As the 2024/25 NBA season heats up, the conversation invariably turns to those players having stellar seasons. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is clearly having the time of his life for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he leads the MVP betting odds, albeit only slightly ahead of Nikola Jokic. Yet, what about the youngsters in the league?
Several are having breakout campaigns. Yet, it is a little bit more interesting this term as the focus is not just on one player, such as Victor Wembanyama last season, but on several. With March Madness 2025 on the horizon, an event that acted as the breakout moment for future stars like Steph Curry, Ja Mourant, and Jimmy Butler, there are sure to be some players we can pinpoint as being household names one day.
Yet, as for the current crop of rookies in the NBA, some are showing why such a fuss would made out of them in the NBA Draft. It's not always easy to star in your first season, but we think some of these guys have the brightest of futures:
Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
Proof that French basketball can offer much more than Wembanyama. In fact, while US colleges and events like March Madness are the prime spots to see the stars of the future, we know the NBA is also scouring the French system for players. Sarr was picked no.2 overall in the 2024 Draft, and he has been a bright spot in an otherwise miserable season for the Wizards.
Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)
The tallest player in Big Ten history, the 7ft 4 Canadian still has a lot to learn on the basketball court, but it seems like the Grizzlies veteran players are taking the youngster under their wing. Edey is still raw, but he possesses a lot of skill to go with his height. His dunk over Wembanyama in the recent Grizzlies-Spurs game is well worth a watch.
Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
Big things are expected from the Spurs in the near future due to the exciting young stars on the roster, and Castle is very much part of that conversation. He has, in a sense, the typical qualities of a star rookie, showing offensive prowess and innate defensive nous while still culpable of some "rookie" mistakes. Some Spurs fans are clamoring for him to be in a starter role more often.
Yves Missi (New Orleans Pelicans)
Missi is an interesting player. The Cameroonian is growing into the season with the Pelicans, averaging 9.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks at the time of writing. He has had some luck, as the Pelicans are managing injuries, but it's been credible the way he has made the most of his time on the court. If and when the Pelicans are all healthy, it might just be difficult to remove Missi from the team.
Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)
It’s worth remembering that the No.1 Draft pick is still only 19. Sure, he has lit up the league in the way Webanyama did last season, but he is a different kind of talent. The Hawks are being relatively patient with him. We don’t think he will win ROY unless he finishes the season on fire, yet we have no doubts about his future prospects as an elite NBA player.
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
The Grizzlies second player on this list, Wells, like Missi, has found himself with more game time than expected due to injuries, but some are wondering whether he will become the first second-round pick to win ROY since 2017 (Malcolm Brogdon). Wells has grasped his chance with the Grizzlies, and he may have much more to say as the Grizzlies look bound for the Playoffs and have NBA Championship ambitions.