This is it. This is the exciting part. Everyone wants to be right and receive that praise. By the time we do this next year, there are going to be players who are drafted substantially higher compared to this season. The goal is to draft as many of those players as possible. That’s the exciting part. With all that in mind, let’s take a look at my top 5 breakouts for the 2025-2026 fantasy basketball season. For the purposes of this exercise, I’m looking at players currently being drafted outside the top 50.
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5 Breakouts for 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball
1. Mark Williams, C, Phoenix Suns
It’s hard to believe that Mark Williams is still just 23 years old. The center is entering the fourth season of his career, and he’s yet to play in more than 44 games in a season.
Williams enters the year healthy and playing for a new team following his trade to the Phoenix Suns. Should Williams remain healthy to even get to 65-70 games, he’ll truly be in for a monster season. We can also say the same if Williams plays in more than the 27 minutes per game he has in the last two.
Last season, Williams was quite efficient as he averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. As a center, what’s more impressive is that Williams shot 80.4% from the free-throw line to go along with shooting 60.4% from the field. Williams is truly in a position to take the next step.
2. Alex Sarr, F/C, Washington Wizards
There’s a reason Alex Sarr was drafted second overall last year. To say that there’s going to be a learning curve would be an understatement. However, we also can’t dispute the talent and upside that Sarr has. At the same time, he’s still just 20 years old, and the Washington Wizards are very invested in his future.
The Wizards are a team clearly playing for next year. No longer having to share the front court with Jonas Valanciunas also helps to free things up for Sarr. I think it’s safe to assume that Sarr also plays more than 27 minutes per game.
Now that Sarr has adjusted to life in the NBA and had a summer to work on his game, that improvement should come. Last year, he averaged 13 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Sarr also added 1.5 blocks per game as he looks to take the next step this season. The situation and talent are ripe for it.
3. Cam Thomas, G, Brooklyn Nets
Admittedly, it does seem odd to say that a player who averaged 24 points per game last season is in line to break out this season. However, the 24-year-old is betting on himself as he’ll be a free agent at the end of the year. That means we can expect Thomas to truly be locked in as he’s playing for what he thinks will be a big contract after the season.
The Brooklyn Nets are truly in the midst of a major rebuild. Thomas is one of the few veteran options the Nets have. That means he’ll have ample opportunity to generate fantasy value. From an ADP perspective, things are all over the place with Thomas this season.
Last year, Thomas truly showed that he can put the ball in the bucket, even if it was by default. His 2.7 three-pointers per game are an asset, and the same can be said for his 88.1% free-throw percentage. Assuming Thomas becomes more refined this year, his 43.8% field goal percentage should improve as well. What we’re really after, though, is Thomas taking on more of a playmaking role and finishing with more than 3.8 assists per game.
4. Jalen Suggs, G, Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are a team on the rise. We saw a lot of that last year and they should continue on the same trajectory this season. Those efforts will be boosted by the expected health of Jalen Suggs.
Last year, Suggs was on his way to a career year, but instead, a knee injury kept him to 35 games. When he was on the court, though, Suggs finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He also had 1.5 steals per game while making 2.2 three-pointers. While Suggs shot 41% from the field, he made 88.2% of his free throws.
A healthy Suggs surrounded by a strong supporting cast should allow him to take the next steps in his fifth season.
5. Brandin Podziemski, G, Golden State Warriors
As he enters his third season, perhaps the breakout for Brandin Podziemski arrives a year after previously expected. Still just 22 years old, there’s plenty of time for Podziemski to continue to grow into his potential.
The biggest issue for the guard is receiving consistent playing time and volume. As Podziemski gains experience, that’s a very strong possibility. As the veterans on the Warriors age, there’s going to be a need for someone to step up and fill that void.
For that, I have my eye on Podziemski.
Overall, he finished with 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game last year. That came with inconsistent playing time, although he did average 27 minutes per game overall. With another year of development and a more refined role, look for Podziemski to take things even a step further this season.
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