Stephon Castle, Amen Thompson Among Possible Breakout Players in NBA Playoffs

Castle had nine double-doubles over his last 18 games, and Thompson has averaged 21 points a game since March 1.

Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Andrew Wiggins of the Heat during a game at Kaseya Center in Miami on March 23, 2026. Megan Briggs/Getty Images

After an NBA season filled with injuries to star players and the annual tank-a-thon that reached new heights, the playoffs have finally arrived. While diehard hoop heads follow the game on a nightly basis, more casual fans tune in for just the postseason, which makes it the time when a player can elevate not only his game but also his name. The playoffs are where stars are born, and also where stars can become superstars.

Recent postseasons have seen the likes of Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jalen Brunson cross over into mainstream appeal with their exploits. These are the players who could break out this postseason.

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

As a two-time All-Star, Barnes is an established top-25 player in the league. But his diverse game could reach another level, and the postseason is the stage on which he could do that. This is the first time Toronto is in the playoffs since Barnes’s rookie season in 2020-21, when he unfortunately sprained his ankle in his very first playoff game. He was on his way to a triple-double in that game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists before leaving, missed the next two games with the injury, and simply wasn’t himself upon returning. The Raptors bowed out in the first round.