BRYCE McGowens

McGowens is not on the injury report right now. He dealt with a right toe issue dating back to September 6, when he was listed Day-To-Day with a toe and leg injury. That same Day-To-Day tag showed up again on October 7, and he was cleared that same day, October 7. There's no indication of a setback since. For a guard trying to carve out a consistent spot in coach's rotation, staying off the injury list is the first box to check, and McGowens has checked it heading into this stretch of the schedule.

McGowens played 42 games for New Orleans in 2025-26, averaging 21.0 minutes a night. He put up 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks, with 0.4 turnovers. His shooting was efficient: 48.1 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from three and 77.9 percent at the line, good for a 61.0 true shooting mark. His usage rate sat at 13.6 percent, reflecting a complementary, low-volume role, and his plus-minus was -1.7 for the year. Those numbers describe a reserve guard who hit his threes but wasn't asked to carry a heavy offensive load in New Orleans last season.

McGowens is a 6-6, 202-pound guard wearing number 11 for New Orleans. He's 23 years old and in his fourth NBA season, having played his college ball at Nebraska. He remains with the Pelicans, the same franchise he logged his 2025-26 numbers with, and there are no departures or additions to note around his specific situation this offseason. His size for the position gives him some positional flexibility, and his track record as a shooter, 40.9 percent from three last season, is the calling card scouts point to when discussing what he brings off the bench.

With no injury concerns on the books, the next step for McGowens is building on the minutes he's getting early in 2026-27. His appearances so far, ranging from 5.5 to 19.9 minutes, show a player still settling into a defined role. Last season's shooting efficiency, 48.1 percent overall and 40.9 percent from three, gives New Orleans a reason to keep testing him in different lineup combinations. How much run he gets going forward will depend on matchups and how the rotation shakes out as the season progresses. There are no rumors circulating about his future with the team at this point.