With the 2025-2026 NBA season upon us, a summer of injuries, roster changes, and speculation will completely change how we view teams, individual players, and the landscape of the league. Teams are trying to keep up with each other in the West, while teams are trying to take advantage of a depleted conference in the East. Players will, therefore, have opportunities to ascend into more significant roles and take that next step in their game.
Despite being a late first-round selection in 2024, Terrence Shannon has a legitimate case as a top-ten talent in his class. While off-court issues plagued his stock throughout the draft cycle, he brings a legitimate NBA-level skillset to the table. Shannon was in and out of the rotation throughout the regular season, but made a lasting impression every time he entered the game. His ability to play with and without the basketball on offense and impact the game on both sides of the floor makes him a perfect role player alongside Anthony Edwards.
Shannon shone in Minnesota’s playoff run, posting good performances against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference finals. While already showing a knack for getting to the rim with and without the ball in his hands, Shannon’s ability to knock down jump shots is more than viable for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and could propel him to a key piece in their rotation. With the loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency, Minnesota will be looking at Shannon to replace some of his production in 2026.
While preseason is far from the end-all-be-all, it can be used to find positive signs of improvement, in this case for Brice Sensabaugh. Coming out of Ohio State, he was profiled as a lights-out shooter and has lived up to the name, shooting 42% from behind the line in his second season. Sensabaugh has a clear shot at creating upside and has showcased it in 2025 and the preseason so far. His ability to knock down shots off the catch and off the dribble stands out as one of the best on his current team. While the surrounding aspects of his name need development, his scoring alone could land him as a potential breakout candidate in 2026.
Despite being a third-year player, Sensabaugh could be a potential trade chip for the Utah Jazz at the deadline. With Danny Ainge’s history of stockpiling draft picks, Sensabaugh could net the Jazz multiple second-round picks in the event of a potential breakout. His scoring and length could be of value to a team looking to compete in a potentially bleak trade market.
Coming off his second consecutive impressive playoff run, Andrew Nembhard will certainly be the favorite for the 2025-2026 Most Improved Player award with the absence of Tyrese Halliburton. While he won’t replace the entire offensive load, he’s bound for a statistical leap as he shoulders the lead guard role for the season. There’s a legitimate argument that playing next to Halliburton benefits him statistically and improves his efficiency, but ultimately, the counting stats will count more than anything amongst voters.
With major injuries already taking place ahead of the season, there are arguably more breakout candidates for 2026 than in any season in recent years. In as talented a league as there’s ever been, the MIP race could be extremely interesting throughout the year.
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