshooting expectations for that Pacers team that made it to the Finals. To then package that ’25 pick with another unprotected 2026 first (more favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee) and select big man Derik Queen with the No. 13 pick — a year after taking center Yves Missi — is just odd. Perhaps the Pelicans planned on playing Queen and Missi more than the eight total minutes theyâ€ve shared the floor so far, according to NBA.com tracking data. That would at least make some sense in a double big, post-Zion world, but right now it just looks like the Pelicans are more consumed with just getting a win than developing.

Sorting out New Orleans†cap sheet over the next few years is also a chore. The decision to dip into the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Kevon Looney (sure, another big!) hard-capped the Pelicans at the first apron, which limits their flexibility.

Look, itâ€s not all doom and gloom — by 2027, the Pelicans could theoretically have both Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray off the books. Thereâ€s also the option to push the red button and ship Zion — while heâ€s healthy and producing at a high level — to a better situation and start afresh. But man, the optics around this team are in the mud, and it might get a lot worse before it improves.

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Panic meter:High. Super high. Uber high.

Ja Morantâ€s missteps in Memphis

Any hopes of an emphatic return for Ja Morant off a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the organization were dashed on Monday night; a listless 5-for-16, five-turnover performance in a 114-106 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Grizzlies have now lost three in a row, Morantâ€s efficiency continues to crater and his postgame interviews are going viral for all the wrong reasons.

Morant just seems disconnected right now. There was a similar vibe to James Hardenâ€s final days in Houston during the 2020-21 season, when short, monotone answers became more frequent. The chatter around the league suggests the electric guard just isnâ€t vibing with new head coach Tuomas Iisalo and the revamped staff, from substitution patterns to style of play and even on a personal level — in ways he connected with former assistants Blake Ahearn and Anthony Carter.

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The Grizzlies, who ranked dead last in pick-and-rolls per game during the 2024-25 season, are now up to 11th in frequency, yet are scoring a measly .79 points per chance. Morantâ€s rim rate is way down, now just at 25% of his total shots. Iisaloâ€s emphasis on pace (seventh) isnâ€t translating to actual efficient offense (26th, per Cleaning the Glass), and Morantâ€s 3-point shot has completely abandoned him (15.6% on 5.3 attempts per). Simply put, itâ€s not working.

I appreciate Morant for not shying away from interviews and expressing himself, albeit clearly frustrated and in an offensive rut (Memphis is still nearly nine points better defensively with him on the floor). But the longer this drags on, the more trade rumors will swirl. One high-ranking executive deemed Morant “too high risk†to realistically consider monitoring the situation. Another doubted Morant could fetch a similar return as former teammate Desmond Bane, who garnered four unprotected firsts and a pick swap. But in reality, what is Morantâ€s value around the NBA right now? Would the Kings call and offer a package around DeMar DeRozan and Dennis Schröder? Could the Suns, who could use a point guard, offer Jalen Green? Perhaps something out of the box like Cleveland?

Maybe weâ€ve reached a stage where both parties would benefit from a split. The Grizzlies still have talent on the roster, pieces to build around Jaren Jackson Jr. and the emergence of rookie Cedric Coward to look forward to. But itâ€s disappointing watching one of the most electric guards around seemingly searching for a circuit breaker.

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Panic meter:Tempestuous. Almost like walking on eggshells.

The Clippers are giving up 3s. A lot of them

Los Angeles is 3-3, which is a decent start given the state of the Western Conference, but if the Clippers’ title aspirations are legitimate, their 3-point defense (which was top five last season) needs a tune-up. Oklahoma City, the 2025 champs, were No. 1 in opponent 3-point defense. The Boston Celtics, the 2024 champions, were No. 4. The Nuggets were the No. 3 unit in 2023.

After Monday, the Clippers are 26th in 3-point defense, according to Cleaning the Glass. Not good.

And theyâ€ve surrendered the fifth-most 3s. Not good.

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They recently escaped the jaws of defeat to the *checks notes* winless Pelicans on Friday night by virtue of a Kawhi Leonard buzzer beater, on a night when New Orleans connected on 18 3s, seven of which came from Jordan Poole. Not good.

The Clippers’ most-used lineup features Bradley Beal and James Harden, two veterans in their mid-30s who were never the most adept shot contesters in their youth, let alone now. As lost as the Pelicans currently are, theyâ€re smart enough to know those two in particular are weak links.

