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The NBA is filled with young talent, and every season a few second-year players make the leap from a promising young talent to a key contributor on their roster. Last year it was Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle and Jared McCain. Whether it’s because of increased opportunity or another year of development, there are three players that are headed into their sophomore season poised to break out during the 2026-27 season.
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Dylan Harper
Harper is the most obvious breakout candidate from the 2025 NBA Draft class. His regular-season stats weren’t anything out of the ordinary. He averaged just 11 points, three rebounds and three assists per game, numbers that don’t jump off the stat sheet.
He made his case as a breakout candidate in the playoffs. San Antonio made it all the way to the NBA Finals, and Harper played a huge role in that run. He had multiple 20-point games, with two of them coming on the biggest stage in the NBA Finals.
He gained experience that no other rookie did and proved he could hold his own against the league’s best. If Harper carries that confidence into next season, he could be in line for a breakout year.
Egor Demin
Demin was the first of Brooklyn’s four first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, and while he appeared in only 52 games, he showed flashes of becoming an NBA All-Star.
Now, It seems as though Demin may have put it all together. In three Summer League games, Demin’s averaged 21 points, three rebounds and four assists. It may be a small sample size, but he looked extremely comfortable. He also showcased his defensive ability, averaging 2.5 steals per game.
On a team lacking an offensive identity, Demin will have the opportunity to be a key contributor on the offensive side of the ball.
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Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah Fears was selected seventh overall by the Pelicans last year, and his rookie season was filled with excitement. He was extremely inconsistent at times. Some games he looked like an elite scorer, while in others he couldn’t buy a basket.
Despite the inconsistency, Fears finished the season on a high note. Over his final three games, he scored a combined 112 points. It looked like he had finally gotten comfortable and was playing with much more freedom.
If he can carry that style of play into next season, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be in line for a breakout season.
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