10 second-year players to keep an eye on in 2025-26

Big men Kel’el Ware (left) and Zaccharie Risacher are 2 second-year players to keep tabs on in 2025-26.

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Familiar faces in new places, either by trade or free agency, always fuel anticipation for a new NBA season. Rookies, in this case, the 2025 Draft class led by Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, bring energy and excitement.

But some of the biggest impact annually comes from the new guys’ predecessors, last season’s newcomers returning for their second seasons. Like freshmen turned sophomores, they know their way around campus now. Many are ready to take the next step, and typically, a few who struggled have a little traction now.

The best of 2024’s rookie class demonstrated last season they’re on their way, including Spurs guard Stephon Castle, the Kia Rookie of the Year winner, as well as All-Rookie picks such as Memphis Grizzlies big man Zach Edey, Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan, New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi and the Washington Wizards’ Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington.

Others face questions or expectations that have been dialed up for Year 2. Here are 10 second-year players, listed in order of Draft selection in 2024, to watch in 2025-26:

Zaccharie Risacher | F | Atlanta Hawks

Draft position: No. 1

2024-25 stats: 12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 apg

Risacher was nurtured on the job by the Hawks, starting 73 games. He responded well to that opportunity, being named top rookie in the East for both February and March. From Jan. 1, the lanky Frenchman averaged 14 points per game and shot 50% overall, including 40% on 3-pointers and 72.6% from the line. Only nine players hit those marks over the same span. Risacher’s shooting will be more essential with Atlanta making a strong offseason push to join the conference contenders.

Reed Sheppard | G | Houston Rockets

Draft position: No. 3

2024-25 stats: 4.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.4 apg

Sheppard’s rookie arc played like a mirror opposite of Risacher — his chances to learn and shine got squeezed out by Houston’s push to a 52-30 mark in the West. The Kentucky point guard fell short of some lofty expectations, appeared as a bit player in 52 games and logged 70% of his modest 654 minutes before the All-Star break. His shooting perked up late — he hit 20 of his final 40 3-pointers — and he showed solid command as a playmaker, but coach Ime Udoka wasn’t willing to sacrifice defensively by boosting Sheppard’s role. He will be vying with Aaron Holiday for backcourt minutes behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson.

Rob Dillingham | G | Minnesota Timberwolves

Draft position: No. 8

2024-25 stats: 4.5 ppg, 1 rpg, 2 apg

Sheppard’s Kentucky teammate got a vote of confidence by what Minnesota did not do over the summer, namely, seek a more proven point guard to step in as veteran Mike Conley steps back. Dillingham played well when he had time to catch a rhythm — on the nights he got 20-plus minutes, he averaged 11.7 points, 5.7 assists and just 2.0 turnovers. But there were only six such nights, none after February, and the 6-foot-1 guard was an afterthought in the Wolves’ run to a second straight West finals. Dillingham’s playing time will depend not just on Conley’s role but on how well he fits next to Anthony Edwards.

Cody Williams | G | Utah Jazz

Draft position: No. 10

2024-25 stats: 4.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg

Any pressure on Williams to perform big as Utah’s lottery pick was released when fellow rookies Isaiah Collier (No. 29 overall) and Kyle Filipowski (No. 32) carved out bigger roles. But the potential the Jazz saw in Williams looms larger after his brother Jalen’s breakout work in the playoffs for OKC. The 20-year-old Jazz guard dialed up strong performances in Summer League — 11.7 points on 43% shooting in Salt Lake City, then 20.4 points on 46% in Las Vegas. He has embarked on a training and nutrition program to add strength to his slender frame (at 190, he gave up 30 pounds to his 24-year-old brother).

Matas Buzelis | F | Chicago Bulls

Draft position: No. 11

2024-25 stats: 8.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1 apg

Some Bulls fans approved of the team’s ramping up of Buzelis’ opportunity over the span of 82 games. Others wondered what they were waiting for. After the All-Star break, by which time Chicago was 22-33 and going nowhere, his minutes spiked to 26.8 per game and his production rose with them: 13 ppg and 4.8 rpg. He shot well, was an open-court threat and had some highlight dunks. As his team heads into another SoFi-Play-In Tournament-or-bust, lukewarm season, the highly skilled 6-foot-10 forward isn’t pacing himself. Asked in an offseason interview about his “ceiling,” Buzelis said: “I always think I could be the best. … That’s just how I was raised. I think I could be the best player ever.”

Kel’el Ware | C | Miami Heat

Draft position: No. 15

2024-25 stats: 9.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg

The 7-footer from Little Rock, Ark., finished strong, starting 36 of his final 38 games and landing on the All-Rookie Second Team. He was a double-double man per 36 minutes and played at that pace in Las Vegas in July, putting up 17.3 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 52.6%. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wants Ware to match his talent level with more effort and intensity, especially since Miami envisions him alongside Bam Adebayo as a tall starting tandem.

Jared McCain | G | Philadelphia 76ers

Draft position: No. 16

2024-25 stats: 15.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg

McCain was the biggest “what if?” of the 2024 class, seemingly on his way to contending for the Kia Rookie of the Year award until his season ended two weeks into December with meniscus surgery. The Duke product was logging starter’s minutes and hitting 38% of his 3-pointers when he went down, while making several of the teams that let him slide to No. 16 rethink their decisions. McCain won’t be shy about carving out a place for himself in the Sixers’ busy backcourt with Tyrese Maxey, rookie V.J. Edgecombe, Kyle Lowry and possibly Quentin Grimes.

Jaylen Wells | F | Memphis Grizzlies

Draft position: No. 39

2024-25 stats: 10.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.7 apg

Wells was the sleeper of last year’s Draft, an overachiever who arrived from Washington State in the second round. He finished third among rookies in total minutes, fourth in points, 14th in rebounds and ninth in assists, starting 74 games. His usage rate was modest in the Grizzlies’ pecking order, but they didn’t hesitate to stick him on opponents’ most potent scorers. His season ended almost three weeks before Memphis’ due to a wrist fracture, but his offensive game should benefit from Desmond Bane’s trade to Orlando.

Quinten Post | C | Golden State Warriors

Draft position: No. 52

2024-25 stats: 8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg

The 7-foot native of the Netherlands was a late-season find for the Warriors, making all but 10 of his 42 appearances after January and giving them a true stretch five by hitting 40.8% from the arc. His minutes grew scarcer in the playoffs as coach Steve Kerr went with veterans. Post did not participate in NBA Summer League and is still recovering from a sore ankle suffered in the spring. He projects as a possible starter in 2025-26, but he needs some defensive improvement and strength.

Bronny James | G | Los Angeles Lakers

Draft position: No. 55

2024-25 stats: 2.4 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.8 apg

Hype? Nah. James’ rookie season was met more with skepticism, even a little dread, from folks who thought he would be in over his head in the NBA at all, never mind on the same team as his father. He weathered the scrutiny, ended up rightfully playing more in the NBA G League, then looked like a decent second-summer prospect in Las Vegas (14.3 ppg, 24.3 mpg, 47.6% shooting). The surest way for James to earn time in the Lakers’ crowded guard rotation would be to dial up his defense. By the way, based on his 181 minutes played for L.A., he was paid $6,393 per minute, the equivalent of a $19 million salary for an NBA starter.

Others to watch in 2025-26: Devin Carter, G, Sacramento Kings; Ajay Mitchell, G, Oklahoma City Thunder; Tidjane Salaün, F, Charlotte Hornets; Terrence Shannon Jr., G, Minnesota Timberwolves; Nikola Topić, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

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