Ben Golliver Names 30 NBA Players Primed for 2026-27 Breakouts

Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic lead a list of 30 players identified by ESPN's Ben Golliver as candidates for major career leaps in 2026-27.

ESPN’s Ben Golliver has identified 30 NBA players positioned for significant career progression during the 2026-27 season. The list is headlined by five Tier 1 candidates for a first MVP award: Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Maxey. Wembanyama enters his age-22 campaign after finishing third in MVP voting and leading the Spurs to the Finals last season. Doncic, now 27, leads a Lakers roster recalibrated following the offseason departure of LeBron James.

In Detroit, 25-year-old Cade Cunningham is cited as an MVP threat after leading the Pistons to 60 wins and the Eastern Conference's top seed last year. Anthony Edwards, also 25, is paired with new Minnesota teammate LaMelo Ball, while Tyrese Maxey looks to build on his 2026 All-NBA selection alongside James and Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia.

Tier 3 highlights potential first-time All-Stars, including 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, who led the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals as a rookie. Other notable names in this group include San Antonio's Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, as well as Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, who recently signed a five-year, $209 million extension.

Recent trades have also shifted roles for several veterans. Walker Kessler joined the Lakers via a summer sign-and-trade, while Darius Garland moved to the Clippers to serve as a primary scoring option. In the frontcourt, Naz Reid transitioned from Minnesota to a starting role in Charlotte, and Peyton Watson joined the Cavaliers on a four-year, $88 million contract to bolster their perimeter defense.