NBA: 6 Players You Shouldn’t Sleep On in the 2025-2026 Season
Author: John Micheal Agustin
The 2025-2026 NBA season is about to start in just a few clicks, and with a summer filled with jaw-dropping trades and acquisitions, and new wave of rookies, there’s a few names everyone shouldn’t sleep on and anticipate for the best. Here are the 6 players you shouldn’t sleep on next season!
Adem Bona
Last season, one of the most underrated players we’ve seen was the Nigerian big man Adem Bona. In the back end of the Sixers’ 2024-2025 campaign, Bona was consistently putting up great numbers. In April, he was averaging 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game with a super efficient 72.6% field goal as the starting center. Two months before that, Bona was only chipping in 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds a night in 13 minutes of play.
With the Sixers shopping Andre Drummond in the market and Joel Embiid’s health being uncertain for the 2025-2026 season, Bona could still fill that gap for the Philadelphia 76ers considering the 2023 MVP might miss 20 to 30 games again. Even as Embiid returns, the 22-year-old Sophomore could come off the bench and honestly is the most decent backup Embiid has had in the last few years. Bona’s game has actually taken a leap, but he is yet to find a shot from long range to add to his arsenal, which could be a deal breaker for some.
Donovan Clingan
The then-rookie Donovan Clingan had a blast in his rookie season last year. In just 16 minutes of play, the two-time NCAA champion and former University of Connecticut standout made 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. He was already a defensive beast from day one, and his defensive impact has obviously been a factor for the Portland Trailblazers. Although he was struggling offensively, especially with his awful 53.9% shooting from the free-throw line, Clingan has already shown flashes of greatness, like his 17-point, 20-rebound double-double against the Denver Nuggets back in February.
With Deandre Ayton now out of Portland, this could be time for Clingan to get more minutes as the team’s main center. In college, Clingan showed how quickly he can improve. In 2023, back when the Huskies won the national championship, Clingan was only playing as a backup for Adama Sanogo, who had a great collegiate run but went undrafted. The following year, UConn won back-to-back with Clingan acting as their new starting center and one of the focal points of their offense and defense. He currently ranks 1st in the NBA with 4.0 blocks per 100 possessions and is also 6th in total rebounds per 100 possessions.
Kel’el Ware
If we are talking about upside and potential, then Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware takes home the bag. Last season, the hype for Ware was slowly dying down after a rough start, including some issues with his fit to the team’s rotation. Eventually, Ware made his way to the starting lineup and even had head coach Erik Spoelstra’s commendation. Even the Heat organization believes Ware could be a top 100 player in the future.
The 21-year-old big man must become a more polished offensive weapon next season and play well alongside Bam Adebayo. If this experiment works, we’re going to see a heck of a frontcourt duo next season. In the latter part of his rookie year, Ware almost averaged a double-double with 10.7 points and 9.7 rebounds as a starter. His high ceiling, ability to adapt, and the Heat’s faith on him, Kel’el Ware is easily going to be a player to watch next season. Currently, ESPN and NBA snubbed Ware of their top 100 fantasy basketball players for the 2025-2026 season.
Reed Sheppard
As unfortunate as it sounds, Fred VanVleet’s injury somehow may cause some good for some of his teammates, i.e. Reed Sheppard. The 2024 3rd overall pick, the sophomore out of Kentucky is expected to have a bigger role in the 2025-2026 season with VanVleet on the sidelines.
Sheppard is most likely moving up to the starting position if the Houston Rockets don’t trade for a more experience point guard to fill the gap. With Kevin Durant now on the team, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. on the wing, and Alperen Sengun locked in down low, Sheppard has all the options he would want. His basketball IQ mixed with his excellent shooting, the 20-year-old rising star could be one of the sleepers next season.
Onyeka Okongwu
For years, the Atlanta Hawks starting center has always been Clint Capela. However, in the back half of the 2024-2025 season, they suddenly decided to go with 5-year veteran Onyeka Okongwu. After an exciting breakout month, the Hawks finally decided to keep Okongwu and release Capela.
Okongwu is slowly becoming a reliable big man, and even though Kristaps Porzingis will be joining them next season, he’d still hold that starting center spot as the main rim protector.
Ivica Zubac
Los Angeles Clippers’ center Ivica Zubac is definitely one of those players who could literally be a second or third option on any team. In their 2024-2025 campaign, Zubac played all but two games of the whole season and was putting up 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds. On paper, 17 and 13 is expected from a guy of his size and caliber, but his importance to the Clippers’ rotation is sometimes overlooked. The 7-foot Croatian has been, for most of the time, the reason why the Clippers won 50 games in a very competitive Western conference.
It’s surprising to see that he hasn’t received a nod to the All-Star game yet, since some consider him as a top 5 big man in the league at his best. In the playoffs, Zubac gave the Warriors headaches in the paint and he looked like the best player out there. At just 28 years old.
