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Big men Kel\u2019el Ware (left) and Zaccharie Risacher are 2 second-year players to keep tabs on in 2025-26.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Download the NBA App<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a> led by Dallas\u2019 Cooper Flagg, bring energy and excitement.<\/p>\n But some of the biggest impact annually comes from the new guys\u2019 predecessors, last season\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The best of 2024\u2019s rookie class demonstrated last season they\u2019re on their way, including Spurs guard Stephon Castle, the Kia Rookie of the Year winner<\/a>, as well as All-Rookie picks<\/a> 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\u2019 Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, to watch in 2025-26:<\/p>\n Zaccharie Risacher | F | Atlanta Hawks<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 1<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 apg<\/p>\n 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<\/a> and March<\/a>. 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\u2019s shooting will be more essential with Atlanta making a strong offseason push<\/a> to join the conference contenders.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Zaccharie Risacher drops a season-high 38 points on the Nets in a win last season.<\/p>\n Reed Sheppard | G | Houston Rockets<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 3<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 4.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.4 apg<\/p>\n Sheppard\u2019s rookie arc played like a mirror opposite of Risacher \u2014 his chances to learn and shine got squeezed out by Houston\u2019s 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<\/a>. His shooting perked up late \u2014 he hit 20 of his final 40 3-pointers \u2014 and he showed solid command as a playmaker, but coach Ime Udoka wasn\u2019t willing to sacrifice defensively by boosting Sheppard\u2019s role. He will be vying with Aaron Holiday for backcourt minutes behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson.<\/p>\n Rob Dillingham | G | Minnesota Timberwolves<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 8<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 4.5 ppg, 1 rpg, 2 apg<\/p>\n Sheppard\u2019s 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 \u2014 on the nights he got 20-plus minutes<\/a>, 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\u2019 run to a second straight West finals. Dillingham\u2019s playing time will depend not just on Conley\u2019s role but on how well he fits next to Anthony Edwards.<\/p>\n Cody Williams | G | Utah Jazz<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 10<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 4.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg<\/p>\n Any pressure on Williams to perform big as Utah\u2019s 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\u2019s breakout work in the playoffs for OKC<\/a>. The 20-year-old Jazz guard dialed up strong performances in Summer League \u2014 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).<\/p>\n Matas Buzelis | F | Chicago Bulls<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 11<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 8.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1 apg<\/p>\n Some Bulls fans approved of the team\u2019s ramping up of Buzelis\u2019 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<\/a> 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\u2019t pacing himself. Asked in an offseason interview about his \u201cceiling,\u201d Buzelis said: \u201cI always think I could be the best. \u2026 That\u2019s just how I was raised. I think I could be the best player ever.\u201d<\/p>\n Kel\u2019el Ware | C | Miami Heat<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 15<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 9.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg<\/p>\n The 7-footer from Little Rock, Ark., finished strong, starting 36 of his final 38 games and landing on the All-Rookie Second Team<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n Jared McCain | G | Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 16<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 15.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg<\/p>\n McCain was the biggest \u201cwhat if?\u201d of the 2024 class, seemingly on his way to contending for the Kia Rookie of the Year award until his season ended<\/a> two weeks into December with meniscus surgery. The Duke product was logging starter\u2019s 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\u2019t be shy about carving out a place for himself in the Sixers\u2019 busy backcourt with Tyrese Maxey, rookie V.J. Edgecombe, Kyle Lowry and possibly Quentin Grimes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 76ers rookie Jared McCain discusses how he’s healing from his injury, his love of TikTok and gets in a cheer for the Eagles.<\/p>\n Jaylen Wells | F | Memphis Grizzlies<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 39<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 10.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.7 apg<\/p>\n Wells was the sleeper of last year\u2019s 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\u2019 pecking order, but they didn\u2019t hesitate to stick him on opponents\u2019 most potent scorers. His season ended<\/a> almost three weeks before Memphis\u2019 due to a wrist fracture, but his offensive game should benefit from Desmond Bane\u2019s trade to Orlando<\/a>.<\/p>\n Quinten Post | C | Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 52<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Bronny James | G | Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n Draft position: No. 55<\/p>\n 2024-25 stats: 2.4 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.8 apg<\/p>\n