University of Washington Professional Athletes

Dawgs Making Noise in NBA Preseason

Two University of Washington alumni are commanding attention as NBA training camps heat up — for very different reasons, in very different cities.

Matisse Thybulle Is Already Changing the Lakers' Culture

It didn't take long for Matisse Thybulle to make his presence felt in Los Angeles. The free-agent signing, a two-time All-Defensive Team selection, has reportedly set the tone for the entire Lakers roster in early camp sessions — and head coach JJ Redick isn't hiding his enthusiasm.

Redick has been effusive about Thybulle's impact, calling him a "unique" addition and publicly mandating that the team's wing group match the defensive intensity the veteran brings every day. According to Heavy Sports, Thybulle is "already living up to his reputation" in practices, with the 6'6" guard establishing a standard that younger wings are now chasing.

Austin Reaves echoed those sentiments to the LA Times, name-dropping Thybulle specifically when asked about the team's early defensive identity — notable praise from one of the franchise's most trusted voices in the locker room. Sports Illustrated reported that Thybulle is "turning heads" with his defensive presence, with those around the team suggesting the Lakers may have found something genuinely special in the signing.

The intrigue doesn't stop at scheme fit. Yahoo Sports noted that if Thybulle has a strong season, the Lakers may look to retain him beyond this year — positioning him as more than a stopgap piece but a potential long-term pillar of the team's defensive infrastructure. A breakout campaign, by all early indications, looks well within reach.

Isaiah Stewart Comes to Memphis on a Mission

Across the country, Isaiah Stewart arrived at Grizzlies media day with a clear message. The former Pistons big man — acquired to bolster Memphis's frontcourt — invoked the franchise's storied "Grit and Grind" identity right out of the gate, signaling that his blue-collar style is a deliberate cultural fit, not a coincidence.

Stewart joins a frontcourt that already features Zach Edey and Cam Boozer, giving Memphis a depth of size that Sports Illustrated called one of the more intriguing positional puzzles of the 2026-27 season. Three different lineup combinations involving that frontcourt trio are already drawing attention, and Stewart's ability to play physical, switchable defense while rebounding at a high level gives head coach Taylor Jenkins genuine flexibility.

His arrival in Memphis feels purposeful — a player who has always embraced the unglamorous work, landing with a franchise that has built its identity on exactly that.

The Rest of the Huskies

Elsewhere in the league, Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota Timberwolves) spoke openly about the chemistry he's developed with Rudy Gobert, a partnership that figures to be central to the Wolves' defensive identity as they integrate new additions LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. And Dejounte Murray (New Orleans Pelicans) came out of media day with comments that, per Sports Illustrated, signal a player eager to prove himself — and a Pelicans squad that believes it has something to show the league this season.

Washington's NBA footprint is quietly wide. This week, two of its own are simply making the most noise.

Dejounte Murray's Pelicans Future Is on the Line

Entering his third season with New Orleans, Dejounte Murray is walking into what could be the most consequential stretch of his Pelicans tenure — and the organization knows it. A detailed breakdown from Sports Illustrated lays out five specific things Murray must demonstrate in 2025-26 to secure his long-term place in the franchise's plans. The list isn't punitive; it's a clear-eyed acknowledgment that the veteran guard has yet to fully deliver on the promise that brought him to New Orleans in the first place.

Chief among the concerns: consistency. Murray has flashed the playmaking, defensive intensity, and scoring punch that made him an All-Star in San Antonio, but the Pelicans need those qualities strung together over a full season — not in bursts. At this stage of a rebuild, a 29-year-old point guard can't afford to be a question mark.

Rookie Pressure From Below

The scrutiny on Murray intensifies when you factor in what's developing behind him. Sports Illustrated's report on New Orleans' point guard depth makes clear that while Murray holds the starting job, rookie Jeremiah Fears is not just a project — he's a legitimate long-term option who could reshape the backcourt picture entirely.

Fears is expected to command the second unit and push for closing minutes, which means Murray can't treat his starting role as a guaranteed comfort zone. The pressure is quiet but real: perform at a high level, or cede ground to a younger, cheaper option the front office is clearly excited about. For Murray, this season isn't just about winning games — it's about making the Pelicans' decision on his future an easy one.

Fellow Husky and Pelicans teammate Jaylen Nowell also remains on the roster, adding more UW presence in New Orleans, though the spotlight this week belongs squarely to Murray.

McDaniels Holds His Ground in Minnesota

Up in Minneapolis, Jaden McDaniels enters training camp with a different kind of storyline: proving he belongs in an increasingly crowded frontcourt. The Timberwolves made waves this offseason by acquiring LaMelo Ball, and head coach Chris Finch is now tasked with integrating Ball and Jonathan Kuminga without disrupting the core that already works.

According to Heavy Sports, Finch believes Ball's arrival could actually simplify offensive reads for players like McDaniels — whose value to Minnesota has always been rooted in defense, switchability, and cutting off the ball rather than shot creation. McDaniels isn't threatened by the new additions, but he does need to carve out a defined role in an offense that will run through Ball and Anthony Edwards. His future in Minnesota also carries an undercurrent of uncertainty, with Heavy Sports noting that both McDaniels and Rudy Gobert face questions about their long-term fit as the franchise reconfigures around its new star duo.

Isaiah Stewart Finds a New Home

Rounding out the UW week: Isaiah Stewart officially lands with the Memphis Grizzlies after being traded out of Detroit. Pistons star Cade Cunningham called the departure "weird," per ClutchPoints, given that Stewart had been a foundational piece of Detroit's rebuild. For Stewart, Memphis offers a fresh start on a Grizzlies squad built around Ja Morant — and a chance to reclaim his identity as a physical, defensive-minded big who can make noise in the Western Conference.