Nikola Topić
February 2026
Topić logged his first NBA minutes and first points after missing extensive time due to a pre-draft knee injury and subsequent testicular cancer treatment. He was eased in off the bench, received a big ovation, scored on a mid-range jumper, and followed a recent G League appearance where he played limited minutes as he ramps back up.
Dillon Brooks
February 2026
Brooks received an automatic one-game suspension without pay after his 16th technical foul of the season, per NBA rules. The 16th technical was assessed during Phoenix’s loss to Oklahoma City. League policy triggers a one-game ban at 16, then one additional game for every two techs thereafter. He will miss the road game at San Antonio on Feb. 19.
Zaccharie Risacher
Feburary 2026
Risacher replaces Mitchell on Team T-Mac for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars after Mitchell was ruled out with an abdominal strain. The league says Risacher is a second-year participant and is averaging 10.7 points and 3.5 rebounds this season. Team T-Mac is coached by McGrady, with other honorary coaches leading the remaining squads in the event at Intuit Dome.
Nikola Topić
February 2026
Thunder prospect Topić made his G League debut, a major step after a serious knee ligament injury and subsequent testicular cancer diagnosis that required chemotherapy. He has barely played over the last two years. He logged 16 minutes with seven points and seven assists in an overtime win. Daigneault highlighted the mental and physical resilience required to return after rehab, then three rounds of chemo, and praised the milestone as a significant achievement.
Alperen Şengün
January 2026
Alperen Şengün was named as the replacement for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Team World for the 75th NBA All-Star Game after Gilgeous-Alexander was ruled out with an abdominal strain. Şengün earned his second straight All-Star selection while averaging roughly 21 points, 9 rebounds and over 6 assists, helping Houston to a top-four West record. The event uses a three-team format with Team World facing two USA teams in a short round-robin tournament at Intuit Dome.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
January 2026
Gilgeous-Alexander has an abdominal strain, will miss the remaining pre-break games, and will not play in the 2026 All-Star Game; OKC face a major short-term blow. The team will reassess after the break. The report notes OKC’s wider injury list and that SGA’s 20+ point streak (121) sits second all-time behind Chamberlain’s 126.
Mitch Johnson
January 2026
Johnson will coach one of the All-Star teams after leading the Spurs to a 33-16 start and the second-best record in the West. Eligibility rules blocked Daigneault because he coached the previous year’s All-Star; Johnson’s December recognition and San Antonio’s first-half record secured the nod.
Caitlin Clark
January 2026
Clark will appear on NBC’s pregame coverage for the launch of “Sunday Night Basketball” for Lakers vs Knicks, then return for Knicks vs Thunder. NBC positions Clark as a major crossover draw, noting her existing NBC appearances and a marketing relationship with Xfinity under Comcast’s NBCUniversal umbrella.
Jalen Williams
January 2026
Williams has a right hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in about two weeks, a major absence for the defending champions leading the league. He left with apparent hamstring discomfort after being initially listed with thigh soreness; with his two-way impact and earlier wrist recovery, Oklahoma City may lean more on Mitchell and rotation depth until he is cleared.
Darius Garland
January 2026
Garland will miss at least a week after imaging confirmed a Grade 1 sprain of his right great toe, with reevaluation planned in seven to 10 days. Garland was hurt in a win at Philadelphia and already has a history of toe issues, including offseason surgery on the left great toe; Cleveland said treatment is ongoing as he continues a season with multiple injury interruptions.