According to Cleaning the Glass, the Clippers have played 115 possessions with both Harden and Beal on the floor. Theyâ€ve allowed a shade under 130 points per 100 possessions. Not good.

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Tyronn Lue has a very deep roster at his disposal. Itâ€s up to him to find the balance between getting better team defenders on the floor while keeping his veterans fresh for a long season. When Leonard shares the floor with the second unit (Chris Paul, Brook Lopez, Kris Dunn and John Collins), the Clippers allow just 106 points per 100 possessions. Not bad!

One potential solution is just to embrace switching more with the starters. Los Angeles does a decent job of forcing mistakes, ranking 13th in turnover rate per Cleaning the Glass. Sure, the Clippers run the risk of having either Harden or Beal targeted in isolation. But Leonard and Ivica Zubac are excellent rotational help defenders, and slowing down opponent 3-point rate is a surefire way of improving as a team.

Panic Meter:Not ringing the alarm yet, but one to watch

Orlandoâ€s offensive woes

Have you ever been more confused about something the longer you paid attention to it?

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One such example is Game of Thrones. The other is Orlandoâ€s half-court offense, currently fourth worst in the NBA.

When the Magic acquired Desmond Bane in an offseason blockbuster trade, the consensus was the 27-year-old was the missing piece on an Orlando team that struggled offensively. Adding Bane, a bona fide three-level scorer with playmaking upside, would give the Magic much-needed floor spacing, open up lanes for Paolo Banchero and turn this franchise into a contender.

That hasnâ€t quite happened yet. And itâ€s kind of odd.

For one, the Magic have transformed into this rim-battering machine. Last season, Orlando was just outside the bottom five in points in the paint. This season, the Magic are up to sixth (56 points per game). Their rim rate has jumped from 12th to first in the same time frame.

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On paper, some of it makes sense. Orlando technically isnâ€t a double-big team, but Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. are all 6-foot-10. Both Banchero (94 total drives) and Wagner (74) are among the top 25 in frequency. Bane, with 70, isnâ€t too far behind.

Their inside-outside balance has suffered because of it. The Magic now take just 30% of their shots from 3, 29th in the NBA a season after hovering around 37%. Banchero, who is shooting less than 30% from behind the arc, simply isnâ€t respected as an outside threat and is treated more like a downhill driving big man.

Bane is shooting just 25.8% from 3, but Iâ€d expect those numbers to trend up the more games he shares the floor with Jalen Suggs. Thereâ€s just a bit more pop to Suggs than Anthony Black or Tyus Jones, who are fine options but not as versatile. If opposing defenses continue to dare Banchero to shoot, keeping Suggs on the same side is a nice counter.

One way the Magic have found success leveraging Bancheroâ€s lack of shooting is by actually using him as a screener, forcing the defense to collapse if either Wagner or Bane is the ball-handler. Itâ€s a different look than if Banchero is camped in the corner and defenses can sag off him, paying more attention to constricting the paint.

Maybe using Banchero more as a big helps with other areas of his game, particularly his shot selection. Since he entered the league, Banchero has essentially hovered around the lower quartile in points per shot attempt. He leads the team in touches and time of possession, but where heâ€s getting those touches is critical. More paint touches (only 2.1 per game, scoring 1.33 points per) should be the goal, which hopefully equates to more perimeter touches for the likes of Bane, Suggs and Wagner. Less 3s for Banchero and more for Bane/Suggs/Wagner should stabilize Orlando’s half-court woes.

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Panic Meter:Slightly concerning, but should improve with more games

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With Virat Kohli retired from T20Is and Tests, and Steve Smith from ODIs, another member of the ‘Fab Four,†Kane Williamson, is on his way, phasing himself gradually out of international cricket, as the former New Zealand skipper has announced his retirement from T20Is.

This means that neither of the Fab Four members will be seen at next yearâ€s T20 World Cup, with Smith and Joe Root having all but no chance of featuring in their countryâ€s T20I teams.

Williamson made his T20I debut in 2011, and his last outing in the shortest international format was in June 2024, when his side crashed out from the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.

The right-hander featured in 93 T20I matches, ransacking 2575 runs, the second-most for New Zealand behind Martin Guptill, at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 123, notching up 18 half-centuries in the process.

Williamson led the Black Caps in 75 T20Is, leading them to semi-final appearances at the 2016 and 2022 T20 World Cups and to the runners-up position in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Let us check out Williamsonâ€s top three highest scores in T20Is.

