As the NBA gears up for the 2025 season, league insiders are buzzing about the potential of various players to make their mark in the top rankings. Jalen Williams has emerged as a candidate for the All-Star distinction, while Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero are leading their teams in a conference ripe for breakthroughs. The field is loaded with established superstars including Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic. This new competition is re-injecting competitiveness into the rankings.
Jalen Williams, just entering his second season, is already the subject of All-Star potential talk. He stands at a crossroads in his career. Debate is already raging over whether he’ll be able to cross this milestone in his first 100 days. How well he does to make those around him better will be most telling in where he lands among the league’s best.
Jalen Williams and his All-Star Aspirations
NBA Future Hall of Famer Jalen Williams has quickly made himself one of the most intriguing players to watch as he enters his second season. Analysts already predict him to be a borderline All-Star, such is his talent and the opportunity before him. Talk to most area scouts and a consensus emerges—that it’s up to him to play his way into the All-Star conversation.
“The upside is just too great to have him much lower than that,” – East scout
Further, his development trajectory indicates he has all of the tools necessary to take his game to another level. Whether he will be able to fully live up to this potential is open to question.
The hype train surrounding Williams isn’t just about his individual talent, it’s about the environment he’ll be working with. While there’s no denying his talent, some analysts are worried about how he figures into the team’s bigger picture.
“I just don’t like the role for him on that team,” – West assistant
That underlines the value of both individual development and team cohesion as Williams heads into his second season.
Breakthrough Potential in a Wide-Open Conference
For many teams across the league – and especially in the Eastern Conference – the 2025 season represents perhaps their best shot at making a big move. Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero are two players helping lead that charge. They are both steering their clubs with the aim to make deep playoff pushes in the future.
Mitchell’s infectious leadership is the underdog force propelling the Cavs’ deep run forward. They can boast four players in the top 50. His contributions to the franchise have been invaluable. Many analysts contend that he’s not given enough credit for his role in making it a success.
“There’s no reason his game will slow down,” – East scout
His ranking at No. 12 demonstrates the combination of his special skills with a measurable contribution towards team success.
On the opposite end of the country, Paolo Banchero has made a major splash in his own right. Slotted at No. 15, that makes him the most indispensable player in the country — the one most capable of carrying his team to out of this world success. Analysts emphasize that if Banchero plays to his potential and aligns well with his teammates, the team’s chances of success will significantly increase.
“If [Banchero] comes in and plays the right way, and they do what they are supposed to do,” – East assistant coach
The melange of Mitchell’s known skills and Banchero’s raw talent would be a real difference-maker in what looks like a toss-up of a conference.
The Elite Contenders and Health Concerns
Included within that small group of players regularly ranked at the top of ESPN’s and The Athletic’s are Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic. Their consistency to be the best in the business at an elite level makes them locks in every ranking conversation. Health issues with Joel Embiid add a wild card-like factor to the top of the rankings.
Almost everyone has Embiid in their top 40. Some of them even go so far as to say that barring injury, he’s earned a place in the top 25. This ambiguity allows for some lively discussion among the pros about the ways that injuries can hurt or help a career ranking.
Of course, Victor Wembanyama is the biggest reason this new face has so much potential. His performance on the field last season was already a testament to his untapped potential. Now, with more support surrounding him, the sky is the limit as he looks to take home wins with his new teammates.
Now, with the season right around the corner, Wembanyama is already being considered a favorite for several major awards. He did garner fifth place votes, right in the mix with heavyweights such as Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell.
“I just don’t think he’ll play enough,” – West executive
The ongoing dialogue among scouts and executives highlights the complexity of evaluating players not just on talent but on situational factors like health and team dynamics.
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