The 2025-26 NBA season is in full swing, and the contenders are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack as we enter the new calendar year.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are making life a living hell for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, while Cooper Flagg has been on a tear.
But we’ve heard enough about those guys. How are the league’s ex-SuperWest players doing?
As always, I’m back with my monthly SuperWest report, covering the top veterans, rookies, and everyone else in between! Here are my selections and summaries for December.
Hot This Month
Kevin Porter Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks, USC)
The Bucks made some drastic moves this offseason to keep the face of their franchise, Giannis Antetokounmpo, happy.However, Antetokounmpo began to doubt if he could compete for his second championship in Milwaukee. After he suffered an injury early in December against Detroit, many thought we had seen the last of “the Greek Freak” in Cream City.
This opened 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 prevented Porter Jr. from fulfilling his star potential, but he’s not ready to let this second (and possibly last) chance slip.
He averaged 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in eight games without Antetokounmpo, as he formed a solid backcourt partnership with Ryan Rollins.
“Everyone knows that I’m ball-dominant,” Porter Jr. said. “But when I’m tired, I trust (Ryan) to take over, and he’s been doing a great job.”
Antetokounmpo eventually returned on December 27 and has led the Bucks to two consecutive wins.
With the team sitting at 11th in the Eastern Conference, there’s still a high chance that Giannis is moved at the trade deadline. If that happens, Bucks fans can at least hang their hat on the Porter/Rollins duo as they move towards a rebuild.
Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers, Gonzaga)
Speaking of rebuilds, the Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals last year, but horrendous injury luck has caused them to fall to the bottom of the league’s standings.Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin are running the show in Tyrese Haliburton’s absence, but Andrew Nembhard is also making some solid strides following his impressive playoff performance last season.
Since the start of December, Nembhard has averaged 17.0 points and 7.2 assists per game, showcasing his ability to bounce back from poor performances.
For instance, he followed up a 3-14 night against Washington with a 31-point explosion against the Knicks with 12-19 shooting.
Nembhard has never been the most consistent player in the league, and learning how to have higher highs with fewer lows this season will be crucial if he wants to be a part of the team’s plans as they look to contend in the second half of this decade.
Rookie Report
Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento Kings, Stanford)
Not much has 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 things 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 an injury to Drew Eubanks have created an opportunity for the Kings’ second-round rookie Maxime Raynaud to shine.
Raynaud has averaged 15.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 57.3% from the field since the start of December.
He has also drained five of his 11 three-point attempts during this stretch, and the team is convinced that he’ll be a solid piece for them in the future.
“He has playmaking ability, so I think that adds to his poise as well because as he is dribbling, he is surveying, which a lot of big guys don’t do,” Christie said. “Watching him, his base gets stronger, his footwork gets better. He already has the touch. A lot to be excited about with Max.”
Kobe Sanders (Los Angeles Clippers, Colorado State)
Being drafted to a “contender” isn’t easy, especially when said “contender” gets off to a 6-21 start and becomes the laughing stock of the whole 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’s already had six games this season with 10+ points, and has averaged 20.4 minutes a 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 looks to be one for the future.
Prove Them Wrong
Caleb Love (Portland Trail Blazers, Arizona)
SZticking with 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 run ended in heartbreaking fashion in the Championship Game, so Love and the rest of the team ran it back the following year.
That year was a disappointment, and Love knew that he couldn’t go out like that, so he transferred to Arizona. He won the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2024, and it seemed like the perfect time for him to finally declare for the draft.
But he was one year away from graduating, so he decided to come back for one last year in 2024-25.
Unfortunately for Love, the longer you stay in college, the more time scouts have to dissect and criticize your game. This led to Love being 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 the chance to shine.
Love has averaged 18.3 PPG in his last four games, and his true shooting percentage of 66.8 is the eighth-highest mark in the league among players with at least 50 shots during that span.
Top Veterans
Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego State)
If you were wondering, “if Caleb Love is eighth in true shooting percentage since December 23, who is first?” then don’t worry, because the answer is Kawhi Leonard with a freakish 73.8 true shooting percentage.“The Klaw” lost nine of his first ten games after coming back from a right knee injury, and the Clippers’ ship had seemingly sunken.
However, Leonard has been on a roll in the last four games, averaging an absurd 39.0 points a game to drag his squad to four consecutive wins, which included a career-high 55-point explosion against the East’s top-seeded Pistons.
I’ve sung his praises for many years now, and seeing him still performing at an incredibly high level despite his injury history is a testament to his greatness.
Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz, Arizona)
Many were 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 buzz in a crowded Western Conference.
The Finnish marksman has put up 27.0 points and 8.4 a night since the start of December, while winning six of his eight games.
The Jazz have gone winless without him this season, which just goes to show his value to the organization.
