What happened: Tobe Awaka was identified as a Year 1 player out of Arizona ahead of the 2026-27 season. The tag follows his promotion to the starting lineup for an Oct. 9 preseason game vs. Memphis.

Why it matters: Preseason starts shape opening-night rotation decisions for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The earlier promotion followed strong rebounding off the bench.

What to watch: Watch whether he stays with the starters through the rest of preseason.