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The 2026-27 NBA season has begun, signaling the imminent start of college basketball. The Oregon Ducks will open their campaign at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon, against the Montana Grizzlies of the Big Sky Conference on Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. PT, with the game airing on the Big Ten Network.
Meanwhile, three Oregon alums are preparing for the rigors of an NBA season that could extend from October to June. Payton Pritchard, the marquee Duck in the league, is in his seventh season with the Boston Celtics. On Oct. 12, the skilled guard signed a two-year, $44.2 million extension that includes a mutual option for 2029-30. Since being selected 26th overall in 2020, Pritchard has been a key backcourt contributor for Boston. In his season opener on Oct. 20, he came off the bench and scored 17 points on 4-of-9 shooting (2-of-5 from three, 7-of-8 from the line) in 28 minutes, though the Celtics fell to the Detroit Pistons 121-113 at Little Caesars Arena in Michigan.
Dillon Brooks, often cast as the NBA's villain, remains a disruptive force who gets under opponents' skin and has developed into a more consistent scorer since joining the Phoenix Suns. In his first season with Phoenix, Brooks averaged a career-high 20.2 points over 56 starts while maintaining his reputation as a defensive pest. He also posted personal bests with a 43.5% field goal rate, 34.4% from beyond the arc, and 84.2% from the free-throw line across 54 starts.
Nate Bittle, a 7-foot center who went undrafted in 2026, had to prove himself on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Toronto Raptors. During NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, he averaged 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 2.3 assists in four games. Despite not participating in training camp or preseason due to a foot fracture, the Central Point, Oregon, native was converted to a two-way contract on Oct. 17. The 23-year-old will begin his professional career with Toronto's G League affiliate, Raptors 905.
Two other big men with Oregon ties, Chris Boucher and N'Faly Dante, are now looking for new basketball homes outside the NBA. Boucher, a 33-year-old forward/center, was waived by the Utah Jazz on Feb. 5 just before the trade deadline after being traded by Boston; he is currently an unrestricted free agent. Dante, the 2024 Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, was waived by the Atlanta Hawks on the same day as Boucher. Most recently, the New York Knicks cut him on Sept. 30 after he signed a non-guaranteed training camp deal, and he is now with their G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.
Key Analysis
Oregon's NBA representation remains strong with Pritchard's extension and Brooks's scoring surge, while Bittle's two-way deal offers promise. However, the uncertainty surrounding Boucher and Dante underscores the precarious nature of professional basketball careers.