It is late September, and NBA training camp is less than two weeks away. Like any new season in sports, expectations are high and low for each franchise across the league.
Star players usually feel the brunt of those expectations as a new season begins. Those expectations can be even greater for players who have yet to win their first championship.
With that in mind, it is time to analyze which NBA stars face the highest expectations as NBA training camps begin.
Starting with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Western Conference Finals MVP, Victor Wembanyama enters the 2026-27 season with plenty to prove.
Wembanyama could enter the season as one of the favorites to win the NBA MVP award. However, staying healthy throughout a full season will be an important factor.
Wembanyama will compete with other MVP favorites, including reigning back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.
He will also focus on leading the San Antonio Spurs back to the NBA Finals. Wembanyama and the Spurs will look for redemption after losing the 2026 NBA Finals to the New York Knicks in five games.
Anthony Edwards is in a similar position as Victor Wembanyama. Edwards has an opportunity to strengthen his MVP case while leading the Minnesota Timberwolves back to the NBA playoffs.
Individual accolades would benefit Edwards, but getting past the Western Conference should be his primary goal. The Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference Finals twice in the last three years.
However, Minnesota lost in the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. Edwards and the Timberwolves will now look to take another step forward in the upcoming season.
Luka Dončić is another ringless superstar with plenty to prove as he enters his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dončić will play his first season as a Laker without future Hall of Famer LeBron James by his side. That change will put even more responsibility on Dončić heading into the new season.
Dončić has consistently been part of the MVP conversation. However, staying healthy throughout an entire NBA season has been a major challenge.
Health will be a major factor for Dončić after he missed the Lakers’ entire 2026 playoff run. He suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain that kept him out of the postseason.
Dončić has yet to contribute to a Lakers playoff series victory since arriving in Los Angeles in early 2025. His season will largely depend on staying healthy and leading the Lakers on a deep playoff run.
Next is Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons. Cunningham will focus on getting Detroit back into the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
The Pistons won 60 games last season before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. Detroit entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed but failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
Advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals would be a significant accomplishment for Cunningham and the Pistons. Detroit had not reached that stage since 2008.
Cunningham must also look to get his teammates more involved offensively. He attempted to carry the Pistons past the Cavaliers during the 2026 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
As an honorable mention, there is reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Flagg enters the 2026-27 season with the goal of becoming an All-Star for the first time.
Flagg will also look to avoid a sophomore slump during his second NBA season. Most importantly, he hopes to lead the Dallas Mavericks back to the playoffs.
The Mavericks have not returned to the playoffs since their NBA Finals appearance in 2024. Leading Dallas back to the postseason will not be easy, but Flagg has already shown significant potential.
Flagg is only 19 years old and has displayed flashes of stardom at a very young age. He will have plenty to prove during his second NBA season as training camp begins.
So, which NBA stars have the most to prove entering the 2026-27 season? Wembanyama, Edwards, Dončić, Cunningham, and Flagg all enter the season with different goals and expectations.
The next step in their careers will depend on individual development and team success. Each player will have an opportunity to make progress toward becoming a championship-level star.
Success in the NBA is often measured by the number of championship rings. The new season has yet to begin, but expectations could not be higher for these young NBA stars.
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