Although the 2024 NBA draft class was initially regarded as one of the weaker in recent memory, many of its prospects have shown promising developments, stepping into impactful roles and showcasing appealing long-term talent. While some, like Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, made an immediate splash, others such as Matas Buzelis exhibited signs of breaking out during their debut season. With several players, including Reed Sheppard, now set for expanded roles, this article highlights the ten most intriguing sophomores as we head into the 2025-26 season.
10. Nikola Topic, Oklahoma City Thunder
Rookie Season Overview: Nikola Topic spent his entire rookie year sidelined due to a torn ACL. Therefore, he will technically be a rookie next season. However, his potential impact for the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who effectively `stashed` him thanks to their remarkable depth, warrants his inclusion here.
Why He`s One To Watch: The sheer curiosity surrounding Topic`s role, given Oklahoma City`s overwhelming backcourt talent, makes him compelling. During Summer League, he offered glimpses of his playmaking skills (averaging 7.3 assists over three games) and high basketball IQ, which could earn him backup minutes behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Whether he evolves into a long-term rotation piece or primarily a trade asset for the continually evolving Thunder, his positive flashes suggest he`s worth close monitoring.
9. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
Rookie Season Overview: McCain delivered a promising, albeit brief, 23-game sample before a left knee meniscus tear sidelined him in December. Despite playing for an injury-riddled Sixers squad (24-58), he averaged 15.3 points on 46% shooting in 25.7 minutes, rapidly adapting his scoring instincts and perimeter shooting to the NBA after being drafted 16th.
Why He`s One To Watch: The key question revolves around how McCain builds on his debut season after his injury, and how the 76ers manage their backcourt minutes with McCain, Tyrese Maxey, and 2025 No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe. Philadelphia must optimize the fit of this trio, with McCain potentially thriving in a combo guard role long-term. A significant big-picture concern is whether the Sixers can defensively succeed with this smaller perimeter lineup, particularly with Joel Embiid and Paul George in their 30s and facing availability challenges. This year is critical for McCain to cement himself as a vital part of the 76ers` future.
8. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Rookie Season Overview: Wells was arguably the best value pick of the 2024 draft, earning a spot on the All-Rookie first team. Selected 39th, he started 74 games and averaged 10.4 points. Initially perceived as primarily a spot-up shooter from Washington State, Wells unexpectedly demonstrated strong defensive capabilities, embracing challenging matchups and quickly carving out a viable role.
Why He`s One To Watch: Wells` emergence mitigated the impact of the Grizzlies trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. He is now poised for an expanded scoring role, filling the void left by Bane`s touches as both a shooter and secondary playmaker. As a late-blooming former Division II player, turning 22 in August, Wells may still possess untapped upside. The Grizzlies will undoubtedly want to assess if he can significantly expand his contributions. While his limitations as an on-ball creator might cap his high-end outcomes, based on his rookie performance, it`s entirely possible he continues to surprise with further improvements in efficiency and volume.
7. Kel`el Ware, Miami Heat
Rookie Season Overview: Ware earned All-Rookie second team honors after a midseason breakthrough, eventually securing a spot in the starting lineup. He proved to be a talented, modern center capable of protecting the paint, moving his feet defensively, and hitting spot-up three-pointers. His readiness to contribute, especially after being picked 15th, surpassed initial expectations.
Why He`s One To Watch: How quickly Ware can fulfill his considerable potential is a major factor in Miami`s current retooling. Despite a successful rookie season, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra`s public comments urging him to “improve his professionalism” earlier this month echoed pre-draft concerns about Ware`s motor and desire. Given Miami`s strong emphasis on intangibles, his selection was somewhat surprising. Clearly, the Heat believe they can maximize Ware`s abilities. The upcoming season will show if he can build on his early returns and further establish himself as a legitimate starting-level center.
6. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Rookie Season Overview: The second overall pick, Sarr, made the All-Rookie first team despite being very much a developmental project. He played his entire rookie season at age 19, averaging 13 points and 6.5 rebounds, and demonstrating significant defensive potential with 1.5 blocks per game. Washington`s commitment to playing young talent allowed Sarr to broadly look the part of a long-term franchise cornerstone, even with his unrefined offensive game.
Why He`s One To Watch: While Washington has acquired several other 2024 first-round selections through trades, Sarr still possesses the most intriguing upside among them. His ability to read the floor offensively hasn`t yet caught up to his exceptional physical tools, but his defensive attributes as a mobile shot-blocker and paint protector are likely to translate well and improve. Sarr experienced predictable offensive ups and downs, shooting just 39.4% from the field, but did manage 2.4 assists per game as a rookie center, indicating the Wizards are giving him more than a simple rim-running role. Despite some subpar rebounding for his size, there`s a strong chance Sarr shows comprehensive improvement in his second year, especially if Washington`s other young players collectively take a step forward. His participation with the French national team at EuroBasket in August, given Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert`s absence, will offer an early glimpse into his offseason progress.
5. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Rookie Season Overview: Clingan led all rookies in blocks per game (1.6) and earned All-Rookie second team honors, averaging 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in just 19.8 minutes while shooting 53%. His per-minute production and defensive impact were notable, suggesting a bright future as a rim-protecting anchor for the Blazers` defense.
Why He`s One To Watch: The Trail Blazers appear to have cleared the way for Clingan and fellow draftee Yang Hansen to share center minutes next season; Robert Williams III remains on the roster but could be a trade candidate with his expiring contract. It will be interesting to observe how these minutes are ultimately distributed based on performance. Clingan deserves the majority of the minutes but also needs to improve his conditioning to handle a larger workload. The fact that he started the final 27 games of his rookie season strongly indicates he`s next in line. Additionally, it will be worth watching if the Blazers experiment with Clingan and Yang together in double-big lineups. While potentially clunky on paper, it`s an option worth exploring given Portland`s apparent long-term investment in both players. Overall, Clingan is due for an expanded role and could quickly establish himself as one of the NBA`s premier interior defenders.
4. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Rookie Season Overview: Buzelis had a midseason breakthrough for the Bulls, proving to be a strong value pick at No. 11. He started the final 31 games of the season, averaging 31 points on 47% shooting in those contests. This impressive stretch earned him an All-Rookie second team selection and established him as a critical piece of Chicago`s future.
Why He`s One To Watch: Once considered a contender for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft class, Buzelis possesses significant potential as a tall, skilled perimeter scorer. As he continues to add strength and refine his shooting, Buzelis has a vast runway for both development and role expansion. With the Bulls perennially in play-in limbo, their most viable path forward likely hinges on a prospective star turn from Buzelis. While a full transformation may not happen in one summer, Chicago`s commitment to playing up-tempo basketball should benefit him, providing more on-ball opportunities in space to expand his shot-creating skills for himself and his teammates. The resolution of Josh Giddey`s contract standoff and his anticipated return should further aid Buzelis`s comfort. Still only 20 years old, the magnitude of his sophomore leap is arguably the most crucial big-picture storyline for the Bulls heading into the season.
3. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Rookie Season Overview: Risacher validated Atlanta`s conviction in selecting him first overall in a draft class that lacked a true consensus No. 1. While he didn`t win Rookie of the Year, he was one of the few rookies to make significant contributions to a playoff-caliber team. Entering the league at age 19, he started 73 of 75 games, shooting 45.8% from the field and 35% from three, providing immediate value. The long-term question for his career is how much he will continue to add to his versatile game.
Why He`s One To Watch: The Hawks strengthened their position this offseason by adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, alongside securing a potentially valuable 2026 draft pick. With Trae Young and Dyson Daniels nearing contract extensions, there`s pressure to win now, alongside a significant long-term evaluation process for Atlanta`s front office. Risacher`s value is amplified by his seamless fit into almost any lineup, thanks to his shooting, perimeter defense, and positional size at small forward. For the Hawks, Risacher`s continued evolution as a scorer is paramount. While Atlanta has ample playmaking, and Risacher is effective off-ball, gradually giving him more creation opportunities — off the dribble, pull-up shots, and making plays for teammates — is likely in their best long-term interest. The extent of his development in these areas could distinguish him as an excellent role player versus a higher-end outcome. How Atlanta fosters this growth will be a key observation as the season begins, especially with his participation with the French national team at EuroBasket in August, which might offer early insights into his offseason progress.
2. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Rookie Season Overview: Castle`s solid debut season earned him Rookie of the Year honors. He averaged 14.7 points and 4.1 assists in 26.7 minutes, starting 47 games for the Spurs. Predictably, he faced efficiency struggles (42.8% FG and 28.5% from 3), but was a strong defender and showed considerable improvement after the All-Star break, benefiting from the freedom San Antonio provided him.
Why He`s One To Watch: As the Spurs continue to build a contender around Victor Wembanyama, whose health appears stable after a blood clot, the most critical factor beyond his well-being is how well San Antonio`s guards can mesh around him. The trade for De`Aaron Fox naturally reduced some of Castle`s primary ball-handling responsibilities. Furthermore, the unexpected lottery jump that landed the Spurs the No. 2 pick, Dylan Harper, adds a third key guard. While exciting for the roster, this situation demands adjustments from all three players. Castle, far from his full potential, is the most natural candidate among them to step into a more versatile two-way role, thanks to his size, defensive instincts, and unselfishness on offense. However, he will still need to significantly improve his long-range shooting to truly excel away from the ball, particularly given San Antonio`s likely lineups. The Spurs will need to creatively stagger their guards not only to win games but also to provide Harper and Castle the best opportunities to find comfort. Considering the shifting context and the increased pressure to reach the playoffs as the Spurs progress with Wembanyama, Castle`s adaptability and refinement of his game will be highly consequential to San Antonio`s trajectory and his central role in the team`s next iteration.
1. Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Rookie Season Overview: Despite considerable pre-draft hype, Sheppard`s rookie season was relatively uneventful, as he appeared in only 51 games and averaged 12 minutes on a talented Rockets team. Nonetheless, he did score 49 points in a G League game, and Houston remains highly optimistic about him as he steps into more minutes on a team with significant aspirations.
Why He`s One To Watch: One notable consequence of Houston`s trade of Jalen Green in the Kevin Durant deal is the significant backcourt minutes freed up for Sheppard, who is now expected to play a real role behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson. The Rockets` true contention aspirations may depend more on the growth of their young players — Sheppard, Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. — than solely on Durant. Sheppard should transition into an ideal role as a secondary ball-handler, playmaker, and spacer, capable of both operating off the ball and facilitating for Houston`s stars. His shooting will be crucial alongside Thompson and Alperen Sengun, but he will also need to remain effective defensively, as the Rockets will concede some perimeter size when VanVleet and Sheppard share the floor. While Sheppard`s instincts for winning possessions aid his defense, he isn`t a primary deterrent for opposing shooters. Sheppard has the chance to be a huge swing factor in Houston`s title chase, theoretically stepping into a perfect situation. The key question is whether next season is the right time for his breakout and how the Rockets might need to adjust their depth accordingly. The simple fact that we haven`t truly seen his full capabilities yet, and the implications this holds for Houston`s season arc, earns him the top spot on this list.
