Who makes the Year 2 leap? The top 10 sophomores to watch for the 2025-26 NBA season

Entering this past season, the 2024 NBA draught was regarded astir the league arsenic 1 of the weaker classes successful caller memory. While that mostly held existent during the season, determination person inactive been intriguing developments, with galore of those prospects stepping into roles and showcasing appealing semipermanent talent.

Some, similar Rookie of the Year and No. 4 prime Stephon Castle, made a important interaction successful their debut season. Others, including No. 11 prime Matas Buzelis, showed signs of breaking retired in-season. And respective prospects are acceptable for expanded roles, including No. 3 prime Reed Sheppard.

As you work through, retrieve that this is not an valuation of who are the champion oregon astir invaluable rising sophomores -- it's simply the players I'm astir funny astir headed into grooming camp.

Here's a breakdown of the 10 astir absorbing sophomores heading into the 2025-26 season, what they accomplished arsenic rookies and what to ticker for successful Year 2.

10. Nikola Topic, Oklahoma City Thunder

Rookie play superlative: The astir we tin accidental present is that Topic won a title with the Thunder without ever stepping onto the court. He missed the full play with a torn ACL -- but Oklahoma City's extent allowed them to efficaciously stash Topic for a year. Technically, Topic volition beryllium a rookie adjacent season, but helium warranted inclusion connected this database with his imaginable to marque an interaction for the defending champs.

Why he's ranked here: Sheer curiosity. It's a valid question however overmuch of a relation Topic volition adjacent person to commencement the season, considering Oklahoma City's overwhelming backcourt depth. But helium flashed moments of his imaginable astatine summertime league, showcasing his playmaking skills (averaging 7.3 assists implicit 3 games) and hoops IQ, and that accomplishment acceptable could assistance him carve retired immoderate backup minutes down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Whether he's a semipermanent rotation portion oregon yet winds up arsenic much of a commercialized plus for the Thunder volition play retired implicit the adjacent play oregon two, but helium has had affirmative flashes and volition beryllium worthy monitoring arsenic the defending champs proceed to evolve.

9. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

Rookie play superlative: McCain delivered a promising but tiny 23-game illustration earlier tearing his meniscus successful his near genu successful December, averaging 15.3 points connected 46% shooting successful 25.7 minutes. While it came successful a losing context, arsenic the Sixers were dealing with injuries and a 24-58 regular play record, it was a coagulated commencement aft Philly selected him with the 16th pick. His scoring instincts and perimeter shooting translated to the NBA alternatively quickly.

Why he's ranked here: How McCain builds disconnected his debut coming disconnected this wounded -- and however the 76ers enactment unneurotic their backcourt minutes with McCain, Tyrese Maxey and 2025 No. 3 prime VJ Edgecombe -- volition beryllium worthy watching. It's successful Philadelphia's champion involvement to marque consciousness of the acceptable betwixt those three, with McCain perchance well-suited for much of a combo relation successful the agelong run. Whether the Sixers tin triumph with that trio, who volition beryllium giving up a batch of size defensively connected the perimeter, volition beryllium a cardinal big-picture question to address, peculiarly with Joel Embiid and Paul George successful their 30s and often struggling with availability. This is simply a large twelvemonth for McCain to further found himself arsenic a cardinal portion of the 76ers' future.

8. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Rookie play superlative: Wells was arguably the champion worth prime successful the 2024 draft, making the All-Rookie archetypal team, averaging 10.4 points and starting 74 games aft Memphis snagged him astatine No. 39. Viewed chiefly arsenic a spot-up shooter coming retired of Washington State, Wells not lone made 35% of his 3s, but showed astonishing antiaircraft capabilities arsenic well, embracing pugnacious matchups and carving retired a viable relation to statesman his career.

Why he's ranked here: The Grizzlies' determination to commercialized Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic was softened to immoderate grade by the emergence of Wells. He should beryllium successful enactment to agelong himself arsenic a scorer adjacent season, with Bane vacating plentifulness of touches some arsenic a shooter and secondary playmaker. A late-blooming erstwhile Division II subordinate who turns 22 successful August, Wells whitethorn person immoderate further untapped upside, and the Grizzlies volition presumably privation to spot whether helium tin grow his contributions. While his limitations arsenic an on-ball creator astir apt inhibit high-end outcomes, based connected what Wells has already shown, it's imaginable helium volition proceed to astonishment if helium tin negociate a leap guardant successful some ratio and volume.

7. Kel'el Ware, Miami Heat

Rookie play superlative: Ware made the All-Rookie 2nd squad aft breaking done midseason, putting unneurotic immoderate productive stretches and yet moving into the starting lineup. He's a gifted, modern halfway who tin support the paint, determination his feet and sound down spot 3s. He surpassed aboriginal expectations with his readiness to lend aft the Heat picked him astatine No. 15.

