We all love watching young NBA players go from “who’s that guy?” to “OMG, did you see what he just did?!” It’s the absolute best part of every single season, seeing guys like Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Deni Avdija turn into household names. But who’s next? Who are the young role players heading into the 2026-27 season who are about to drop jaws and demand more minutes, more shots, and a bigger role overall? These dudes are absolutely disrespected and are on the verge of proving everyone wrong.
The Guards and Forwards Set to Explode
Let’s kick things off with Devin Carter, the Atlanta Hawks guard who’s been a secret weapon. This dude was the No. 13 overall pick just two years ago, and anyone who’s been paying attention knows he looked way better in his second season. Carter pulled off a positive swing rating in both his pro seasons, and get this: in his 12 starts during 2025-26, he averaged 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals. Seriously? Those are wild numbers for a player who still isn’t getting the respect he deserves. The Hawks have a ton of talent in the backcourt, but learning from a veteran like CJ McCollum should only help Carter unleash his full potential. This ain’t Davion Mitchell 2.0, folks; Carter’s stock is only going up.
Over in Boston, the Celtics are about to see a whole lot more of Hugo Gonzalez. This 6’6″ forward was an absolute energy machine as a rookie last year. He crashes the boards like a madman, grabbing rebounds at a crazy high level. And his shot? He drained an insane 48.4 percent from three over his final 19 games of the season. Gonzalez is a beast on defense too, a strong, versatile guy who just annoys opponents with his non-stop activity and intensity. With Jaylen Brown no longer there, Gonzalez is about to get a massive opportunity on offense, and he’s gonna be a fantastic role player for the Celtics for years to come.
Wings and Bigs Finding Their Groove
You want a 6’8″ wing who’s only 23 and just became a 40 percent three-point shooter? Yeah, me too! That’s Josh Minott for the Brooklyn Nets. This guy started hot with the Celtics last year and kept that fire burning when he got to Brooklyn, snagging himself a sweet new two-year, $9 million contract. With the Nets, Minott averaged 10.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals, all while hitting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc in just 19.3 minutes per game. And that wingspan? It’s almost seven feet long! Minott has every single physical tool you could ask for to be a cornerstone rotation player and beyond for a rebuilding Nets squad this season.
Then there’s Tidjane Salaun. Look, his rookie year, the No. 6 overall pick shot a dismal 33.0 percent overall and 28.3 percent from three. People were probably calling him a bust, right? But hold up! His sophomore season flipped the script completely, making us all believe that his biggest weakness might actually be his biggest strength now. This 20-year-old, 6’10” power forward knocked down a staggering 43.4 percent of his threes last year. With Miles Bridges traded away, Salaun is about to get a huge bump in the Charlotte Hornets’ offense. That’s a wild, game-changing jump from a player everyone wrote off.
Finally, don’t sleep on Tre Jones, the Chicago Bulls point guard. For six seasons, he’s flown under the radar, always overshadowed by his brother Tyus and stuck on some rough San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls teams. But this 26-year-old has grinded his way through the league, and it’s time he gets his due.
Get ready, because the 2026-27 season is gonna be packed with players proving they were disrespected. Keep your eyes peeled; you don’t want to miss these guys breaking out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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