These five NBA players have officially arrived as stars

As we approach the quarter mark of the 2025-26 NBA campaign, we can start to differentiate between a hot streak and a genuine breakout. So, let’s take a look at our NBA All-Breakout team at the quarter point of the season.

Jalen Duren – Detroit Pistons

The motivation for this column is playing like an All-Star and could make an All-NBA case, should the season finish today. After plateauing in Seasons 2 and 3, the recently turned 22-year-old has broken out in a major way.

His nightly 19.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.1 blocks are all career highs. It’s not just the numbers, though. Rather, it’s how Duren is doing it. He has become a legitimate hub from the elbow, able to facilitate on the short role and self-create against any defender.  

Defensively, he has slowed down, walling up the paint with his massive frame, rather than chasing blocks and boards. That has seen his fouls drop and his court time increase.

Deni Avdija – Portland Trail Blazers

To be fair, this ascension was coming; this season is a continuation of his stellar finish to last campaign. So far, the 24-year-old is providing his Blazers with 25.5 points on 47.8/38.9/80.3 shooting splits, with 6.4 boards, 5.5 assists and 1.2 "stocks."

Going back to his Washington days, Avdija has always been a clever off-ball mover. He is now aligning that with decisive on-ball action, launching threes (6.9 per game) and free throws (8.3) at career-high rates.

Most impressively, he is the clear first option in Portland, so his improvements have come despite defenses being solely focused on curtailing his influence. The Blazers have finally found their tentpole star, and the Wizards, not for the first time, are left kicking themselves.

Josh Giddey – Chicago Bulls

The fifth-year Australian playmaker, only recently turned 23, has upped his game in practically all areas and is the clear leader of the Bulls. His raw numbers — 20.5 points, an even 10 rebounds and 9.3 assists — are all easily career highs. Most impressively, he is putting to bed his two most common negatives: shooting and defense.

Giddey still doesn’t generate the gravity of the truly elite shooters; however, if he maintains his current 39.2 percent mark from three, he will soon enough. In turn, that will only help his already elite playmaking and bully-ball interior finishing.

Defensively, his stout frame and smarts are beginning to make up for his relative lack of footspeed. His mixed team defense ranking is in the 14^th percentile; the team is 0.4 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Giddey on the court.

Reed Sheppard – Houston Rockets

From crisis comes opportunity. Fred VanVleet’s ACL injury has thrust Sheppard into rotation minutes that many wondered if he was ready for after a less-than-encouraging rookie year.

Sheppard is instead making a legitimate case for Six^th Man of the Year, posting 14.3 points with his trademark deadeye shooting and making 2.8 threes at 45.5 percent. That shooting is vital for (excluding Kevin Durant) an otherwise anemic array of Rockets shooters. His playmaking has also proved a fascinating wrinkle.

This writer, a former shooting coach, doesn’t believe in the "perfect" shooting form, though he considers Mark Price the closest thing to it. Sheppard’s smooth, compact and quick release gives pleasant flashbacks.

Alex Sarr – Washington Wizards

Despite the desperate struggles of his team, Sarr is leveling up. Not turning 21 until April 2026, Sarr is putting up numbers, with 19.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and a pair of blocks per outing. Most encouragingly, he is demonstrating maturity at both ends of the court.

With the ball, he has pulled back on the off-the-dribble long jumpers as a result, connecting on a solid 34.6 percent of his threes. He’s also attempting 66 percent of his shots from within 10 feet, up 21 percent from his rookie year.

Defensively, Sarr is more patient, keeping his feet against pump fakes. That allows him to block more shots without fouling and also keeps him in position to box out, explaining his uptick in boards. He really could be a generational defender if he stays on this path.