close up of five surprises from the beginning of the season

The 2025/26 season is well underway and we can already see some players surprising with their level of performance. Whether they were too quickly forgotten at the end of the bench in previous years or reached a milestone thanks to working away from the cameras, these five players hit the ground running, building on the foundations of a career-high season. And maybe even on his way to winning the trophy…

Ryan Rollins (Milwaukee)
Stats: 16.5 points on 51% including 44% on 3-pointers, 5.6 assists, 1.9 steals

In his fourth NBA season, Ryan Rollins exploded onto the scene in Wisconsin, thanks to an injury to Kevin Porter Jr. that opened the door for him in the Bucks’ top five. The 2022 second-round pick out of a small university in Toledo first apprenticed (from afar) to Stephen Curry with the Warriors before arriving in Milwaukee after a tour of the federal capital.

He returned to the G-League in his first two seasons, with interesting production around 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, Ryan Rollins almost lost on the way. We can even say that he was having a bad time, the patrol caught him several times petty theft in various supermarkets…

Apparently channeled by the Bucks staff who discovered great defensive potential in him, he’s showing up offensively this season, backing up Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“It is only thanks to his confidence and better knowledge of the expectations of the point guard position that he is now reaching this level,” explains Doc Rivers. “He knows better when to be aggressive and when not to. Defensively, he was already at this level last year, he’s one of the best at his position. But now he’s shooting with more confidence and he’s also finishing at the rim with confidence, that’s for sure.”

Unfazed by the competition, Ryan Rollins has held his own against several All-Stars this season, including Jalen Brunson (against whom he scored 25 points) and Stephen Curry (against whom he his career best match with 32 pawns, including a brilliant 5/7 from afar). An athletic leader who has added stability to his outside hitter as a result, the former “journeyman” must now go the distance during the season to settle permanently in the big world.

“Now I’m facing the best defender in the opposition” Rollins concludes. “That’s the biggest adjustment for me. For the rest, it’s just people finding out who I am now.”

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=zvZoceZNDKo

Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami)
Stats: 17.5 points at 58%, 7.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists

Impressive freshman out of UCLA (selected in the 18th pick), with 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Jaime Jaquez Jr. was forgotten last season, regressing on every statistical level, plagued by a groin injury and playing against the grain by emphasizing too much (too much on his outside shot).

But in the Heat’s new attack that wants to bring back the rhythm and the fast game, the winger of Mexican origin is coming back to life! With impressive averages as an all-around player, he is one of the big architects of the Heat’s strong start to the season, despite losing All-Star Tyler Hero.

“It’s just about moving the ball.”he recently explained ClutchPoints. “It’s really just that. We want to get the ball from one side of the court to the other, create space for guys to dribble. We have a lot of guys that can really attack the rim, so we have to open up space for them. These ball movements allow you to do that.”

Back in full possession of his physical assets, and also in a better mental situation after consulting with a specialist over the summer, Jaime Jaquez Jr. continued to progress. Never stronger than in transition, when his 6-foot-9, 102-pound size allows him to drive to the basket, the former Bruin continues his All-Star performance, including a 28-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound outing, finishing with a “remarkable” +43 differential, according to his coach who saw others!

“Anything that can make him play aggressive and aggressive suits him well”confirms Erik Spoelstra. “We need to further improve our spacing and simplify our decision-making moving forward. We want to let him play freely. He produces very good basketball, plays with full confidence. I want him to enjoy these moments, make the right choices, just play. He worked a lot on video creation and it’s paying off, he’s a big boost for our second unit.”

Still unwilling to discuss his place in the race for the Sixth Man of the Year trophy, Jaime Jaquez Jr. is in any case establishing himself in every match as a pillar that the Heat staff could anticipate in their draft. It’s quite simple, in his last three games, the Heat guard has produced two very convincing double-doubles, each time flirting with a triple-double. And three wins for Miami!

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=R3mL6V7KuPg

Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City)
Stats: 17.2 points on 46% shooting including 36% from distance, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists

While he waits for Jaylen Williams to return to work, Ajay Mitchell is doing more than just being an interim manager. The young 23-year-old Belgian rearguard was essential in four of the first five victories of his champion Thunder, collecting 16 points in 14 minutes to defeat the Rockets in double overtime, 26 units in another double overtime against the Pacers, or even 17 against the Mavs and 18 to escape from the ambush of the King.

Landed on the toes, via a “two-way contract” after being selected with the 38th pick in the 2024 draft, he was far from unanimous among NBA scouts, due to his atypical profile as a strong, left-handed guard who also came from a small college (UC Santa Barbara) in the Big West. But at the start of the season, with 206 points through the first 12 games, Ajay Mitchell is simply on a par with a young James Harden, who was on his way to being named the 2012 NBA Sixth Player of the Year.

