After blogging for nearly 13 straight months, every single day, I took a pause and had some other projects to focus on. Wednesday, I returned with a story on my Gene Pingatore bobblehead.
That story and another from yesterday saw the overall viewerships/reads on the website increase from others I have done in the past which was very encouraging to see so I am definitely motivated to keep things going.
Today is a good ol’ Illinois Hoops Updates to catch everyone up with the guys in the NBA this season.
The NBA regular season is about 40-45 percent complete with just 13 former Illinois prep stars seeing NBA time so far. That will likely go up by the end of the season but for now, below are the 13 and some notes from the season.
Matas Buzelis (Hinsdale Central)
Matas Buzelis has found himself as a regular starter for the Chicago Bulls in his sophomore season- starting all 37 of his games played.
He’s seeing many career-highs as well. This season, he’s averaging 14.9 points on splits of .486/.357/.772 with 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 27.8 minutes per game.
In a wild 152-150 win over the Atlanta Hawks on December 21, he scored a season-high 28 points on a very efficient shooting effort. HE went 10-of-11 from the field including 7-of-8 from beyond the arc and splitting his two free throws. He also grabbed three rebounds, had a steal, and blocked two shots that evening.
Max Christie (Rolling Meadows)
Max Christie is in his fourth season in the NBA and his first full season with the Dallas Mavericks. He has started in 27 of his 36 games played this season.
He is seeing some career-highs and doing so in even less minutes on the court than in other seasons. Christie is averaging 12.4 points on splits of .484/.455/.864 eith 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 28.9 minutes.
The Rolling Meadows grad is having a strong start to 2026. Over the last four games, he is averaging 17.3 points on 52.1 percent shootings and is shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. In a win over Houston. on January 3, he had 24 points (10-13 FG, 4-6 3PT) with seven rebounds, two assists, a steal, a block, and just one turnover.
Jalen Brunson (Stevenson)
Jalen Brunson is in his eighth year in the NBA and by the end will have spent half of it playing for the New York Knicks. His talent has always been there but in recent years people are truly season the star abilities of the Stevenson grad.
This season, he averaging a career-high in points (29.1) to go aliong his 3.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 0.7 steals in 35.2 minutes per game. His shooting splits are .480/.387/.847.
He scored a season-high 47 points (15-26 FG, 6-13 3PT, 11-11 FT) with three rebounds, eight assists, and zero turnovers over 38 minutes in a 132-125 win against Miami on December 21.
Jordan Goodwin (Althoff Catholic)
Jordan Goodwin is in his fifth season and his second stint with the Phoenix Suns.
He has played in 26 games for them with two starts. He’s averaging 9.3 points on 40.8 percent shooting with 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals in 21.8 minutes per game.
On January 4, the Althoff Catholic grad set a career-high in points and 3-pointers in a big 108-105 win against the Oklohoma City Thunder. He had 26 points (9-16 FG) which included going 8-of-13 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed four rebounds in the win.
Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park)
Ayo Dosunmu is already in his fifth year with the hometown Chicago Bulls. He’s played in 31 games but has just seven starts this season.
Despite not being a regular starter, he’s taken another leap this season especially as a scorer. He’s averaging a career-best 14.3 points on splits of .508/.441/.861 with 2.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 26.2 minutes per game.
On Halloween night, Dosunmu fell one assist shy of a double-double in a 135-125 win over the New York Knicks. He had 24 points (8-10 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-6 FT) with nine assists, a steal, and a turnover in 29 minutes.
Cam Christie (Rolling Meadows)
Cam Christie is in his sophomore season with the Los Angeles Clipper and has already appeared in 23 games off the bench. He is averaging 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game.
In a loss to Phoenix on November 6, he set a career-high in points with 17 points (6-7 FG, 2-3 3PT, 5-7 FT) to go along his two rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
John Konchar (West Chicago)
John Konchar is in his seventh NBA season- all with the Memphis Grizzlies. He has appeared in just 22 games but makes the most out of whatever minutes he gets each game.
He’s averaging three points on 51 percent shooting with 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.9 steals in 13 minutes off the bench.
Konchar had a season-high 13 points in 18 minutes while not missing a shot (5-5 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-1 FT) with two rebounds and three assists on December 2.
Terrence Shannon Jr. (Lincoln Park)
Terrence Shannon Jr. is in his sophomore season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has missed some games in recent weeks with a foot issue but has already played in 22 games this season- all off the bench.
He’s averaging 4.5 points on splits of .395/.405/.778 with 1.3 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game.
He had a season-high 18 points (7-7 FG, 3-3 3PT, 1-2 FT) with two rebounds and an assist in 17 minutes back on November 26. Unfortunately, the T’Wolves suffered a 113-105 loss to the defending championship Oklahoma City Thunder.
Anthony Davis (Perspective)
Anthony Davis is his 14th season and what should be his first full season with the Dallas Mavericks. It is not looking that way as recent reports has him in trade discussions. Hurting his value is his missed time on the court. He appeared in 20 (all starts) of the Mavs 38 games this season.
He’s averaging 20.4 points in 50.6 percent shooting with 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks in 31.3 minutes per game. Davis also has 13 double-double with a monster 35-17 game against New Orleans on December 22.
His best game came in a road win against Denver Nuggets on December 1. He had 32 points (13-23 FG, 2-4 3PT, 4-5 FT) with 13 rebounds (four offensive), a steal, and two blocks.
Jevon Carter (Proviso East)
Jevon Carter is in his eighth season in the NBA and his third with the hometown Chicago Bulls. Despite being just 30, he’s taken on a “vet” presence for Chicago in recent seasons.
Even though he is playing minimally, his numbers have seen a slight uptick from last year. He is averging 5.8 points on 39.1 percent shooting with 1.2 rebounds and one assists in 12.4 minutes per game. He’s also shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.
His best game-score games came in a 124-113 road loss to Detroit. He had 11 points (3-4 FG, 3-3 3PT, 2-2 FT) with two rebounds (one offensive), three assists, and and two steals in the loss.
RayJ Dennis (Oswego East)
RayJ Dennis began the season with the Indiana Pacers. Their he appeared in 13 games before being waived on November 30. He was picked up on a two-way contract by the Los Angeles Clippers on December 5.
Between the two teams, he appeared in 14 games, averaging 4.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 12.3 minutes.
The Oswego East product had his best game in a 107-105 loss to Dallas back on October 29. He had 17 points (6-13 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-2 FT) with five rebounds (three offensive) and five assists in 30 minutes..
E.J. Liddell (Belleville East)
E.J. Liddell is with his third different team in three years. In his first season with the Brooklyn Nets, he has already appeared in eight games- his career high is 12. Most of his time has been spent with the Long Island Nets.
For the NBA team, Liddell is averaging 1.8 points on 41.7 percent shooting and 1.1 rebounds in 4.4 minutes per game.
Antonio Reeves (Simeon)
Antonio Reeves has played in just six NBA games this season for the Charlotte Hornets. He’s averaging 3.5 points on 50 percent shooting in 8.8 minutes on the court.
His last NBA games came in a loss back on December 7. He played three minutes that game.
The Simeon’s best game of the season came in a 116-103 road loss to Brooklyn. He had 10 points (4-5 FG, 2-3 3PT) with two rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes.
Reeves spend most his time with their G-League affiliate, Greensboro Swarm.
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