Top 3 Highest Scores By Kane Williamson in T20I cricket:

3) 73* vs Bangladesh, Napier, 2017

In a T20I in McLean Park, Napier, in 2017 against Bangladesh, whose bowling attack included Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, and Mustafizur Rahman, Williamson cracked 73* off 55 balls in the chase of 142.

While opening the batting, Williamson anchored the chase brilliantly, taking his side over the line with two overs to spare. The right-hander thumped five fours and two sixes in his innings, eventually bagging the Man of the Match award.

2) 85 vs Australia, Dubai, 2021

This is one of the “What If†games for Kane Williamson and New Zealand. In the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, New Zealand started with a disadvantage as Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first: out of 12 matches in Dubai in that tournament, 11 were won by the side that won the toss and decided to chase.

Knowing that New Zealand would have to post an above-par total, Williamson led from the front with the bat. Against a world-class bowling attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa, Williamson smacked 85 runs off 48 balls, which consisted of 10 fours and three sixes. Starc had the worst night of his T20I career as he leaked 60 runs in four overs.

Williamsonâ€s sizzling knock helped New Zealand to a total of 172 runs, which proved to be well below par. Australia were propelled by Mitchell Marshâ€s sensational 77* (50), winning the final with seven balls to spare.

1) 95 vs India, Hamilton, 2020

Kane Williamsonâ€s highest score in T20I cricket is 95, which he registered against India in Hamilton in January 2020. However, Williamson and the Kiwis suffered another heartbreak in this match, as India won the match in the Super Over.

Batting first, India posted 179 on the back of Rohit Sharmaâ€s 65 (40). In the chase, Williamson top-scored with 95 (48) and put his side near the finishing line. However, other batters couldnâ€t finish the game, and it ended in a tie.

In the Super Over, Rohit smoked Tim Southee for two consecutive sixes when India needed 10 runs off two balls to inflict more hurt on New Zealand, and their captain, Kane Williamson, as his highest T20I score also went in vain.

Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.

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Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson registered his first-ever golden duck in ODIs (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson registered his first-ever golden duck in ODIs during the opening match against England at Mount Maunganui, falling to Brydon Carse on the very first ball of his innings while chasing 224.The rare dismissal stood out in Williamsonâ€s illustrious ODI career — before this game, he had recorded only five ducks in 165 innings, with just two coming since 2010. His previous duck dated back to 2016.England had earlier recovered from a disastrous 33 for 5 to post a competitive 223, courtesy of a remarkable counter-attacking innings from Harry Brook. New Zealandâ€s chase stumbled early, slipping to 12 for 2 after Williamsonâ€s wicket, and further to 66 for 4 following Tom Lathamâ€s departure.

Why Virat Kohli in India XI for World Cup 2027 will be bad news | Greenstone Lobo predicts

This match marked Williamsonâ€s first international appearance since the Champions Trophy 2025 final against India, where he managed 11 off 14 balls before falling to Kuldeep Yadav.At 35, Williamson now features for New Zealand on a part-time contract, carefully picking his international assignments. Earlier this year, he opted out of several national fixtures — including Tests — to focus on county cricket and The Hundred.The golden duck came when Williamson, batting at No.3, edged a full delivery from Carse to the keeper, leaving New Zealand in early trouble in what turned into a difficult chase.

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Sanjiv Goenka and Kane Williamson (X) Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka announced that former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has joined the franchise as their new Strategic Advisor ahead of IPL 2026. The franchise, which finished seventh in the 2025 season, will be looking to rebuild after a disappointing campaign despite boasting some of the biggest names in world cricket, including Rishabh Pant — who became the highest-paid player in IPL history with a ₹27 crore deal at the auction.

Sanjiv Goenka X post

“Kane has been a part of the Super Giants family and itâ€s an absolute delight to welcome him in his new role,†Goenka shared on X. “His leadership, strategic insight, deep understanding of the game, and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team.â€

Jasprit Bumrah should skip IPL for five-match Test series? Former India bowling coach weighs in

As reported earlier by TOI, Williamson replaces Zaheer Khan, who served as LSGâ€s mentor last season. The appointment reflects Goenkaâ€s long-standing admiration for the Kiwi starâ€s calm leadership and tactical sharpness, traits that helped New Zealand punch above their weight in global tournaments.Also read: Kane Williamson to be Lucknow Super Giants’ strategic adviser; Justin Langer retained as head coach, Carl Crowe appointed spin coach Williamson, 35, remains an active international cricketer but opted out of New Zealandâ€s central contract to explore franchise opportunities. Over his illustrious career, he has scored 9,276 runs in 105 Tests and 7,236 runs in 173 ODIs, with an average and temperament that rank among the finest in modern cricket. In the IPL, Williamson represented Sunrisers Hyderabad for several years, even leading them to the 2018 final, before short stints with Gujarat Titans. Now, his role at Lucknow will be about shaping the teamâ€s cricketing blueprint alongside head coach Justin Langer.

