Anthony Gill spent the first 19 games of the 2025-26 season anchored to the deepest recesses of the bench. He existed almost entirely as a garbage-time placeholder. His fleeting cameos rarely allowed him to establish any rhythm, perfectly captured on 12/05 vs BOS. Despite making his only shot attempt in five minutes of action, he posted a dismal -12.9 Impact score because he provided virtually zero secondary stats or defensive resistance. Even when handed a rare extended opportunity on 01/08 vs PHI, his season-high 20 minutes yielded just eight points and four rebounds. He shot an efficient 3-for-4 from the field that night, but his -3.0 Impact score reveals a passive veteran who simply blends into the background rather than actively altering the game. A brief spark on 01/04 vs MIN resulted in a season-best -1.2 Impact score thanks to a quick four points and two rebounds, but Gill remains a fringe piece struggling to leave a tangible mark.

This midseason stretch was defined by a drastic role expansion for Anthony Gill, as he morphed from an end-of-bench afterthought into a heavy-minutes rotation regular who struggled to stay above water. He occasionally rewarded this increased trust with gritty interior play, perfectly illustrated during 01/30 vs LAL when he grabbed 10 rebounds in just 17 minutes to generate a +6.9 Impact score despite scoring only nine points. Too often, however, his underlying metrics cratered even when his point totals looked respectable. During 03/08 vs NOP, Gill scored a highly efficient 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, but his complete lack of playmaking and rebounding dragged his Impact down to -2.6. The hidden costs of his floor time were equally obvious during his lone start on 02/22 vs CHA. Despite logging a decent eight points, five boards, and four assists in 30 minutes, defensive lapses and empty possessions resulted in a brutal -6.7 Impact. While his nightly effort is unquestionable, stretching a limited frontcourt piece to 30 minutes a night is simply a recipe for losing basketball.