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10 NBA Players Entering the 2025–26 Season on the Hot Seat

Grant Afseth October 20, 2025 Fact checked by: Sara Jane Gamelli 1 Comment

The NBA doesn’t wait long to test loyalty, contracts, or legacies. For a handful of stars, the 2025–26 season arrives with a clock already ticking — on health, leadership, and trust from their organizations.

Zion Williamson, NBA, New Orleans Pelicans
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Some players are fighting to justify massive salaries. Others are trying to hold together locker rooms or reclaim careers disrupted by injury. And for younger names once labeled “the future,” patience has begun to fade.

Here are 10 NBA players facing the most scrutiny heading into the new season — each standing at the intersection of promise and pressure.

Deandre Ayton’s Fresh Start in L.A.

Deandre Ayton – Los Angeles Lakers
Ayton quietly rebuilt his efficiency in Portland, averaging 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. But after negotiating a buyout to join the Lakers, he faces a steeper challenge — proving he can anchor a contender’s defense while serving as a strong complement to Luka Dončić and LeBron James.

Head coach J.J. Redick has emphasized defensive accountability, an area where Ayton’s effort has wavered in the past. If he can sustain intensity and accept a lower offensive volume, Los Angeles might finally unlock his ceiling. If not, the “empty numbers” label that has followed him from Phoenix to Portland could stick for good.

The Weight of an MVP Window

Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid’s 2024–25 season was defined by frustration — 19 appearances, constant knee swelling, and more questions about sustainability than dominance. Philadelphia still views him as the cornerstone, but at 31 and surrounded by veterans like Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the window for a title run is closing fast.

For all of Embiid’s talent, the Sixers can no longer build contingencies around his absences. This season is about availability, not awards. Philadelphia’s path to contention lives or dies with his knees, and if he can’t stay upright, management may have to make its toughest decision since The Process began.

“Finals or Bust” in Cleveland

Darius Garland – Cleveland Cavaliers
After a strong statistical year that masked uneven stretches, Garland enters a critical moment in Cleveland. He averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists on career-best shooting splits, but toe soreness late in the season limited mobility and cratered his postseason efficiency to 41.3 percent from the field. The Cavaliers’ “Finals or bust” mindset leaves no margin for regression.

Cleveland still believes in the Garland–Mitchell backcourt, but if another early playoff exit follows, front-office patience could expire quickly. Garland’s ability to play through lingering foot discomfort while keeping the offense stable will determine whether he remains a centerpiece — or becomes the next high-value guard on the trade market.

Paul George’s Make-or-Break Redemption

Paul George – Philadelphia 76ers
George’s first year in Philadelphia was a humbling one. Injuries to his knees and adductor cost him half the season, and when he did play, he averaged just 16.2 points on 42.2 percent shooting — his lowest output in more than a decade. His diminished burst limited both rim pressure and lateral defense, and the 76ers collapsed to a 24–58 record.

Now fully cleared, George begins the second year of his four-year, $212 million deal facing skepticism he hasn’t seen since Indiana. The Sixers need him to rediscover All-Star consistency to keep their championship hopes alive. If he falters early, the trade chatter around Philadelphia’s veteran core will only grow louder.

Scoot Henderson’s Franchise Test

Scoot Henderson – Portland Trail Blazers
Before a preseason hamstring tear, Henderson flashed genuine growth in year two: improved pacing, sharper reads, and moments of command within Portland’s young offense. But averages of 15.8 points and 5.6 assists on 41 percent shooting still underscore a player learning how to win.

Portland’s rebuild is now entirely in his hands. The organization’s patience remains, but results will start to matter — particularly if inefficiency lingers into January. Henderson doesn’t just need to improve; he needs to lead. A leap this year could solidify him as the face of the franchise. Another plateau could raise uncomfortable comparisons to past “almost” stars.

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Jonathan Kuminga’s Contract Gamble

Jonathan Kuminga – Golden State Warriors
Kuminga’s progress was steady but not transformational: 14.9 points on efficient shooting with flashes of slashing brilliance. Yet Golden State’s addition of Jimmy Butler changes everything. The 22-year-old now faces fewer minutes, fewer shots, and higher expectations for discipline and defense.

For years, the Warriors have debated whether Kuminga fits their timeline. With his trade eligibility opening in January, this season could determine that answer. If he thrives in a limited role, he cements his place in a new-look rotation. If not, he’ll headline the midseason NBA rumor mill once again.

Ja Morant’s Lasting NBA Impression

Ja Morant – Memphis Grizzlies
The talent is still breathtaking, but durability has become Morant’s defining storyline. He’s missed over 100 games in two NBA seasons and appeared in just 37 last season, averaging 23.8 points and 7.4 assists. Memphis traded away Desmond Bane to commit fully to Morant’s lead, betting everything on his health and maturity.

Now fully cleared after an ankle sprain, Morant must deliver a full campaign that reminds the league of his 2022 All-NBA form. The Grizzlies’ offense revolves entirely around him. Another incomplete season could force the front office to confront an uncomfortable question: Can they keep building around a star who can’t stay on the floor?

Anfernee Simons’ Trial by Fire in Boston

Anfernee Simons – Boston Celtics
Simons arrives in Boston with a scorer’s résumé and a playmaker’s responsibility. After averaging 21.5 points and 5.2 assists in Portland, he joins a contender now missing Jayson Tatum for most of the year due to a torn Achilles. That injury thrusts him into a role he’s never faced — primary shot-creator for a team with championship expectations.

Boston’s system prizes balance and defense, two areas where Simons still has to grow. His $100 million contract and the Celtics’ luxury-tax constraints only heighten the stakes. If he blends his scoring with the team’s motion-heavy approach, he could reshape his reputation. If not, Boston’s front office could pivot quickly before the deadline.

Trae Young’s Extension Gamble

Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young’s numbers still scream “franchise cornerstone” — 26.4 points, 10.2 assists, and a career-low turnover rate — but Atlanta’s 38–44 finish last season did little to quiet questions about leadership and defense. With no extension signed and a $49 million player option looming, this season doubles as both an audition and a referendum.

The Hawks retooled around him with defensive-minded veterans, but after two NBA seasons stuck in play-in purgatory, pressure has shifted squarely onto Young. If Atlanta doesn’t climb, rival teams like the Lakers, Spurs, and Kings will circle by February, and the franchise could finally consider a reset built around younger pieces.

Zion Williamson’s Narrow Window

Zion Williamson – New Orleans Pelicans
At long last, Zion played 66 games — his healthiest season yet — and posted 24.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on elite efficiency. The Pelicans saw flashes of the dominance they’ve been waiting for since 2019, though free-throw struggles and fourth-quarter fatigue exposed lingering conditioning gaps.

This year, Zion faces the highest expectations of his career. The front office has bet its future on his health and commitment, but another setback could finally fracture that trust. If he strings together another full season, All-NBA honors are realistic. If not, the clock on his New Orleans tenure may finally hit zero.

The Bottom Line

Every NBA season brings breakout stories, but for this group, stability may matter more than stardom. Some are one injury or one slump away from trade talks; others are a hot month from redemption.

What unites them is urgency — the rare kind that can turn a season into a career crossroads.

In 2025–26, the spotlight won’t just measure production. It’ll test resilience, trust, and whether potential can still outweigh pressure.

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