Adept at playing with percussion and penetration, he enjoys playing the racket (66% success under the circle), with various finishes. Stronger, Victor Wembanyama’s former Nanterre youth team-mate has reached a milestone. And it further strengthens the superiority shown by the current champion OKC.

“I think there’s definitely more room in the NBA than in college, and that helps me a lot, for sure! I didn’t really know if it was going to be harder or easier for me. Obviously the NBA is very tough with so many very good defenders. But hey, I’m just going to play my game and fight as well as I can. When I got there, Strel was the hardest body for me.” (this summer) was one of my main goals” confides the sophomore, who quickly made his mark in Oklahoma City.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=UeJNl-T5k8s

Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland)
Stats: 11.1 ppg on 49% including 46% on 3-pointers, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists

After going from averaging 4 points and 2 rebounds in 9 minutes last season, which was his first in the league, to 11.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 25 minutes at the beginning of the year, Jaylon Tyson is the main beneficiary of the rebuilding of the Cavs team in the off-ice.

Ty Jerome’s departure was seen as feasible, internally, thanks to Jaylon Tyson’s performances in training, but also in the summer league, where he shone with 20 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds on average.

The Cal guard has built his reputation on his defensive investment, facing the opposition’s best outfielders night in and night out, but he can lend a helping hand in leadership and makes sound decisions in game organization. Not to spoil anything, he’s shooting a very good 46% on 3-pointers on interesting volume (24/52).

“I challenged him and he answered!”Donovan Mitchell recently confided in Akron Beacon Journal. “It’s easy to trust a guy who’s always in the gym. We’ve got a gang: me, Max (Struse), Sam (Merrill) and him. We’re always wondering who’s going to be the first one in the morning. And it’s been that way since he was drafted, so much so that now I have to tell him he’s going home, too.”

With six straight games of 10 or more points, including his career-high 19 points against Boston, Tyson has earned a spot on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. For his part, Kenny Atkinson predicts a golden future for him ($20 million a year) if he keeps his “3&D” side.

“I don’t want to move too fast, but I have to think about the future and wonder if we’re not going to see a player that’s going to be part of our rotation, even when everyone’s healthy. It would be a big win if we could get a guy on his rookie contract that goes fully into the rotation.” the Ohio coach confides.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=_k5vvJbLzaI

Josh Minot (Boston)
Stats: 8.0 points on 46%, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals

After three seasons at the end of the bench for the Wolves, Josh Minot is taking full advantage of the Celtics’ rebuilding rotation. Boston signed a small, two-year, $5 million deal this summer, the winger has earned his starting nods, while Sam Houser still hasn’t made it, and Portland rookie Anfernee Simmons is still struggling to find his feet. Conversely, all active in the offensive rebound and simply in the air near the circle for numerous spectacular alley-oop finishes (awarded several times in the daily Top 10), Josh Minott does not ask questions and gives his all in every match to not regret anything.

“I don’t take anything for granted anymore. I know I’m powerless knowing I’m staying (in the NBA). I’m going to play every game knowing it could end tomorrow. I appreciate the trust in me to start, but at the end of the day, every time I play, I tell myself it could be my last (in the NBA).”he explained Boston.com. “We must not give up. Even when we are leading by 30 points, we must not give up because we are working for the future.”

Posting his career-high 21 points on 8/12 shooting in a win over the Wizards, or his first double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds in a prestigious win against the Cavs, the former Memphis college player understood the importance of his role with the C’s.

And, in fact, with his defensive qualities and offensive opportunism, he has the ideal profile to become a long-term assistant to Jayson Tatum when he returns to the field.

His summer stint in Miami, where he was able to hang out with talents like Bam Adebayo, Obi Taupin, Malik Beasley and Bones Hyland, allowed him to “unlock defense level”according to his former Wolves teammate who also arrived in Boston, and privileged witness to his progress, Luke Garza. In any case, Minot has been intelligently placing his pawns in the meantime, particularly developing interesting chemistry with another local superstar, Jaylen Brown.

“He was very important to us” so concludes the latter. “His energy, length, athleticism are huge for us. Every time he gets on the court, we’re a better team.”

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=is7IKSZD–Ng

Honorable Mentions: Keyonte George (Jata), Tristan da Silva (Orlando), Quentin Grimes (Philadelphia), Matas Buzelis (Chicago), Quenton Jackson (Indiana), Jerras Walker (Indiana), Ryan Dunn (Phoenix).