The starting five, opening night, October 21, 2026
| Spot | Player | The note that matters |
|---|---|---|
| Point guard | Egor Dëmin | Second year, 6 foot 8, the standout of the five man 2025 draft class. The leap storyline is live. |
| Shooting guard | Keon Ellis | Defensive menace who signed in large part because of Fernández, his old Sacramento coach. |
| Small forward | Michael Porter Jr. | The No. 1 scoring option. Full dossier below. |
| Power forward | Julius Randle | Arrived in the three team trade in July 2026. |
| Center | Day’Ron Sharpe | First full season as the starting center. Full dossier below. |
The live fight: most previews projected Mikel Brown Jr. starting at point guard, but he opened the season on the bench on a minutes limit after rolling his left ankle in preseason. Fernández has said it plainly, Brown does not start until his minutes limit rises above 24 minutes consistently. The day that limit lifts, the starting five changes and the season tilts.