The NBA’s next generation of elite players are about to take the center stage. The 2025–26 season is on the horizon. We can soon get to see some highly touted draft picks and upcoming sophomores becoming household names. Their recent performances in the Summer League, along with offseason training, make them prime candidates for breakout campaigns. Here are five promising young talents to keep an eye on this year.
NBA Breakout Stars: Ready for the Spotlight
Zaccharie Risacher – Atlanta Hawks
The French youngster was the No.1 overall pick from the 2024 NBA Draft. He has steadily found his comfort space, especially down the stretch. He started his first 41 games averaging 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Risacher got his shooting at 41.3% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc.
The 6 ‘9 ft tall French forward boosted his average to 13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assist in his final 34 games. With growing confidence and a year’s experience in the NBA, we can see Risacher stepping into a larger offensive role. The Hawks fans would be optimistic in believing that he can average more than 15 points with some solid two-way play.
Amen Thompson – Houston Rockets
Thompson’s leap on both ends in the 2024-25 season drew praise across the league. The explosive 6’7 ft guard made improvements in his rebounding and playmaking skills. We cannot ignore how his defensive skills have earned him the All-Defensive First Team honors.
He averaged 15.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists in his last 37 regular season games. This upward trajectory in performance can help Thompson to take on a more featured offensive role. It can solidify his chances to become a true All-Star candidate this year.
Jared McCain – Philadelphia 76ers
Things were really going well in the rookie year for McCain. But a mid-December meniscus injury had other plans. But it could not spoil his party completely, so he returned to notch some eye-catching numbers.
He averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 23 games in 2024-25. McCain displayed the ability to score more than 20 points in a third of his appearances. Therefore, with more minutes in his hands, his efficiency and scoring are henceforth projected to spike further if he remains healthy.
Jaylen Wells – Memphis Grizzlies
The 16th overall draft from 2024, Wells flashed his scoring capabilities both during his college days as a versatile forward and during his NBA debut. His eagerness to contribute became even more visible in Summer League, where he polished his jump shot and ability to finish through contact. Memphis is eager for offensive help, and Wells seems to be ready for delivering crucial minutes and scoring punch for a young Grizzlies roster.
Kyle Filipowski – Utah Jazz
Filipowski averaged a splendid 29.3 points across three games. A standout at Summer League, he was shooting efficiently from deep and looking every bit like a modern stretch big.
His confidence as a shooter with development on an all-around game provide Utah with another high-upside prospect alongside their surprise rookie from last year, VJ Edgecombe. If the Jazz can provide him some rotation minutes, Filipowski could capitalize on making an immediate impact.
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