While teams might not try to replicate last season’s chaotic and unprecedented trades, they’re still going to make big moves that will have a huge impact on the league’s landscape.
One of these big moves was the Trae Young trade, as the Hawks finally ended the Young era, sending the superstar to Washington.
But we’ve heard enough about those guys.
How are the players from programs in the West 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 January.
Hot This Month
Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets, UCLA)
Nikola Jokić started the 2025-26 season on fire, as he was hell-bent on winning his fourth MVP award. However, he suffered a knee injury in late December and has been out of action ever since.Many fans believed the Nuggets would struggle without one of the greatest players in league history, but head coach David Adelman has done a tremendous job keeping the team afloat.
Adelman, who impressed many with his performances in last season’s playoffs following Michael Malone’s unexpected dismissal, has given the team’s younger stars the chance to shine during Jokić’s absence.
Chief among these young players is Peyton Watson, who has taken a huge leap in his fourth season and is playing like a superstar.
Since Jokić’s injury, Watson has been averaging 23.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 stocks (steals + blocks) a night while leading the Nuggets to an 8-5 record.
His efficiency has also been elite, as he’s been shooting 50.5% from the floor and 45.7% from deep during this stretch.
Before the start of the season, Adelman claimed he was impressed by Watson’s preseason play, and in November, he expressed his pleasure with Watson’s defensive output.
“I just expect him to bring great energy defensively,” Adelman said in November. “If he can score and pass and make plays offensively, you know, it’s kind of just the cherry on top.”
Watson has done considerably more than just “making plays” and has truly made his coach proud. “Peyton’s been giving everything he has, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Brandon Williams (Dallas Mavericks, Arizona)
In his fourth game against the Mavericks since being traded by them last year, Luka Dončić scored 33 points to help the Lakers win.However, the Mavericks gave a valiant effort, led by Brandon Williams, who stole the show with 20 points and a crafty “Shammgod” move on Deandre Ayton.
I discussed how Williams is making the most of his opportunity two months ago, and despite his struggles with three-point shooting, Williams has gone from strength to strength since then.
In his last 12 games, Williams has scored 16.8 points in just 23.6 minutes per game, and his high field goal percentage (57.3% during this stretch) has helped mask his poor shooting from deep.
His ability to finish inside (70.6% field goal percentage from zero to three feet this season) has been a huge asset, and he can parlay his good play into a solid contract next season.
Rookie Report
Caleb Love (Portland Trail Blazers, Arizona)
Tiago Splitter made a name for himself with the 2010s San Antonio Spurs, making two Finals appearances and winning a championship as a key contributor.However, his work as a head coach so far is arguably more impressive than his achievements during his playing days.
The Brazilian has helped steady the ship for the Trail Blazers following the Chauncey Billups gambling scandal, with Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe turning into stars, while young players such as Caleb Love are showing promise.
Love’s game was overcriticized by scouts due to his long stay in college, which led to him being undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Last month, I mentioned how Love was proving his doubters wrong, and he has continued to shine on this exciting young Blazers squad. Over his last 18 games, Love has averaged 15.7 PPG, with respectable shooting splits for a rookie (43.9/38.1/70.8).
“He’s really stepped up,” Splitter said when asked about Love. “But what I’m most impressed with is the effort he has put in defensively.”
As a 24-year-old UDFA, Love won’t receive the same number of chances as his fellow rookies, but the former UNC and Arizona superstar has the ultimate mentor on his side: Damian Lillard.
“I keep telling him: The draft happened already, but today you are a Top-10 pick,” Lillard said. “Yep, Top-10 pick. That’s Caleb.”
Kobe Sanders (Los Angeles Clippers, Colorado State)
If they go 15-3 in any stretch this season, I will print and eat this tweet”, said Clippers writer Robert Flom on December 20. The Clippers beat the Lakers that day, marking the beginning of an incredible 15-3 run.Flom was forced to eat his words, quite literally, and now the Clippers are looking scary again. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden will receive much of the plaudits, and rightfully so.
But their younger players, such as Kobe Sanders, have made telling contributions.
Sanders proved to be the difference maker in a 103-102 win against the Warriors with a 20-point performance, and has drained 19 of his 44 three-pointers (43.2%) during the Clippers’ 15-3 run.
This solid stretch has many Clippers fans excited for the future, and they will place their hopes on Sanders when their franchise superstars get older and retire.
Settling In
Corey Kispert (Atlanta Hawks, Gonzaga)
We’re used to NBA stars forcing trades to contenders, so when Hawks superstar Trae Young forced a trade to the up-and-coming, small-market Washington Wizards, it was viewed as a breath of fresh air.Young was traded for the veteran CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Many, including myself, waited years for Kispert to break out in Washington, but despite showing some flashes of greatness, such as two 15-game, 17+ PPG stretches to end his second and third seasons, it never truly materialised.
Kispert scored 19 points against the Lakers in his second game as a Hawk and dropped 16 against the Celtics in his first game at State Farm Arena since the trade. This led to him replacing Vit Krejci in the starting lineup, which hasn’t worked out at all.
Kispert has failed to score over eight points in each of his four games as a starter, and patience is running thin. Hopefully, the former Gonzaga Bulldog can turn things around on his new team.
Top Veterans
Russell Westbrook (Sacramento Kings, UCLA)
The Sacramento Kings are an absolute mess.But at least they did the basketball world a huge favor by signing Russell Westbrook before the start of the season, ensuring at least one more season of the former MVP playing in the NBA.
Westbrook has been quietly having a solid season, as he became the NBA’s all-time highest-scoring point guard on January 3.
In his last 13 games, Westbrook has put up 18.2 points and 6.0 assists a night while shooting 46.4% from the floor, which is very impressive for his standards and considering his age.
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics, California)
No one is laughing at Jaylen Brown now.Many thought the Celtics would struggle this year without Jayson Tatum, but Brown has put the team on his back.
Since the start of the new calendar year, Brown has been averaging 29.8 points and 8.0 rebounds a night, and his numbers have helped the Celtics stay relevant as the Eastern Conference’s 2nd seed.
With Tatum nearing a return, the C’s could gear up for yet another Finals run, just like how the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl this year.
