Photo Credits: Gregory Fisher, USA TODAY Sports (Victor Wembanyama); Stacy Revere, USA TODAY Sports (Dereck Lively II); NBA (Naz Reid)
Every season, a handful of NBA players make that so-called leap. Sometimes, that leap is from middling to good; other times, the leap is from good to All-Star level. For some players, that leap is from star to superstar already. Whatever the case, watching players take their games to new heights is another thing to watch out for during a long 82-game season.
For the 2024–2025 NBA season, these nine players ought to be on NBA fans’ radar as they are set to level up their games and have breakout seasons:
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Last season: 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 3.6 blocks (71 games)
It seems weird that a 20-10 guy would be “breaking out,” but that’s exactly what the French phenom is poised to do this coming season—only this time, he will be breaking out from super rookie to superstar. A bona fide stat sheet-stuffer already, look for Wembanyama to do more of the same in the 2024–2025 NBA season, with his scoring likely to see the most improvement. That’s thanks to some added muscle and heft, a better understanding of the NBA game, and the entry of All-Star point guard Chris Paul.
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Last season: 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.4 blocks (50 games)
Injuries undermined Mobley’s third season in the NBA, but he has always shown flashes of what a modern big is all about. He has size and length, is incredibly athletic and nimble, can dribble well enough, and has good touch. With fellow big likely to anchor Cleveland’s defense, expect Mobley to make a leap on offense in new coach Kenny Atkinson’s player-friendly, movement-oriented free-flowing offense that will retain last year’s playoff core.
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Last season: 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks (72 games)
Wagner was tasked to carry a bigger burden on offense and in terms of leadership in two successive tours of duty with the German national team, and that should bode well for him as he enters his year-four season. Already a creative, intuitive scorer, look for Wagner to shoot better from deep and unlock his offensive game even more—especially with veteran sniper Kentavious Caldwell-Pope poised to open up that Orlando offense more.
Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
Last season: 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.5 blocks (74 games)
Sometime after last season’s All-Star break, Warriors coach Steve Kerr finally started giving Kuminga consistent minutes—and he delivered his best stretch of basketball, averaging 19.1 points in the two-month span leading into the postseason. Still just 22, Kuminga is poised for a bigger role in Golden State, especially with Klay Thompson now a Dallas Maverick. A starting spot is certainly in the mix, and it could unlock Kuminga’s massive potential even more.
Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks
Last season: 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.4 blocks (55 games)
Lively excelled as a rookie in a Tyson Chandler-type role last season for the Mavs—walling off the paint and being a hyper-athletic rim runner for two elite passers in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. But in Dallas’ magical postseason run, Lively proved he could do more, including hitting open shots from the perimeter. Lively will be the Mavericks’ featured big this season, too, and with another offseason of work with coach Jason Kidd and the aforementioned Chandler, a more productive year seems imminent.
Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
Last season: 13.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks (75 games)
Second
George played about as well as expected last season for a talented but young rookie guard in a bad team—he had flashes of brilliance but also made plenty of mistakes. He was particularly inefficient with his shot (39% from the field overall) and mostly turnover-prone. He will have the ball a lot again this season for a Jazz team that would probably be bad again, but with one season already under his belt, expect across-the-board improvements for George this time around.
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Last season: 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks (56 games)
Johnson was already making a leap last season with Dejounte Murray in Atlanta as Trae Young’s second-in-command. Unfortunately, injuries derailed Johnson’s breakout year, which people hardly noticed anyway given the Hawks’ mediocre season. But Johnson has proven himself to be an emerging two-way force—efficient on offense, and tenacious on defense. Look for him to continue his upward trajectory as he is expected to get more minutes and bigger responsibilities with Murray gone.
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
Last season: 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks (81 games)
The reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year broke out last season from a fringe player to a reliable contributor. This season, he’s primed to take the next step from off-the-bench sparkplug to right about All-Star level as he looks set to inherit Karl Anthony-Towns’s starting spot with Julius Randle still recuperating from shoulder surgery. He figures to be Robin to Anthony Edwards’s Batman this season—a task he looks well-suited to excel in.
Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
Last season: 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks (74 games)
Giddey isn’t impacting winning basketball anytime soon in Chicago, but he will get more minutes, more touches, and more opportunities. That means he will be stuffing the stat sheets albeit in what is likely another lost season for the Bulls. Last season, Giddey held the ball a mere 2.8 minutes per game as a Thunder but still put up 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Imagine his numbers when he gets the ball more every game.
