10 Breakout Candidates in the NBA Next Season

Making an NBA All-Star team next season could be harder than ever. More than 30 players are capable of averaging 20 points per game, a massive wave of young talent is rapidly climbing the league’s hierarchy, and the stat sheet alone isn't enough to separate one candidate from another. Winning, efficiency, defense and overall impact will all matter in an increasingly over-crowded field. With top-tier superstars occupying most of the available spots if healthy, every newcomer will need an undeniably phenomenal half of the season to break through. These are the 10 players I believe have the best chance to earn their first All-Star selection, or, at the very least, produce a massive breakout campaign.

1. O.G. Anunoby (NYK)

2025-26 Stats:

16.7 PPG · 5.2 RPG · 2.2 APG · 48.4% FG

O.G. Anunoby may not produce the appealing offensive numbers typically associated with an All-Star, but few players impact winning in more ways. The powerfully built 6'8" forward is now a two-time NBA champion, and his defense is approaching historic territory. Anunoby can legitimately guard all five positions, taking on everything from explosive point guards to bruising centers while allowing New York to switch nearly any matchup. His combination of strength, length, instincts and discipline made him indispensable to the Knicks’ championship hopes. He still contributed an efficient 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game on 48.4% shooting, but his value can't really be captured by the stat sheets. If voters reward elite two-way impact and winning instead of simply chasing scoring averages, Anunoby has a legitimate chance to earn the first All-Star selection of his career.

2. Stephon Castle (SAS)

2025-26 Stats:

16.7 PPG · 5.3 RPG · 7.4 APG · 47.1% FG

Stephon Castle already looks like the NBA’s next great two-way guard. At just 22 years old, the explosive 6'6" phenom helped lead San Antonio all the way to the NBA Finals, proving that his impact extends far beyond what the fans see in the box score. Castle plays with relentless aggression, attacks the rim with elite athleticism and uses his size to overwhelm smaller guards on both ends of the floor. He also emerged as a legitimate offensive problem in the West, averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and a whopping 7.4 assists per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Most importantly, he appears to be the perfect long-term perimeter partner for Victor Wembanyama, capable of creating offense, defending top assignments and pushing the pace or facilitating around the big man. With his production, team success and trajectory all pointing upward, Castle has an excellent chance to make his first All-Star team next season.

3. Cooper Flagg (DAL)

2025-26 Stats:

21.0 PPG · 6.7 RPG · 4.5 APG · 46.8% FG

Out of every player on this list, Cooper Flagg may have the clearest path to his first All-Star selection. With Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and nearly every other star caliber contributor unavailable, the 6'9" forward was forced to carry a depleted Dallas roster almost entirely by himself. Flagg did more than survive the responsibility—he became the Mavericks. Even without any legitimate star power surrounding him, the reigning Rookie of the Year made Dallas entertaining every night and gave the franchise a clear identity moving forward. He averaged approximately 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, showcasing that he's capable of being an elite point-forward, creating offense, attacking mismatches and impacting the game on both ends. At 19, Flagg is still only scratching the surface of his potential, and with a larger role, stronger supporting cast and another offseason of development, he has the best chance of anyone here to make the All-Star leap.

4. Keyonte George (UTA)

2025-26 Stats:

23.6 PPG · 3.7 RPG · 6.1 APG · 45.6% FG

Efficiency and playmaking were once the biggest concerns surrounding Keyonte George, but last season he began turning both weaknesses into strengths. With Collin Sexton gone, Utah handed the offense to the 22-year-old guard, and George responded with the best basketball of his young career. He averaged approximately 23 points and six assists per game, proving he could create for teammates while still carrying a major scoring burden. Silencing critics, his development was especially important for a player who averaged only two assists at Baylor and was frequently projected as more of a shooting guard than a true lead initiator. The Jazz won just 22 games, so George will need to translate his production into more team success, but his growth offered Utah something it desperately needed: a legitimate offensive bucket getter who made the team worth watching. If the efficiency continues improving and the Jazz take a meaningful step forward, George could force his way into the All-Star conversation.

5. Brandon Miller (CHA)

2025-26 Stats:

20.2 PPG · 4.9 RPG · 3.3 APG · 43.5% FG

Brandon Miller is walking into the biggest opportunity of his career. With LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges gone, Charlotte’s offense is now all his to command, and the 6'7" wing has the scoring versatility and talent to take full advantage. Miller can create off the dribble, rise over smaller defenders and punish teams from deep, coming off a season in which he shot a career-best 38% from three and nearly 90% from the free-throw line. Kon Knueppel should emerge as an excellent complementary scorer, but Miller is the player expected to set the tone every night. Charles Lee will ensure that the scoring volume will be there, the responsibility will be greater than ever and all signs point toward a potentially frightening breakout campaign. If Charlotte shows even modest improvement in the standings, Miller could make a serious push for his first All-Star selection.

