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Each fantasy season produces its share of surprises — and never all of them are nice. For each breakout star who exceeded expectations, there’s a participant who left managers annoyed, questioning their draft-day selections. Whether or not it was a veteran failing to rediscover previous type, a younger participant regressing quite than creating, or a promising expertise squandering a golden alternative, disappointment got here in lots of kinds this season. The next checklist highlights 10 gamers who fell nicely wanting what was fairly anticipated of them in 2025-26 — accidents apart. If any of those names are in your roster, you already know the ache.
Myles Turner, Bucks
After reaching the NBA Finals final season, Turner started the marketing campaign in a contemporary setting with the Bucks, the place he was set to tackle a major function. He was changing Brook Lopez, who performs an identical fashion, so the match was anticipated to be supreme. Nevertheless, Turner has delivered simply as many dud performances as sturdy ones, dragging his averages all the way down to recent-season lows. His 12.3 factors per recreation is his lowest since 2019-20, his 5.5 rebounds per recreation is his lowest since his rookie season, and his 1.6 blocks per recreation and 44.1 % capturing from the sphere characterize profession lows.
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers
Mobley is actually placing up numbers that outshine many gamers at his place. Nevertheless, the previous Defensive Participant of the Yr has taken a step again in a couple of key areas in comparison with final season, doubtless disappointing fantasy managers who hoped the development would proceed in a optimistic course in his fifth NBA season. Mobley is producing fewer factors, rebounds, and steals per recreation than final season, whereas additionally displaying notable regression in his capturing percentages — 51.8 % from the sphere, down from 55.7 % final season, and 63.4 % from the foul line, down from over 70 % in every of the earlier two seasons.
Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks
Risacher was the highest decide in final yr’s draft, and after an underwhelming rookie season, issues have gone additional downhill in his sophomore marketing campaign. He went from 12.6 factors in 24.6 minutes per recreation final yr to 10 factors in 24 minutes per recreation this yr. His field-goal proportion additionally dipped barely, whereas his free-throw capturing fell off a cliff — from 71.1 % final yr to 58.5 % this season. There’s not a lot to elucidate the downturn, particularly because the path was huge open for him to tackle a bigger function, as his squad was shorthanded for a lot of the season and had no standout competitors at his place.
Deandre Ayton, Lakers
After Ayton joined Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James on the Lakers within the offseason, hypothesis was that he would thrive and have an incredible likelihood to push for profession highs throughout the board. The outcomes have been fairly the alternative. He’s averaging profession lows nearly throughout the board: 12.5 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.6 steals per recreation. His 0.9 blocks per recreation is barely a shade above his profession low of 0.7, set in 2021-22. His lack of ability to profit from the scenario has absolutely solid doubt within the minds of fantasy managers, and he’ll doubtless slide down the board in subsequent season’s drafts.
Bub Carrington, Wizards
Carrington confirmed sufficient promise in his rookie yr to catch the attention of many followers. Nevertheless, regardless of having had the possibility to deal with a major function, he has didn’t take a step ahead in his sophomore yr. His counting averages largely stay the identical as final season — that isn’t the difficulty. Extra regarding is the shortage of enchancment to his field-goal proportion, a drop from 81.2 % from the foul line final yr to 72.9 % this yr, and a rise from 1.7 turnovers per recreation final season to 2.3 this yr, regardless of taking part in 2.4 fewer minutes per recreation.
Patrick Williams, Bulls
Williams is in his sixth season with the Bulls however has been unable to turn into the drive that many hoped he would, particularly whereas his squad lacked depth at his place early this season. His manufacturing started trending downward final season, and that path has continued this yr, with profession lows of seven factors on 38.9 % capturing, together with 2.9 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per recreation. This season is perhaps the ultimate straw for any fantasy managers who had been prepared to take a flyer on the ability ahead within the later rounds of their drafts.
Jordan Clarkson, Knicks
Though he proved ready so as to add a stable scoring punch out of a bench function for many of his earlier 11 seasons, Clarkson has fallen flat in his debut marketing campaign with the Knicks. It appeared as if he could be a great addition to their second unit and even in a position to assist relieve some strain within the backcourt for Jalen Brunson. As a substitute, after averaging 20.2 minutes per recreation by means of the primary half of the season, he’s down to simply 10.4 minutes per recreation over his final 14 appearances. He’s additionally averaging profession lows in factors, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per recreation on the season.
Rui Hachimura, Lakers
Hachimura has been respectable however not spectacular in his manufacturing this season. As a participant extremely able to contributing throughout the board, and one taking part in alongside gifted playmakers, there was a good expectation that he would thrive — particularly after placing up sturdy numbers final season. Nevertheless, he has been unable to determine a lot consistency, and his factors, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks are all down in comparison with the 2024-25 marketing campaign. To be truthful, he handled a calf damage in early January that saved him out for about two weeks, however his numbers previous to the damage nonetheless left little to be enthusiastic about.
Klay Thompson, Mavericks
Thompson was thrown a curveball with Luka Doncic’s departure from the Mavs shortly after his arrival final season, and issues solely bought worse with accidents to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, leaving Thompson with out the star help he had anticipated. Nonetheless, hope remained comparatively excessive that the four-time champion would proceed to shine as one of many higher shooters within the league. Sadly, that has not held up, as he’s averaging profession lows in factors, rebounds, and assists per recreation, in addition to in field-goal, 3-point, and free-throw percentages. At 35 years outdated, it’s laborious to think about a lot of a comeback for Thompson subsequent season.
Yves Missi, Pelicans
Missi confirmed good promise as a rookie, averaging 9.1 factors and eight.2 rebounds per recreation, however didn’t take a step ahead in his sophomore marketing campaign. He had a great alternative to assert the beginning heart function this yr, however couldn’t set up himself because the clear-cut possibility, getting pushed apart by rookie Derik Queen fairly early within the season. After averaging 5.5 factors and 5.5 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per recreation on the yr, it’s unlikely that Missi stays on the radar of many fantasy managers heading into the 2026-27 season.
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