2025-26 NBA top 25 players include Jokic, SGA, Giannis
USA TODAY Sports asked its top writers and reporters to rank the top 25 NBA players heading into the 2025-26 season. Here is their consensus list.
sports pulse
The NBA season officially begins.
As teams try to position themselves for competition, many will look to established stars to shoulder the load. However, other teams will also have high hopes for their young players, and they will likely produce results that were not necessarily present in previous seasons.
In some cases, this indicates a natural progression of player development over time. Also, injuries to starters or key players can force untested players into bigger roles.
Either way, how far the team progresses could largely depend on these relatively unproven players and whether they can improve their game.
Here are the seven players who are breakout candidates for the 2025-26 NBA season.
NBA Player of the Year: Our experts ranked the top 25 players for 2025-26
In some ways, Thompson has already emerged as a defensive stopper. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team last season, and his rise on that wing has spurred the rise of the transition offense. He jumped from 9.5 points per game in his rookie season to 14.1 points per game last year. Thompson could be more efficient on his jumpers, but Kevin Durant needs to get more attention from defenses, which could open things up for Thompson, especially attacking downhill to the rim. What’s really interesting about this is that with point guard Fred VanVleet out for the season, Thompson may be asked to create with the ball in his hands.
He was already a key piece for the Pacers, but with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss the entire season with a torn Achilles tendon, Nembhard will have a chance to take control of Indiana’s offense. He’s a good backcourt defender and, frankly, may need to conserve energy for the offense. But Nembhard also developed a reputation for being a big shot-maker in the clutch, especially late in the season and in the playoffs. Haliburton’s injury also gives guards Benedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith opportunities, but Nembhard could make the biggest jump as he becomes the primary ball handler.
Last season, Suggs looked like he was on the verge of breaking out, but he suffered a left knee injury that ended his season after just 35 games. The start of the season may be delayed, but the addition of Desmond Bane and the growth of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner should make Suggs a consistent playmaker. He needs to cut down on his turnovers, but his scoring ability should be huge for the Magic. He just needs to sit on the floor.
In the final 12 games of his rookie season, Bouzelis averaged 15.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He took a more active role on offense, attacking in the paint and excelling with clean ball handling. Now, with guard Coby White expected to miss some time early in the season, Bouzelis may be asked to handle more scoring duties. In five preseason games, he showed he’s capable, averaging 17.6 points per game and shooting 57.4 percent from the floor.
Not only did he have a solid preseason, including a breakout of 29 points, six rebounds, and six assists in just 29 minutes in a preseason game against the Hawks on Thursday, October 16, but VanVleet’s injury signals an increase in 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 percent 3-point shooting in the 2025 preseason shows he’s capable of knocking down shots.
Sarr was a player who showed significant growth and efficiency after All-Star weekend. In the 25 games he played after the hiatus, he averaged 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists, compared to 11.4/6.6/2.2 splits before the hiatus. But for Sarr to break out, he needs to improve his perimeter jumper. He shot just 30.8% from beyond the arc on 5.1 attempts. Sarr is only 20 years old and may have some growing pains, but he has already established himself as a reliable defensive presence at the post.
Jovic had a solid showing on the EuroBasket circuit, hitting 60 percent from the field, including an impressive 52.4 percent from 3-point range in six games for Serbia. Miami has struggled to find a consistent role that highlights his strengths. He thrives with the ball in his hands and likes to increase the tempo. Early signs from Miami are that the Heat want to play faster, and Jovic should be a key piece, especially with All-Star guard Tyler Herro (foot) out for the early part of the season.