6. Trey Murphy III (NOP)

2025-26 Stats:

21.5 PPG · 5.7 RPG · 3.8 APG · 47.0% FG

Trey Murphy III does NOT receive nearly enough recognition for how valuable he's become to New Orleans. Whenever Zion Williamson is unavailable, Murphy steps forward. Whenever Dejounte Murray is sidelined, Murphy steps forward. At this point, he's spent the last few seasons operating as one of the Pelicans’ most dependable offensive contributors, regardless of who's sharing the floor with him. The 6'8" wing is far more than a stationary set shooter—he's an elite three-point threat, a devastating transition finisher and one of the league’s most explosive dunkers. Murphy has also worked to become a more capable facilitator, giving him another way to punish defenses when they run him off the three-point-line. With his scoring versatility, athleticism and continued development as a creator, Murphy has all the tools to produce a long-overdue All-Star breakthrough.

7. Michael Porter Jr. (BKN)

2025-26 Stats:

24.2 PPG · 7.1 RPG · 3.0 APG · 46.3% FG

Michael Porter Jr. may have been the biggest All-Star snub in the league last season. The 6'10" sharpshooter averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field, numbers that would normally make a selection feel almost automatic. Porter has always been one of basketball’s most effortless scorers, capable of burying contested threes, attacking closeouts and rising over virtually any defender without needing the offense to stop for him. What separates him from the other high-volume scorers in the league is his ability to produce efficiently both on and off the ball. He can shoot off screens, create an open look or just stand in the corner. He already has a championship ring and has proven that his scoring translates to winning at the highest level. After being overlooked despite a career year, another campaign near 24 points per game should make Porter nearly impossible for voters to deny.

8. Amen Thompson (HOU)

2025-26 Stats:

18.3 PPG · 7.8 RPG · 5.3 APG · 53.4% FG

Amen Thompson entered the league as one of its most overwhelming freak athletes, but he's quickly developing into much more than a physically gifted prodigy. After earning All-Defensive First Team honors, Thompson finally gave Houston a sustained look at his offensive upside last season, averaging 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists across 79 games. He might not become a dangerous perimeter shooter for quite some time, if ever. Maybe he goes the Giannis route. But, like Giannis, his production suggests he doesn't need to be. Thompson attacks the rim with force, outruns defenders in transition and uses his size, explosiveness and elite cutting instincts to create efficient offense without relying on a jumper. He shot 53% from the field and converted well over 60% of his layups, forcing his way into the paint even when defenses knew exactly what was coming. When a player already defends at an All-NBA level and becomes nearly impossible to contain downhill, an All-Star breakthrough feels like the natural next step.

9. Franz Wagner (ORL)

2025-26 Stats:

20.6 PPG · 5.2 RPG · 3.3 APG · 48.1% FG

Franz Wagner entered last season as one of the most popular breakout candidates in basketball. Around this time a year ago, the consensus was that the 6'10" wing was practically a lock to earn his first All-Star selection. Unfortunately, a clean bill of health eluded him, and Wagner appeared in just 34 games in total this season. When available, however, he remains one of the league’s most complete young forwards. Wagner can score from all three levels, use his size to attack mismatches, contribute on the glass and facilitate offense for those around him. Very few players his size possess his combination of fluidity, skill and decision-making. Franz's ability has never been the question—availability is the only thing standing between him, a competitive Orlando Magic team and serious All-Star consideration. If he can remain healthy, there's little reason to believe he cannot finally secure his spot.

10. Derrick White (BOS)

2025-26 Stats:

16.5 PPG · 4.4 RPG · 5.4 APG · 39.4% FG

Derrick White might just be the most unconventional candidate you'd see on this list. His efficiency fell off dramatically last season after being forced into a larger shooting role with Jayson Tatum unavailable, making it very clear that carrying an offense with his sharpshooting isn't his value. What White does provide, however, is truly elite on-ball defense. He hounds opposing guards, navigates screens, protects the rim unusually well for his position and consistently makes winning plays that never appear in the box score. Some have compared his defensive impact to Bruce Bowen’s, but White offers far more offensive versatility—he can facilitate, rebound and provide timely scoring when Boston needs it. He has to get his shooting percentages to recover (and a few lucky breaks to fall his way), but if the Celtics remain competitive and voters recognize his two-way impact, a first All-Star selection isn't entirely out of reach.

With the league deeper than ever, earning an All-Star selection next season will be insanely difficult. The superstars you love are not going anywhere, young players continue to emerge, and several deserving candidates will inevitably be left on the outside looking in. Realistically, my hope is that at least one player from this list can break through the field and earn that first time nod. Who do you think has the best chance, and which potential first-time All-Star did we miss?

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Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)