The NBA season is officially underway.
As teams try to position themselves on the path toward contention, many will count on their established stars to carry the load. But other teams will also look to young players to break out and provide production that wasn’t necessarily there in previous seasons.
In some cases, this will mark the natural progression of player development over time. In others, injuries to starters or key contributors will force untested players into big roles.
Either way, how far teams go may very well depend on these relatively unproven players and whether they can elevate their game.
Here are seven players who are breakout candidates for the 2025-26 NBA season:
F Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
In some ways, Thompson has already emerged as a defensive stopper. He landed on the NBA All-Defensive first team last season, and his rise on that side of the floor has fueled an uptick in his transition offense. He jumped from 9.5 points per game his rookie season to 14.1 last year. Thompson could use more efficiency on his jumper, but Kevin Durant should draw a lot more defensive attention, potentially opening things up for Thompson, especially on downhill attacks to the rim. The really interesting part about this is, with point guard Fred VanVleet out for the season, Thompson may be asked to have the ball in his hands and create.
G Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
He was already a key piece for the Pacers, but, with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss the entire season with a torn Achilles, Nembhard will have the chance to take ownership over Indiana’s offense. He’s a stellar backcourt defender and may, frankly, need to conserve energy for the offensive end. But Nembhard also gained a reputation for being a big-time shot maker in the clutch, especially late in the season and in the playoffs. Haliburton’s injury also opens things up for guards Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith, but because Nembhard will become the primary ball handler, he could make the biggest leap.
G Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
It appeared Suggs was on the verge of a breakout campaign last season, but he suffered a left knee injury that ended his season just 35 games in. He may be slowed to start the season, but Suggs should become a steady play-maker with the addition of Desmond Bane and the progressions of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. He’ll need to cut down his turnovers, but his scoring ability should be massive for the Magic. He’ll just need to stay on the floor.
F Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Over the final 12 games of his rookie season, Buzelis averaged 15.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He took on a more assertive role in the offense, attacking the paint and thriving with clean ball handling. Now, with guard Coby White expected to miss some time early in the season, Buzelis may be asked to handle more scoring duties. In five preseason games, he showed he was capable, averaging 17.6 points per game on 57.4% shooting from the floor.
G Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Not only did he have a solid preseason – including a 29-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist breakout in just 29 minutes in a preseason game against the Hawks on Thursday, Oct. 16 – but the VanVleet injury points to increased usage for the second-year point guard. He can handle the ball and create plays for others in the paint, and his jump to 40.7% shooting from 3-point range in the 2025 preseason shows he can knock down shots.
F/C Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards
Sarr was a player who showed marked improvement and efficiency following All-Star weekend. In the 25 games he played after the break, he averaged 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, compared to 11.4/6.6/2.2 splits before the break. For Sarr to break out, however, he’ll need his perimeter jumper to improve; he shot just 30.8% on 5.1 attempts from beyond the arc. There may be some growing pains, still, as Sarr is just 20 years old, but he has already established himself as a reliable defensive presence in the post.
F Nikola Jović, Miami Heat
Jović had a solid stint in the EuroBasket circuit, shooting 60% from the field, including a blistering 52.4% from 3 in six games for Serbia. Miami has struggled to find a consistent role for him that highlights his strengths; he thrives with the ball in his hands and likes to push tempo. Early indications out of Miami are that the Heat want to play faster, which should make Jović a key piece – particularly with All-Star guard Tyler Herro (foot) out for the early part of the season.