10 NBA Rookies to Watch in 2025-26

Every NBA season is exciting because of the huge signings, free agents, and hungry rookies. The rookies from the prior year in their second season make most of the large jumps.

No longer are these players like freshmen with wide eyes. They've experienced the league's speed, learned how to move, and learned what works and what doesn't in an NBA game. In the past few years, stars like Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Tyrese Haliburton have come out of their sophomore years. Some 2024 draft classes showed potential, and now they can move up in 2025-26.

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These 10 second-year players might make a major difference this season. And while countries such as France and the United States represent these Second-Year NBA Players, smaller countries are not far behind. Notable NBA players from New Zealand will also be interesting to watch. The 2024 Draft picks are listed in sequence.

Zaccharie Risacher - Forward, Atlanta Hawks (No. 1 overall)

Zaccharie Risacher spent his entire rookie year in the Atlanta starting lineup, appearing in all 82 games and starting 73 of them. The 6-foot-9 French wing rewarded the Hawks' trust by winning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for both February and March.

After a slow start typical of teenagers adjusting to the NBA, Risacher caught fire from January onward. He averaged 14 points per game while shooting 50% from the field, 40% from three, and nearly 73% from the free-throw line. Only nine players in the entire league matched or beat those percentages over the same stretch.

With Atlanta loading up in the offseason to climb the Eastern Conference standings, Risacher's outside shooting and length will be even more valuable next to Trae Young and Jalen Johnson.

Reed Sheppard - Guard, Houston Rockets (No. 3 overall)

Reed Sheppard's rookie season was the opposite story. On a 52-game-winning Houston club, Kentucky guard Risacher had every chance but seldom played. Sheppard played 52 games but spent most of his 654 minutes before the All-Star break.

Late in the year, there were glimpses of hope. In the final weeks, he knocked down 20 of his last 40 three-pointers and showed real poise running the second unit. Coach Ime Udoka simply wasn't willing to sacrifice defense for offense on a team fighting for playoff seeding.

Sheppard and Aaron Holiday will fight for backup minutes behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson this season. If his shooting and defense improve, the Rockets may release the former Kentucky star.

Rob Dillingham - Guard, Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 8 overall)

The decision of Minnesota not to attract an experienced point guard in the offseason proved trust in Rob Dillingham. The lightning-quick 6-foot-1 guard had an average of 11.7 points and 5.7 assists in six rookie games with good ball-handling abilities.

Dillingham sat on the bench as Timberwolves returned to the Western Conference Finals. With Mike Conley another year older, Dillingham can play important minutes with Anthony Edwards. His quick dribble offense might alter the game.

Cody Williams - Wing, Utah Jazz (No. 10 overall)

Cody, Utah's lottery pick, had high hopes as the younger brother of OKC's Jalen Williams. He had a 4.6 points per game score with newcomers Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski hitting the headlines.

Williams also excelled in the Summer League, where he scored above 20 points per game in Las Vegas. He trained during the summer in order to gain muscle on his 190-pound body. The fact that he is reinforced without losing speed would provide the 20-year-old All-Star with both-end capability.

Matas Buzelis - Forward, Chicago Bulls (No. 11 overall)

Matas Buzelis generated the strongest opinions of any rookie last year. It was appreciated by some fans that Chicago gave him meaningful minutes on Day 1, but they believed that they should have been more patient.

Following the All-Star break, when the Bulls were no longer in contention in a playoff, Buzelis averaged 13 points, nearly 5 rebounds, and amazing dunks running the floor. The forward, measuring 6 feet ten inches, is talented and assured. I always think I could be the best player ever, he said of his ceiling this summer. In a season where Chicago will again fight just to reach the Play-In, Buzelis has no reason to hold back.

Kel'el Ware - Center, Miami Heat (No. 15 overall)

The 7-foot center who had started 36 of the last 38 games in Miami, then via Indiana through Oregon and Little Rock was named All-Rookie Second Team. The points and rebounds in Summer League were 17 and 1,0 respectively and he dominated the competition with 7 doubles per 36 minutes.

Erik Spoelstra would like Ware to work hard every night. The Heat think he and Bam Adebayo can start and give Miami the league's largest frontcourt. If Ware answers the intensity challenge, he could become a cornerstone.

Jared McCain - Guard, Philadelphia 76ers (No. 16 overall)

Before knee surgery halted his season in mid-December, Jared McCain was a Rookie of the Year candidate. He averaged 15.3 points and 38% from three in starter minutes before the injury. Several clubs that missed him at the top of the draft regretted it.

McCain joins Tyrese Maxey, rookie V.J. Edgecombe, Kyle Lowry, and perhaps Quentin Grimes in a formidable Sixers backcourt. The Duke product has never lacked confidence and should fight for a significant role right away.

Jaylen Wells - Forward, Memphis Grizzlies (No. 39 overall)

Memphis stole Jaylen Wells (Washington State) in the second round, the biggest steal of the 2024 Draft. He became a rookie in 74 games, third in the number of minutes played and every night he defended the highest scorer of the opponent.

A wrist injury in the late season resulted in his season being canceled, though the Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane this summer, which creates space and usage. Wells has earned the right to score after proving his worth.

Quinten Post - Center, Golden State Warriors (No. 52 overall)

A 7-foot stretch-five from the Netherlands, Quinten Post emerged as a legitimate rotation player after January, knocking down 40.8% of his threes. Post is having a comeback against ankle injury and Steve Kerr has used veterans during the playoffs, minimizing minutes.

In 2025-26, it will require the Warriors to buy additional floor spacing around Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Post may begin if he does not become ill and becomes a better defender.

Bronny James - Guard, Los Angeles Lakers (No. 55 overall)

Bronny James was not the rookie that was scrutinized most. He appeared in the Lakers (2.4 points in 181 minutes) very little and spent the entire year in the G League having been selected as No. 55.

During the Las Vegas Summer League, he scored an average of 14.3 on 47.6 percent to prove his critics wrong. The Lakers have a staggering depth in the guard, yet a defense-oriented summer can offer the 21-year-old rotation minutes with his father, LeBron.

Five More Watchable Rookie

In addition to the top 10, there are plenty of other second-year players that could shock or rise in 2025-26. These five possess fewer years of runway rookie, yet they all have the talent, background, health, or opportunity to shine this season:

• Devin Carter - Sacramento Kings.

• Ajay Mitchell - Oklahoma City Thunder.

• Tidjane Salaun - Charlotte Hornets.

• Terrence Shannon Jr. - Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Nikola Topic - Oklahoma City Thunder (returning from ACL injury).

Watch these names all season - one or two might make the main-rotation minutes and become household names by spring. The 2024 class has more to show after the sophomore jump.