On September 10th Beijing time, ESPN focused on the NBA’s noteworthy “new faces” for the 2025-26 season — this list features 13 players and one coach (Mike Brown), ranked by their prospective influence in the new season and importance for next spring and future campaigns. The specific rankings are —

1. Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)

Durant will turn 37 later this month and is the most recognized player on the list, as well as the only former regular season MVP. The Rockets hope he will be the “final piece” in their quest for the franchise’s third NBA championship. His role in Houston is clearly defined: last season, the Rockets had a league-low effective field goal percentage of 43.8% in clutch moments. In the new season, Durant will assume the role of the “go-to guy” in tight situations and be the primary offensive option.

2. Desmond Bane (Orlando Magic)

This 27-year-old wing guard joined the Eastern Conference team in exchange for four first-round picks, Pop, and Cole Anthony — one of the most striking trades of the offseason that underscores the Magic’s commitment to an immediate championship push. Bane’s career three-point shooting percentage is a steady 41% with a high volume of attempts. For a Magic team that ranked last in both three-point makes and shooting percentage last season, this acquisition is a perfect remedy. He can immediately improve their three-point shooting and ease the offensive burden on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

3. Cameron Johnson (Denver Nuggets)

Johnson’s performance with the Nets closely resembles that of the player he will replace on the Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. Therefore, one key focus for the upcoming season is whether Johnson will elevate his play alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Previously, Pop struggled with the Magic, which drew attention to Jokic’s influence on his teammates’ three-point shooting. However, broader data suggests this effect is not guaranteed.

Since the 2018-19 season, new Nuggets players with at least 100 three-point attempts in a single season have shot 37.2% from beyond the arc during their time in Denver, only one percentage point higher than their average of 36.2% in the prior three seasons.

4. Mike Brown (Head Coach, New York Knicks)

This season, perhaps no coach faces as much pressure as Mike Brown, who is under a “win a championship or fail” mandate. A clear sign came when Knicks president Leon Rose stated upon firing former coach Thibodeau: “Our entire organization’s sole goal is to bring a championship to our fans.” The Knicks posted their best record in 25 years last season, had two players named to all-NBA teams, and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Brown’s primary task this season is to unlock the potential of the starting lineup and address the team’s defensive issues.

5. Deandre Ayton (Los Angeles Lakers)

For Ayton, this is not his last chance to fulfill his potential — it was that potential that earned him a max contract, which the Trail Blazers bought out just before free agency. Still, this may be his best opportunity. According to Genius IQ tracking, players who set screens for Luka Doncic and then finish the shot have an effective field goal percentage of 63%, the highest among all ball-handler-partner combos with at least 500 such plays. Ayton must seize these chances while outperforming current Lakers center Hayes on defense.

6. Myles Turner (Milwaukee Bucks)

The most surprising offseason move was Turner joining the Bucks — and the Bucks’ maneuver to make it happen was notable too: they waived and agreed to pay Damian Lillard’s remaining contract in installments (Lillard suffered an Achilles rupture and will miss the season). Turner, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, still holds a strong reputation as a rim protector and can stretch the floor offensively. Since 2022, the Bucks have not advanced past the first round of the playoffs; Turner’s skill set will be crucial in helping Giannis and the team go further.

7. Kristaps Porzingis (Atlanta Hawks)

Last season was tough for Porzingis: he missed the first month due to offseason surgery and then struggled with an unexplained upper respiratory virus, resulting in diminished energy throughout the year and inconsistent playoff performances. However, due to his injuries and the Celtics needing to cut salary to avoid the “second luxury tax tier,” the Hawks were able to acquire him. Porzingis adds a top-tier rim protector and floor-spacing big man to Trae Young’s team, with his main goal this season being to stay healthy.

8. Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)

As the 2025 NBA draft’s second overall pick, Flagg’s situation is unique for a top pick: 15 months ago, the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals; last season, even after trading away Doncic and suffering widespread injuries, they fought for a playoff spot. Flagg is not Doncic and needs time to develop, but his all-around playstyle should allow him to help the team chase the playoffs while gradually becoming Dallas’s next star.

9. Norman Powell (Miami Heat)

After Jimmy Butler was traded, the Heat’s performance plummeted last season: they went 14-21 and suffered a 10-game losing streak in March, barely making the playoffs through the play-in tournament. Therefore, the Heat’s most urgent offseason need was to boost their offense — exactly what Powell offers. In his early 30s and at his career peak, Powell is not a top playmaker but can score both on and off the ball, inside and out, with a career three-point shooting rate near 40%. This season, he is expected to become a key offensive support for Herro and Adebayo.

10. Jalen Green (Phoenix Suns)

The former second overall pick joined the Suns in the Durant trade, marking a fresh start in his career and a new position: reports say the Suns plan to start Green at point guard alongside Booker. During his four seasons with the Rockets, Green’s playmaking was average, with a career-high of only 3.7 assists per game, and he has yet to become an efficient pick-and-roll ball-handler. According to Genius IQ data, over the past two seasons, Green’s pick-and-roll possessions yield just 0.95 points per possession, ranking 33rd out of 40 players with at least 2,500 such plays.

11. Ty Jerome (Memphis Grizzlies)

This 28-year-old guard had a breakout season with the Cavaliers last year, finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. However, due to the Cavaliers facing a $250 million luxury tax if they kept their full roster, they chose not to re-sign Jerome, allowing him to sign a three-year, $28 million deal with the Grizzlies as Ja Morant’s backup. Notably, the Grizzlies’ two previous 50-win seasons were helped by the steady play of Tyus Jones as a backup point guard — providing Jerome a clear model, especially when Morant is sidelined.

12. Bradley Beal (Los Angeles Clippers)

Beal’s last two seasons with the Suns were often criticized as “disappointing,” which is understandable given he was still under a max contract. But now the situation is completely different: he signed a highly cost-effective two-year deal with the Clippers. This season, Beal will fit perfectly as the “third scoring option,” and the Clippers’ depth will be greatly enhanced by him and two other new additions, Paul and Lopez, who also took pay cuts to join.

13. Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)

As this year’s second overall pick, Harper’s rookie season focus is less about his immediate impact on the Spurs’ current record. With Fox recently re-signed and healthy, the Spurs might limit Harper’s playing time. Instead, his importance lies in the team’s future. The earlier Harper proves he can start at point guard, the tougher decisions the Spurs will face regarding Fox’s future. Additionally, last season’s top rookie Castle also has ball-handling skills but shares the same inconsistency in outside shooting as Fox and Harper, making the Spurs’ backcourt future more complex.

14. VJ Echikson (Philadelphia 76ers)

In just one game at the Salt Lake City Summer League, Echikson demonstrated why the 76ers used their third overall pick on him: in his debut, he showcased explosive drives to the basket, scoring 28 points with 10 rebounds and 4 assists. As a veteran franchise unexpectedly entering the lottery, the 76ers might not give Echikson many ball-handling opportunities early in his rookie season. However, if injuries strike again, Echikson could become the hope for Philadelphia’s “new era.”