Why he's ranked here: How rapidly Ware tin pat into his sizeable imaginable is simply a large adaptable successful Miami's existent retool. Although his rookie play was a success, it was absorbing to spot Heat manager Erik Spoelstra publically urge Ware to "improve his professionalism" earlier this month, comments that mostly fell successful enactment with however Ware was perceived earlier entering the league. NBA execs and scouts had agelong questioned his centrifugal and tendency to play astatine a precocious level, a dynamic that made it a interaction astonishing that the Heat -- whose beforehand bureau harps connected intangibles -- viewed him arsenic a fit. Clearly, Miami thinks it tin get the astir retired of Ware, and we'll spot whether helium tin physique connected those aboriginal returns and further legitimize himself arsenic a starting-level center.

6. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards

Rookie play superlative: The 2nd pick, Sarr made the All-Rookie archetypal squad contempt inactive being precise overmuch a project. He played the full play astatine property 19, averaging 13 points and 6.5 rebounds, and showcasing his important antiaircraft imaginable (1.5 blocks per game). Washington is afloat committed to playing its young talent, and Sarr mostly looked the portion arsenic a semipermanent fixture contempt his crippled inactive being unsmooth astir the edges.

Why he's ranked here: Washington present employs a sixth of 2024's first-round selections pursuing trades for AJ Johnson and Dillon Jones, but Sarr inactive possesses the astir intriguing upside of the group. His quality to work the level astir him hasn't caught up to his fantabulous carnal skills yet, but his tools are apt to construe defensively arsenic a mobile shot-blocker and overgarment protector, and with a twelvemonth nether his belt, expect improvement.

There were immoderate predictable ups and downs for Sarr connected the violative extremity -- helium changeable conscionable 39.4% from the tract -- but helium did negociate 2.4 assists per crippled arsenic a rookie center. The Wizards person fixed him much than conscionable a elemental rim-running role, and helium has gotten a accidental to agelong himself arsenic a playmaker. His numbers aren't large overall, and he's besides a subpar rebounder for a subordinate his size, but there's a existent accidental Sarr produces all-around betterment successful twelvemonth two, peculiarly if Washington's different young players tin instrumentality a measurement guardant arsenic a group. He'll beryllium portion of France's setup astatine EuroBasket successful August, with a large accidental to play since Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert are sitting retired of the tournament.

5. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

Rookie play superlative: Clingan led the rookie people successful blocks per crippled (1.6) and made the All-Rookie 2nd team, averaging 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds successful conscionable 19.8 minutes and shooting 53%. His per-minute accumulation and antiaircraft interaction were significant, pointing to a agleam aboriginal arsenic a rim-protecting anchor connected the Blazers' backline.

Why he's ranked here: The Trail Blazers seemingly cleared the mode for Clingan and draftee Yang Hansen to stock clip astatine halfway adjacent play -- Robert Williams III is inactive around, but could marque consciousness arsenic an eventual commercialized campaigner connected his expiring contract. It volition beryllium absorbing to spot however those minutes yet get divided based connected performance. Clingan is deserving of the lion's stock but besides needs to amended his conditioning to grip bulk minutes. The information that helium started the last 27 games of the play is astir apt a just indicator that he's up next.

As an aside, whether the Blazers experimentation with Clingan and Yang unneurotic successful double-big lineups volition beryllium thing to watch. On paper, that acceptable is clunky, but considering Portland's evident semipermanent concern successful some players, there's astatine slightest immoderate statement for uncovering retired what it looks like. All things considered, Clingan is owed for an expanded relation and could solidify himself arsenic 1 of the NBA's amended interior defenders successful abbreviated order.

4. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls

Rookie play superlative: Buzelis broke done midseason for the Bulls and looked similar a beardown worth prime astatine No. 11, starting the last 31 games of the play and averaging 31 points connected 47% shooting successful those games. That agelong of play earned him a spot connected the All-Rookie 2nd squad and has positioned him arsenic a captious portion of Chicago's future.

Why he's ranked here: Buzelis was erstwhile viewed arsenic a contender for the No. 1 prime successful the 2024 draught class, pointing to his important imaginable arsenic a tall, skilled perimeter scorer. As helium continues to adhd spot and hone his shooting, Buzelis has a immense runway some from a improvement and relation perspective. With the Bulls perennially successful play-in limbo, their champion way guardant apt involves a prospective Buzelis prima turn.

While that whitethorn not hap successful 1 summer, the Bulls' committedness to playing up-tempo should favour Buzelis. He should spot much of the shot successful his hands operating successful abstraction and get a accidental to grow his shot-creating skills some for himself and for teammates. Chicago remains successful a declaration standoff with Josh Giddey, but the presumptive instrumentality of his playmaking to the lineup should further assistance Buzelis get comfortable. Still lone 20 years old, what benignant of sophomore leap helium tin negociate is arguably the astir important big-picture storyline for the Bulls going into the season.

3. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

Rookie play superlative: Risacher validated Atlanta's condemnation successful selecting him archetypal successful a draught people that lacked a existent statement No. 1 among NBA decision-makers. While helium didn't triumph Rookie of the Year, helium was 1 of conscionable a fewer rookies to marque important contributions connected a playoff-caliber team, shooting 45.8% from the level and 35% from 3 and starting 73 of 75 games. He added contiguous worth entering the league astatine property 19, the question being however overmuch he'll adhd to his crippled arsenic his vocation unfolds.

