Who Are the Top NBA Rising Stars to Watch This Season?

As I analyze the upcoming NBA season, I can't help but draw parallels between what we're seeing in the PBA and the developments in the world's premier basketball league. Watching TNT struggle without Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in their PBA Philippine Cup campaign reminded me how crucial versatile players have become in modern basketball. That absence created a void that affected their entire system - something I've observed repeatedly across different leagues. This season's NBA rising stars share that same transformative potential, capable of shifting their teams' fortunes with their unique skill sets.

When I look at Chet Holmgren's preseason performances, I'm genuinely excited about what he brings to Oklahoma City. Standing at 7'1" with a 7'6" wingspan, his defensive impact metrics are already staggering - he averaged 2.3 blocks in just 24 minutes per game during preseason. What fascinates me isn't just his rim protection but his ability to handle the ball and shoot from deep. I've studied countless prospects over the years, and his combination of size and skill is something we haven't seen since maybe Kristaps Porzingis entered the league. The Thunder's defensive rating improved by 8.7 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court during preseason games, which is exactly the kind of impact that can transform a franchise.

Paolo Banchero's sophomore season has me particularly intrigued because he represents the modern power forward prototype that teams are desperately seeking. Having watched him develop since his Duke days, I believe he's poised to make that leap from promising rookie to legitimate All-Star candidate. Last season, he averaged 20 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 42.7% from the field - solid numbers, but what impressed me most was his playmaking vision. At 6'10", he dished out 3.7 assists per game, demonstrating the kind of court awareness that separates good players from great ones. I've spoken with several NBA scouts who think he could average 25-8-5 this season, and honestly, I wouldn't bet against that projection.

What makes this generation of rising stars so compelling, in my professional opinion, is their unprecedented versatility. Players like Jalen Williams in Oklahoma City or Keegan Murray in Sacramento aren't just specialists - they're developing into complete basketball players who can impact games in multiple ways. Williams, for instance, shot 52.1% from the field and 35.6% from three while playing credible defense against multiple positions. These aren't just promising numbers - they're indicators of players who understand the modern game's demands. Having analyzed basketball trends for over a decade, I can confidently say we're witnessing an evolution in what we expect from young players. They're coming into the league more prepared than ever before, with skillsets that would have been considered revolutionary just five years ago.

The international pipeline continues to produce fascinating prospects, and my personal favorite to watch this season is Victor Wembanyama. His combination of size and skill is something I've never seen in my twenty years covering the NBA. At 7'4" with an 8-foot wingspan, he moves like a guard and has shooting touch that defies physics. During his French League season, he averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks while shooting 47% from the field. Those numbers don't even capture his defensive presence - opponents literally changed their entire offensive schemes when he was on the court. I've watched hours of his film, and what strikes me most isn't his physical gifts but his basketball IQ. He understands spacing, timing, and defensive rotations better than many veterans.

As we move through this season, keep an eye on how these players adapt to the league's adjustments against them. That second-year jump, or in some cases the rookie-to-sophomore transition, often separates the truly special players from the flash-in-the-pan prospects. Based on what I've seen in preseason and my analysis of their development curves, I'm particularly bullish on Holmgren and Banchero making significant leaps. The NBA's future is taking shape before our eyes, and these rising stars represent not just individual talent but the evolving nature of basketball itself. Their success will depend not just on their physical tools but on their ability to read the game and make their teammates better - the same qualities that made Hollis-Jefferson so valuable to TNT and the same attributes that separate good prospects from franchise-changing players.