Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scored 12 points to help Team USA cruise to an easy win over Brazil on Tuesday. He added nine assists and three steals. The multi-time All-Star had 10 points, eight dimes, and six boards in the United States' previous victory over Puerto Rico, so he picked up right where he left off. Unfortunately, James took an elbow to the eye in the third quarter and exited the contest for stitches. However, he didn't seemed concerned about it while speaking postgame, stating he was fine. With another win in the books, Team USA will meet Serbia in a semifinal matchup on Thursday. James should be good to go.

According to The Athletic, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is expected to agree to a "massive, long-term contract extension" with the team. The deal is anticipated to be well over $200 million over the next five years. It will also make him ineligible to be traded next season. The 27-year-old has been at his best since joining the Jazz, recently finishing the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 39.9% from behind the arc. Without question, Markkanen is expected to remain the No. 1 scoring option in Utah throughout the 2024-25 season. However, his presence will mean fewer scoring opportunities for the supporting cast.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was named the team captain on Tuesday. Brunson, the first Knicks' captain since the 2018-19 campaign, finished last season by averaging a career-high 28.7 points and 6.7 assists, adding 3.6 rebounds. He also shot 40.1% from deep, his third time shooting over 40.0% in the last four seasons. The 27-year-old agreed to a discounted contract extension this offseason, allowing New York to have the cash needed for other moves. While the Knicks' roster is loaded, Brunson has top-10 fantasy potential, making him a first-round option for managers heading into the season.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White is ready to take over as the leader after the team lost DeMar DeRozan in free agency. "We got a younger team this year," said White in an interview. "DeMar always led by example. It shed light on the things I'm looking forward to when I get older. And that can start now for me." The 24-year-old is coming off his best season to date, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. Even better, he appeared in 79 games. The Bulls still have Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic on the roster. However, with LaVine and Vucevic potentially on the way out, White could emerge as the team's top-scoring option during the 2024-25 campaign.

According to senior NBA writer Sam Amick of The Athletic, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (finger) reported he underwent surgery on Monday. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year injured his finger during a recent practice for France and only logged three minutes during Tuesday's win over Canada. However, French head coach Vincent Collet disputed Gobert's surgery claim and stated he was limited for strategic reasons only. Regardless, this is something fantasy managers will need to monitor, especially if it carries over into training camp. But the question regarding Gobert's health could be answered when France plays Germany in a semifinal matchup on Thursday. If anything, his time on the court will shed light on just how severe the injury is.