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Part of the draft process for fantasy managers is to identify their “guys,†players they may be higher on than the consensus.

With that in mind, Rotoworld basketball staffers Cole Huff, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew have decided to identify their guys, picking two players each that theyâ€re high on for the 2025-26 season.

Weâ€ll be doing a similar exercise with players weâ€re fading this season, so stay tuned.

Your one-stop-shop for Rotoworldâ€s fantasy basketball draft coverage.

🀠Cole Huffâ€s picks: C Myles Turner (Milwaukee Bucks) and F Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)

In his 11th NBA season, Turner will be playing for an organization that isnâ€t the Indiana Pacers for the first time in his career. While he thrived as a floor-spacing center alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam in the Pacers†recent deep postseason run, those same opportunities to flourish should present themselves with Giannis Antetokounmpo consistently attracting multiple defenders and finding open shooters. Heâ€ll essentially play the Brook Lopez role for the Bucks this year. With his sustained abilities to shoot near 50.0 percent from the field, make threes on high volume, and consistently erase shots at the rim, I think Turner will perform even better than where heâ€s being projected as a top 45-50 fantasy player in nine-category leagues.

As for Zion, this isnâ€t so much about me buying into his physical transformation during training camp as it is about me understanding that heâ€s an elite talent when heâ€s on the court, regardless. The former first-overall pick saw his points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals per game all increase from the 2023-24 season to the 2024-25 campaign, despite averaging fewer than 30.0 minutes for the first time since his rookie season. Iâ€d expect the numbers to climb once again as Williamson presumably logs more minutes per game than he did a season ago, which leaves me incredibly optimistic on how high he could rank come seasonâ€s end, if healthy. There has to be some good injury luck at some point, right?

🀠Noah Rubinâ€s picks: F Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons) and G Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors)

Iâ€m all aboard the hype train for an Ausar breakout season. Last year, we enjoyed his brother Amen Thompsonâ€s breakout, and when comparing the twins†per-possession stats, Amen got the slight edge in most categories, but Ausar was a much better source of steals. The difference is that Ausar only played 22.5 minutes per game, while Amen got 32.3. Ausar is now locked in as a starter and should see a bump in minutes. Foul trouble was an issue for him last season, which could be a frustrating factor at times, but I think his production when he is on the floor will outweigh that. The shot will likely continue to be an issue, but he does more than enough as a defender, passer and cutter to compensate for it.

Podziemski was in and out of the starting lineup early last season and struggled to find his footing while battling injuries. However, he became a fixture of the starting unit in February and averaged 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 three-pointers per game over the rest of the season. Golden State took a while to fill out the rest of the roster, but they didnâ€t add anyone who should impact Podzâ€s place in the rotation. The Warriors have a ton of old guys on their roster, so the spry 22-year-old should be relied on often to help keep the veterans fresh.

Nikola Jokić headlines Rotoworldâ€s Preseason Top 200, but key injuries across the league make this one of the most unpredictable fantasy seasons in years.

🀠Raphielle Johnsonâ€s picks: F Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) and F OG Anunoby (New York Knicks)

While Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been tabbed by many as a breakout candidate this season, I think thereâ€s a better fantasy option on his teamâ€s roster. That would be Wagner, who offered top-40 per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats last season. In 60 games, he averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 three-pointers, posting career-high marks in each category. If thereâ€s a concern regarding Wagner, who shot 46.3 percent from the field and 87.1 percent from the foul line, itâ€s the three-point shooting. He only made 29.5 percent of his attempts last season and has shot below 30 percent each of the last two years. However, three-point percentage isnâ€t a scoring category in default fantasy leagues, so thereâ€s no need to lose sleep over this.

Anunoby is my other choice, due mainly to the change that brought in Mike Brown to serve as the Knicks†new head coach. In Brownâ€s two full seasons in Sacramento, the Kings were ranked in the top half of the NBA in offensive rating and pace, leading the league in the former category in 2022-23. While the Knicks were fifth in offensive rating last season, they were 26th in pace. Brown has vowed to speed things up, which may benefit a wing like Anunoby. A top-40 fantasy player last season, he averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 74 appearances. If Brown successfully combined a faster pace with allowing his wings to make more plays on the ball, Anunoby should exceed his Yahoo! ADP (66.1) easily.

