Every NBA player has something to prove this upcoming 2025-26 season. It’s just that a select group of players will feel more pressure to do so than the others. From those gunning for their first Larry O’Brien trophy to those who are eager to prove they can be the main man on their respective teams, SBOTOP is here to spotlight the players with the most at stake.
Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Anthony Davis, and Devin Booker quickly come to mind, although they’re not the only ones dealing with this unique situation. All of them are under pressure to have great campaigns to swing the NBA 2025 odds in their team’s favour.
We’re still a few months away from the new season, so let’s discuss why basketball fans should watch these stars closely.
Jaylen Brown, Celtics
The Celtics are expected to be without Jayson Tatum following his devastating Achilles injury, so Jaylen Brown will be tasked with leading the team this upcoming season. The 28-year-old swingman is one of Boston’s highest-paid players, and Brown was the Finals MVP during the team’s most recent championship run.
Save for Brown’s rookie year, he and Tatum have been on the same side in the past eight years. Brown can use the 2025-26 campaign to justify his hefty salary. He has the tools to lead the team, as Brown is one of the league’s most dynamic two-way forces. Last season, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals on 46.3-per cent shooting from the field across 63 regular season appearances.
If Brown can stay healthy throughout the year and lead a depleted Boston squad to a Top 6 finish, it’ll already be considered a successful “gap” year for the Celtics, as they await Tatum’s on-court return.
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers
The Cavaliers had a 64-win regular season, with Donovan Mitchell leading the way, but Cleveland were eliminated in the second round for the second straight year. With the Eastern Conference wide open because the Celtics and Pacers aren’t expected to compete this upcoming season, the Cavaliers must use this chance to fill the power vacuum.
Cleveland need a huge year from Mitchell, who hasn’t made it to the Conference Finals in his career. The six-time NBA All-Star is one of the league’s best scorers and underrated playmakers. Mitchell averaged 24.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals on 44.3-per cent shooting from the field across 71 regular season appearances.
Fortunately for Mitchell, he isn’t alone in leading the Cavaliers, as he has Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen as his top running mates. Mobley just won his first Defensive Player of the Year. Garland is recovering from his toe injury, and Allen is one of the league’s most solid centers.
Anthony Davis, Mavericks
After spending the past six seasons of his NBA career with the Lakers as LeBron James’ sidekick, Anthony Davis moved to the Mavericks as part of the Luka Doncic trade last February. When this blockbuster move was completed, Dallas fans were angry because they felt the team should’ve gotten more in the deal after trading away their franchise cornerstone to a Western Conference rival.
Davis showed flashes of his elite two-way play in his first few games but was blighted by injuries. In the nine regular season games he played, the one-time NBA champion averaged 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks on 46.1-per cent shooting from the field.
The Mavericks retooled their roster this summer with the additions of rookie Cooper Flagg and D’Angelo Russell, so they’re expected to make noise in the Western Conference, especially if Davis doesn’t sustain a major injury this upcoming season.
Devin Booker, Suns
After failing to qualify for the postseason last term, the Suns hit the reset button by offloading Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to the Rockets and Clippers, respectively. According to the NBA 2025 news, Phoenix’s front office gave Booker a historic two-year, $145 million contract extension last July, as they expect him to lead the team.
Booker had been with the Suns since 2015 and has evolved into one of the league’s prolific scorers. Last season, the four-time NBA All-Star averaged 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on 46.1-per cent shooting from the field across 75 regular season games.
As the Suns usher in a new era under owner Mat Ishbia and head coach Jordan Ott, Booker isn’t expected to compete for the championship next season. However, he should use this chance to remind fans that he’s capable of leading a team by qualifying for at least a play-in berth.
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