Dana Altman doesn’t rebuild. He reloads. If you’ve followed the Ducks for any length of time, you know the drill: the roster looks like a jigsaw puzzle in June, and by March, it’s a terrifying picture for the rest of the Big Ten.
The oregon ducks basketball team roster for the 2025-26 season is a weird, beautiful mix of local legends and international wildcards. We aren't just talking about a couple of new faces. This is a fundamentally different group than the one that ground out wins last year.
Honestly, the biggest story isn't who left—it's who stayed. Having Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad back together is basically a cheat code for a coach like Altman who thrives on pick-and-roll versatility.
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The Pillars: Why Shelstad and Bittle Are the Keys
Let’s be real for a second. In the modern era of the transfer portal, keeping your two best players is a minor miracle.
Jackson Shelstad is the heartbeat. The West Linn kid just has it. Last season, he was logging nearly 35 minutes a game and dropping 16 points like it was a light cardio session. He’s a 6-foot-1 lightning bolt who somehow feels like he’s 6-foot-5 when he’s driving to the cup. People keep waiting for him to hit a "sophomore slump," but he skipped right over that and went straight to being one of the best point guards in the country.
Then there’s Nate Bittle.
The 7-footer is a walking mismatch. He’s leading the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game and blocking 2.3 shots per contest. You don’t see many guys his size who can protect the rim and then go down the other end and hit a transition three without blinking. He’s the anchor. When Bittle is on the floor, the Ducks' defense transforms from "okay" to "elite."
The Returners
- Kwame Evans Jr. (Junior, Forward): He’s the X-factor. KJ hasn't quite had that "breakout" game every week, but he’s doing the dirty work. He’s pulling down 7.5 rebounds a game and leads the team in true shooting percentage at 64.6%.
- Dezdrick Lindsay (Senior, Forward): After missing time with injuries, he’s finally showing why the staff was so high on him coming out of the JUCO ranks. He’s a 6-foot-6 wing who plays bigger than his height.
- Jamari Phillips (Sophomore, Guard): He didn't get a ton of run as a freshman, but the stroke is pure. Expect his minutes to climb as the season gets deeper.
The New Blood: Transfers and International Flavour
Altman has always had a thing for international talent, but this year's oregon ducks basketball team roster takes it to a new level.
The most fascinating name on the sheet? Wei Lin.
Commiting on October 1, 2025, Lin is a two-time CBA All-Star from China. He’s 6-foot-4, 20-years-old, and plays with a professional polish that most college guards just don't have. He’s already putting up 12 points a game. It’s a gamble, sure, but if he adjusts to the physicality of the Big Ten, he’s a lottery pick waiting to happen.
Then you have the Turkish connection.
Ege Demir and Efe Vatan are two massive human beings. Demir is 6-foot-11 and 275 pounds. He’s the muscle. Vatan is more of a finesse 6-foot-10 forward who can stretch the floor. Having that kind of depth behind Bittle means the Ducks don't have to worry about foul trouble in the same way they did two seasons ago.
The Transfer Portal Haul
- Takai Simpkins (Senior, Guard): Coming from Elon, he’s a veteran scorer who averaged over 16 points in the CAA. He’s currently shooting 38% from deep.
- Sean Stewart (Junior, Forward): A former 5-star recruit from Duke who spent time at Ohio State. He’s still finding his rhythm but leads the team in field goal percentage at 53.1%.
- Devon Pryor (Junior, Forward): A high-flying wing from Texas. He’s the guy who ends up on SportsCenter because he decided to jump over a 7-footer on a fast break.
Why This Roster Works (And Why It Might Not)
The ceiling for this team is a Final Four. No joke.
When you have a backcourt of Shelstad and Simpkins, you have two guys who can create their own shots at the end of the shot clock. That’s something Oregon lacked in the years where they struggled.
But there’s a catch.
The defense is still a work in progress. While Bittle is a great eraser at the rim, the perimeter defense has looked a bit leaky at times. Losing a lockdown guy like TJ Bamba hurt more than some fans want to admit.
Also, the roster is "heavy." They have a lot of guys who want the ball. Balancing the shots between Shelstad, Bittle, Lin, and Simpkins is the ultimate test for Dana Altman’s offensive system.
Current Statistical Leaders (Mid-Season 2026)
| Category | Player | Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Points | Nate Bittle | 16.3 PPG |
| Rebounds | Kwame Evans Jr. | 7.5 RPG |
| Assists | Jackson Shelstad | 4.9 APG |
| Blocks | Nate Bittle | 2.3 BPG |
| 3-Point % | Takai Simpkins | 38.0% |
The Coaching Factor
You can't talk about the oregon ducks basketball team roster without mentioning the man pulling the strings. Dana Altman is one of only three active coaches with 28 consecutive winning seasons. That’s Tom Izzo and Bill Self territory.
He brought back Yasir Rosemond to the staff this year, which has clearly paid dividends on the recruiting trail. The Ducks are playing faster, taking more threes, and leaning into the "positionless" basketball that made them so dangerous back in 2017.
What’s Next for the Ducks?
If you're looking to follow this team, keep an eye on the February stretch. The Big Ten schedule is a meat grinder. Success for this roster depends on whether Sean Stewart can turn into the double-double machine everyone thought he’d be at Duke.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Frontcourt Rotations: See how Altman uses Ege Demir to spell Bittle. If Demir can provide 10 solid minutes of post defense, Bittle stays fresh for the final five minutes of games.
- Monitor Jackson Shelstad’s Usage: He’s currently at 34.8 minutes per game. That’s a heavy load. If Takai Simpkins or Wei Lin can handle more of the primary ball-handling duties, it saves Shelstad’s legs for the tournament.
- Track the Home Record: Matthew Knight Arena needs to be a fortress. With games against Michigan and Ohio State on the horizon, the Ducks need every bit of that home-court advantage.
This team has the length, the experience, and the star power. Now, they just need to stay healthy.