🀠Zak Hanshewâ€s picks: G Cam Thomas (Brooklyn Nets) and G/F Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)

Come on, whatâ€s not to like about Cam Thomas? Over the final 18 games of the 2023-24 season, he broke out with averages of 26.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.7 triples on 45/37/89 shooting splits. He got off to a blistering start in 2024-25 before injuries derailed a promising season. Coming off a shortened campaign in which he averaged 24 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 triples, Thomas will look to continue his ascension. After lengthy contract negotiations, he ultimately took a qualifying offer from Brooklyn, so heâ€ll be playing for pride and a new contract. Expect a monster season from a guy still looking to prove that heâ€s more than just “empty stats.†Heâ€s my favorite fantasy player for the 2025-26 campaign, and Iâ€ll be looking to roster him wherever I can.

As for George, he played solid rotation minutes for Washington as a rookie, logging 26.5 per night and starting 38 of 68 appearances. He took only eight shots a night, but 5.2 came from beyond the arc, highlighting his love of the deep ball. At 6-foot-9, George can play on the wing and at either forward position, and heâ€s equally versatile on the defensive end. His stats got a noticeable bump in games where he played at least 30 minutes, and he could see plenty of those this season. The former Miami Hurricane could open the season as a starter due to Bilal Coulibalyâ€s thumb injury, but even as a reserve, George should be one of the first guys off the bench. He can provide meaningful stats in several categories, and improvements in shooting percentages would be huge for his fantasy value.

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This much is undeniable: Zion Williamson looked thinner and in the best shape we have seen him in a long time at New Orleans Pelicans media day.

New Orleans†playoff dreams hinge on that new physique translating to Zion not only playing at a high level on the court but actually staying healthy. There is skepticism about that around the league as Zion has played in 65+ games in just one of his six NBA seasons. When he is on the court he produces — Zion averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists a game last season, but he played in just 30 games due to a hamstring injury.

As is the case at team media days, Zion said all the right things about getting in shape, working with Pelicans trainer Daniel Bove, and how he feels heading into the season.

“We came up with a plan from boxing to working out on the football field, a lot to just different random workouts. And during that timeframe last year, I really felt a shift in my body to where I would look at him and go, ‘Dude, it feels good to feel good.†I havenâ€t felt like this since college, high school, just where I can walk into a gym and I feel good.â€

Zionâ€s teammates echoed that. Wing Trey Murphy III said Zion looked “slimmer than Iâ€ve ever seen him during the summertime, which is always a good sign. And I feel like heâ€s in a really good place mentally.â€

Zion also credited his relationships with the Pelicans†new head of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, for pushing the change.

“Heâ€s going to hold me accountable, and as he holds me accountable, heâ€s going to give me a lot of responsibility as well, which Iâ€m excited for,†Williamson said. “I know heâ€s going to hold me to a really high standard, and if I slip up or anything, I know heâ€s going to be right there to make sure I get right back on the path…

“[Dumars and GM Troy Weaver] embraced me and I just told them, ‘Iâ€m not going to let yâ€all down.†It helped a lot that they really believed in me.â€

Again, all the right words, but it feels like a repeat of the sentiments weâ€ve heard since Zion was drafted No. 1 by the Pelicans back in 2019. Action, not words, matter now. Itâ€s going to take Zion staying healthy and consistently putting up All-Star numbers again — and doing it over the course of the season — before fans and the rest of the league are going to buy in. If that happens, the Pelicans will have decisions to make — he is extension eligible, and teams will call to see if heâ€s available via trade — but Zion will have to prove he can be there consistently before itâ€s time to have those conversations.

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Sep 23, 2025, 04:39 PM ET

METAIRIE, La. — Zion Williamson expects Joe Dumars to be tough on him.

He wants that. And perhaps, he needs that.

“I like Joe; what you see is what you get,” Williamson said Tuesday, on the eve of his seventh training camp with the New Orleans Pelicans.

“He’s going to hold me accountable, and as he holds me accountable, he’s going to give me a lot of responsibility as well, which I’m excited for,” the 25-year-old Williamson added. “I know he’s going to hold me to a really high standard, and if I slip up or anything, I know he’s going to be right there to make sure I get right back on the path.”

