Durant Tops ESPN’s Ranking of Influential 2025-26 NBA Newcomers
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With NBA preseason play set to open in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 2, ESPN analysts Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton have identified the 14 newcomers they expect to shape the 2025-26 season, placing two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant at No. 1 after his move to the Houston Rockets.
The List at a Glance
The ranking covers 13 players and one coach, weighing their projected impact from opening night through the spring playoff push.
- Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets – The 37-year-old joins a roster that finished second in the West but struggled late in games, ranking last in clutch effective field-goal rate (43.8%). Houston expects Durant to close contests and chase a third franchise title.
- Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic – Orlando surrendered four first-round picks plus Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony to land the 27-year-old shooter, whose career 41% accuracy from deep targets the league’s worst three-point offense.
- Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets – Johnson replaces Michael Porter Jr. at forward. Since 2018-19, new Nuggets have collectively hit 37.2% from three, a point better than their previous stops, a trend Denver hopes will continue alongside Nikola Jokić.
- Mike Brown, New York Knicks – Tasked with turning last season’s conference-final run into a championship, Brown inherits a roster that returned two All-NBA players but still needs defensive improvement.
- Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers – Screening for Luka Dončić has produced a 63% effective field-goal rate for finishers; Ayton’s challenge is to replicate that efficiency while upgrading the Lakers’ interior defense.
- Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks – Milwaukee stunned the league by waiving and stretching injured Damian Lillard to fit Turner’s salary. The former blocks leader is expected to protect the rim and space the floor next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- Kristaps Porziņģis, Atlanta Hawks – Acquired as Boston shed salary, the 7-foot-3 center offers rim protection and shooting for Trae Young, provided he stays healthy after last season’s virus-plagued campaign.
- Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks – The No. 1 overall pick enters a roster that reached the Finals 15 months ago. Dallas expects the versatile rookie to contribute immediately while he develops into a franchise cornerstone.
- Norman Powell, Miami Heat – Following Miami’s 14-21 slide after trading Jimmy Butler, the 30-year-old scorer brings nearly 40% career three-point shooting to relieve Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
- Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns – Sent to Phoenix in the Durant deal, the former No. 2 pick moves to point guard beside Devin Booker after averaging 3.7 assists at most in Houston.
- Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies – Third in last season’s Sixth Man voting, Jerome signed a three-year, $28 million contract to back up Ja Morant, echoing the steady reserve play Tyus Jones once provided.
- Bradley Beal, LA Clippers – With a reduced two-year contract, Beal slots as a third scoring option behind Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, joined by fellow veterans Chris Paul and Brook Lopez.
- Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs – The No. 2 pick opens behind newly extended De’Aaron Fox. San Antonio will watch how quickly Harper can assume larger playmaking duties alongside reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
- VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers – The third overall pick debuted in summer league with 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. On a veteran Sixers squad that surprisingly landed in the lottery, Edgecombe offers athletic depth if injuries strike again.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who return every player with at least 50 postseason minutes from their championship run, enter camp with the league’s greatest roster continuity, while the clubs chasing them gamble that these newcomers can shift the balance.
Source: ESPN.com
