Here are the top players on January 5 and their stats to highlight their impact:
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Anthony Black ORL PG 27 PTS | 10 AST | 4 BLK | 59.6 FPS (vs. IND)
Black contributed elite numbers across the board, including his fourth 24-point performance in his last six games and season highs in both playmaking and blocking. With Suggs out indefinitely, Black is locked into the starting lineup and should continue delivering at a high level.
BREAKOUT:
Jordan Goodwin PHX PG 26 PTS | 8 3PM | 4 REB | 29.8 FPS (vs. OKC)
Jordan turned in the best scoring game of his career to lead the Suns to a big win against the Thunder. He has shown some upside as a scorer, reaching the double-digit mark 13 times this year, but consistency remains an issue.
SLEEPER:
Santi Aldama MEM PF 12 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST | 36.5 FPS (vs. LAL)
The forward has been a steady and reliable presence off the bench this season, averaging 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 stocks. But his production has been even more impressive in recent weeks, posting a season-high 7 assists twice, knocking down 7 threes in a game, recording 4 blocks in another, and also registering a 5-steal outing.
ELITE ASSET:
Luka Doncic LAL PG 36 PTS | 9 REB | 8 AST | 58.8 FPS (vs. MEM)
Luka remains an unstoppable scoring force, knocking down 12 of his 13 free throws to secure his fourth straight 30-point outing and his 19th of the season. He now leads the entire league at 33.7 points per game, the highest scoring average in franchise history over the past 20 years, trailing only Kobe Bryant’s 35.4 mark from the 2005–06 season.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Cam Spencer MEM SG 5 PTS | 2 REB | 9 AST | 18.9 FPS (vs. LAL)
It was an ugly shooting performance for the sophomore guard who shot just 1-of-10 from the field and missed all five of his attempts from long-range. Still, he remains a capable asset as a playmaker, posting his 16th 5-assist outing of the season and averaging 7.7 assists in his last nine games.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Peyton Watson DEN SF 23 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 32.8 FPS (vs. BKN)
Peyton has emerged as a reliable scoring option lately, putting up 20-point performances in each of his last three games. With the Nuggets missing several key players due to injuries, he’s likely to remain a big part of the team’s rotation and continue his production.
STREAMER:
Isaiah Stewart DET C 8 PTS | 2 STL | 3 BLK | 25.6 FPS (vs. CLE)
The Pistons will be shorthanded in the frontcourt with two of their starters out due to injuries. Because of that, Stewart should see a much bigger role in the rotation. He continues to be one of the best shot-blockers in the league, averaging 4 blocks in his last two games and ranking second in total blocks this season.
FLOPPER:
Kyle Kuzma MIL PF 3 PTS | 4 REB | 4 AST | 12.8 FPS (vs. SAC)
Over an eight-game stretch last month, Kuzma was highly productive, averaging 15.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. But his output has been lacking since, scoring six points or fewer in three of his last four games while making minimal contributions in other areas.