When the Pelicans hired Dumars as executive vice president of basketball operations last April, it wasn’t entirely clear whether he and his general manager, Troy Weaver, saw Williamson as the centerpiece of the franchise’s future.

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The past six seasons had been largely disappointing for the Pelicans and the charismatic, 6-foot-6, 284-pound power forward they drafted No. 1 out of Duke in 2019.

Williamson’s career average of 24.7 points per game, and his slew of explosive, above-the-rim highlights, have been tarnished by a series of injuries that have caused him to miss more games (268) than he’s played (214) since turning pro.

Williamson has yet to appear in a single postseason game. And although the Pelicans have twice advanced to the NBA playoffs while Williamson was injured, they lost in the first round both times.

Williamson said he, Dumars and Weaver “sat down and we had some man-to-man conversations.”

“They embraced me and I just told them, ‘I’m not going to let y’all down,'” Williamson said. “It helped a lot that they really believed in me.”

Dumars and coach Willie Green said they have been encouraged by the regularity of Williamson’s presence at team headquarters this offseason.

“I saw his work this summer, his attention to his body, his conditioning,” Green said. “He wants to be available for his teammates.”

Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III said Williamson “looks good — slimmer than I’ve ever seen him during the summer time, which is always a good sign. And I feel like he’s in a really good place mentally.”

Williamson’s workouts have included elements of boxing and drills run on football fields that also are used by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. Like the Pelicans, the Saints are owned by Gayle Benson and practice on the same campus.

“I really felt a shift in my body,” Williamson said, crediting Pelicans Director of Performance Daniel Bove. “It feels good to feel good.”

Dumars said he’s spoken to Williamson about how much more than talent the pursuit of greatness entails. They’ve discussed work ethic, commitment, discipline, leadership, responsibility and accountability.

Dumars noted that he wants Williamson “to be first one to step to the media” after a game and speak for the team after games that didn’t go well.

“Face questions, be respectful,” Dumars said.

The Pelicans went 21-61 last season, when Williamson missed 52 games, mostly because of hamstring and back injuries. New Orleans went 11-41 without its star power forward, but was also missing several other injured starters, including Murphy and Herb Jones, who are both back from shoulder injuries, and guard Dejounte Murray, who is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.

Meanwhile, Dumars’ offseason moves included the acquisitions of Kevin Looney and Jordan Poole, who both were part of the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 championship team.

“They went through the journey, they went through the playoffs, they felt the energy and they lived it,” Williamson said. “So, that type of experience, you just can’t get anywhere.”

Williamson said he’s well aware of Dumars’ accolades as a player – his 1989 NBA Finals MVP honors with the Detroit Pistons, a brash and tenacious title-winning team known as the “Bad Boys.”

Dumars also won a title as president of basketball operations for the Pistons in 2004.

Now Williamson sounds eager to put Dumars’ advice into practice.

“Greatness is every day,” Williamson said. “Greatness is when you don’t want to do it … you (still) show up every day and you make it happen.”

“Whatever my team needs,” Williamson added. “That’s what I’ll do.”

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New Orleans Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars might have watched some Spider-Manthis offseason, at least if his advice for franchise player Zion Williamson is any indication.

“The main thing that I’ve talked to Zion about is just responsibility and accountability,” Dumars told reporters Monday. “What I’ve said to him is ‘with greatness comes responsibility. You don’t get to be great and not responsible.’ And so it’s just been a heavy emphasis on that. Just being accountable and responsible for what you do. It’s not enough just to be talented.”

Dumars certainly understands the accountability it takes to be great in the NBA, as he was a Hall of Fame player who won two championships and an NBA Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons.

There is no doubt Williamson has the talent to be a Hall of Famer himself, as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft can take over games with a combination of gravity-defying dunks, powerful low-post moves and timely rebounding.

Yet injuries have largely prevented him from fully living up to expectations.

He missed the entire 2021-22 campaign, played 24 games as a rookie in 2019-20, 29 games in 2022-23 and 30 games last season. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and questions about his conditioning have been a storyline at times in his career.

Any chance the Pelicans have at bouncing back from last season’s 21-61 effort and competing in the daunting Western Conference falls on Williamson’s shoulders. He is the clear-cut No. 1 option in the offense, and having him healthy and available is the most important thing for their season.

Dumars’ comments suggest he has made it a priority to make sure Williamson is ready to assume a leadership role within the organization.

Now it is up to the Duke product to take that to heart.

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