Why he's ranked here: The Hawks strengthened their presumption this offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker -- they besides nabbed a perchance high-value 2026 draught prime from New Orleans by trading retired of the 13th pick. With Trae Young and Dyson Daniels owed for declaration extensions, there's impetus to triumph present arsenic good arsenic a big-picture valuation process for Atlanta's beforehand bureau moving forward. Part of wherefore Risacher is truthful invaluable is that his shooting, perimeter defence and positional size astatine tiny guardant acceptable neatly successful conscionable astir immoderate lineup framework.

With that successful mind, Risacher's continued improvement arsenic a scorer should beryllium paramount for the Hawks. Atlanta has capable playmaking connected the roster, and Risacher should beryllium coagulated capable disconnected the shot that they don't request to accelerate his maturation arsenic an on-ball scorer, but directing immoderate fare of instauration reps his mode is apt successful their champion involvement long-term. How overmuch much comfy helium tin go playing disconnected the dribble, getting to his pull-up and making plays for teammates is worthy uncovering out. Some grade of improvement successful those areas whitethorn beryllium the quality betwixt him being an fantabulous relation subordinate oregon tapping into higher-end outcomes for his growth.

How overmuch Atlanta pushes Risacher successful that respect volition beryllium worthy watching to commencement adjacent season: He mightiness not needfully upwind up arsenic a emblematic No. 1 pick-level franchise subordinate without important growth, but it's imaginable helium acold surpasses what were comparatively humble expectations by top-pick standards. He's acceptable to play with the French nationalist squad astatine EuroBasket successful August, which mightiness connection a model into his offseason growth.

2. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Rookie play superlative: A coagulated debut play earned Castle Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 14.7 points and 4.1 assists successful 26.7 minutes and making 47 starts for the Spurs. Predictably, helium struggled with ratio (42.8% FG and 28.5% from 3), but was coagulated defensively and played amended aft the All-Star break, benefiting from the state San Antonio gave him.

Why he's ranked here: As the Spurs proceed their travel to physique a contender astir Victor Wembanyama, who appears each acceptable to instrumentality from a humor clot, the astir important origin different than his wellness is however good San Antonio's guards tin mesh astir him. Trading for De'Aaron Fox people reduced immoderate of Castle's ball-handling duties. The unexpected lottery leap that landed the Spurs the No. 2 prime successful Dylan Harper gives them a 3rd instrumentality successful the backcourt. It's an breathtaking improvement for the roster, but it volition besides necessitate each 3 players to marque adjustments.

Castle is acold from his potential, but besides the astir earthy campaigner of the 3 to measurement into a much versatile two-way role, acknowledgment to his size, instincts connected the antiaircraft extremity and unselfish tendencies connected offense. He's inactive going to person to marque a batch much shots from agelong scope to genuinely excel distant from the ball, peculiarly successful the discourse of what San Antonio's lineups volition presumably look like. The Spurs volition person to stagger their guards creatively, not lone to triumph games but to springiness Harper and Castle the champion opportunities to get comfortable.

Considering the alteration successful discourse -- and the added impetus to marque the playoffs the further on the Spurs determination with Wembanyama -- however malleable Castle tin beryllium and successful what ways helium tin sharpen his crippled whitethorn beryllium highly consequential to however things unfold successful San Antonio, and however cardinal helium becomes to this adjacent iteration of the team.

1. Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

Rookie play superlative: Following sizeable hype astir Sheppard a twelvemonth ago, determination wasn't each that overmuch to accidental astir his rookie season, arsenic helium appeared successful lone 51 games and averaged 12 minutes connected a talented Rockets team. He did people 49 points successful a G League game, and Houston remains excited astir him arsenic helium steps into much minutes connected a squad with precocious aspirations.

Why he's ranked here: One subtext of Houston dealing distant Jalen Green successful the Kevin Durant commercialized is that the Rockets cleared important backcourt minutes for Sheppard, who presently pencils successful for a existent relation down Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson. The Rockets' quality to contend successful the truest consciousness whitethorn bent much connected the maturation of their young players than immoderate Durant gives them: Sheppard, Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. are each going to play large roles.

While helium wasn't particularly noteworthy astatine summertime league, Sheppard is worthy of optimism -- helium should beryllium walking into an perfect relation arsenic a secondary handler, playmaker and spacer who tin some run disconnected of and marque beingness easier for Houston's stars. His shooting volition beryllium pivotal adjacent to Thompson and Alperen Sengun, but he'll besides request to stay effectual defensively, arsenic the Rockets volition beryllium giving up a bully woody of perimeter size erstwhile VanVleet and Sheppard stock the floor. Sheppard's instincts for winning possessions assistance him connected that end, but he's not precisely a deterrent for opposing shooters, either.

Sheppard has the accidental to beryllium a immense plaything origin successful Houston's rubric pursuit -- successful theory, he's stepping into the cleanable situation. The question is whether adjacent play is the close clip and however the Rockets mightiness person to set their extent accordingly. The elemental information is that we haven't truly seen him yet, and what it means for Houston's spot successful the arc of this play earns him the apical spot connected this list.