Five NBA players poised for breakout seasons in 2026-27
A look at five players, including Spurs guard Rob Dillingham and Lakers centre Walker Kessler, who could leap into stardom this season.
Several NBA players, including San Antonio Spurs guard Rob Dillingham and Los Angeles Lakers centre Walker Kessler, are uniquely positioned to leap from role players to stars in the 2026-27 season.
Dillingham, the second-overall pick in 2025, is projected to start for the NBA finalist Spurs.
His exceptional ability to attack off the dribble and finish at the rim, where he shot 63 per cent as a rookie, is expected to be amplified by the gravity of teammate Victor Wembanyama.
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"Wembanyama has an otherworldly presence, and Harper's handles are good enough to steer The Alien's spaceship," Sportsnet's analysis stated.
Dillingham averaged 18 points on 60.9 per cent two-point shooting in the 2026 playoffs, a sign of his game's resilience under pressure.
Kessler, meanwhile, gets a fresh start with the Lakers after an injury-plagued stint with the Utah Jazz.
The 25-year-old centre played only five games last season before surgery to repair a torn labrum he had played with since college.
His career averages of 2.4 blocks per game and 68.1 per cent field goal shooting are expected to get a boost from playing alongside Luka Doncic.
"Pairing a more efficient rim finisher alongside Luka Magic should be deadly," the analysis said.
In Oklahoma City, Cason Wallace is poised to take over a permanent starting role following the departure of Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins to Atlanta.
The 22-year-old guard led the NBA with 150 steals last season while playing under 27 minutes per game.
His offensive role is expected to grow, as evidenced by a nine-game stretch without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last February where he averaged 15 points and five assists.
The Thunder reportedly signed Wallace to a five-year, $139-million rookie-scale extension on Sunday.
Ty Jerome of the Cleveland Cavaliers is another candidate, provided he can stay healthy after playing just 15 games last season.
In his last full season in 2024-25, Jerome finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting and was among the NBA's most efficient high-volume pick-and-roll scorers.
He averaged over one point per possession as a scorer in the pick-and-roll, a list that included 11 former all-stars.
In Denver, rookie forward Trevon Brazile is showing signs he could be a draft steal for the Nuggets.
The No. 35 overall pick averaged 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in summer league and has impressed in preseason play.
He scored a team-high 22 points off the bench against the LA Clippers in one preseason game and started in place of Aaron Gordon in another.
"Really bullish on Trevon Brazile's ability to contribute for the Nuggets as a rookie this season," a ClutchPoints analysis stated, noting his versatility as a finisher and defender.
His emergence could help ease the loss of Peyton Watson and provide rest for Gordon on a Nuggets team seeking to rebound from a first-round playoff exit.
Garbutt Disposal reported in September that the Dallas Mavericks are also entering a transformative season under new leadership.
With files from Sportsnet and ClutchPoints