The NBA Players Who Changed Their Reputation This Season

Every NBA season reshapes how players are viewed by fans, the media, and the league itself. Some players elevate their image through increased production on the court, while others decrease their perceived value due to factors like cold streaks, injuries, or off-the-court drama. 

Reputation in the NBA is highly fluid and drastically swings from year to year or even month to month. Momentum can shift during once playoffs begin; many NBA teams peak too soon after a strong start. This season was no exception, as the league once again experienced upheaval and shocking developments. 

Which players redefined how we think about them for better or for worse? And which factors are mainly responsible for catalyzing and sustaining these shifts? 

The Biggest Positive Reputation Shifts

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown arguably experienced the biggest reputation boost of any NBA player this season. It was supposed to be a gap year for the Celtics because Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles during the 2025 Playoffs and the front office subsequently moved on from Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet to shed salary. Boston’s preseason over under was set at 41.5 wins, and the team had around +6000 odds to win the title. 

Brown embraced his new role as the Celtics’ undisputed primary option and averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game while leading Boston to 56 wins. The veteran will likely earn All-NBA Second Team honors and is now viewed as a superstar and borderline top-10 player in the league rather than an All-Star who tops out as a second option. He may finish fifth in MVP voting, which would have been incomprehensible to most people before the season began.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker 

Meanwhile, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another player who experienced a sizable reputation shift. He was a valuable bench piece during Minnesota’s back-to-back runs to the Western Conference Finals, and Atlanta poached him last offseason with a four-year, $60,647,200 contract. Alexander-Walker more than doubled his scoring average this season from 9.4 to 20.8 points per game and is the favorite to win Most Improved Player. His outlook has changed from sixth man to borderline All-Star, and he’s universally recognized as having one of the best contracts in the league.

Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. also flipped his reputation this season. He played through a shoulder injury and only averaged 9.1 points per game on 39.2% shooting from the field last playoffs. Denver swapped him and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn in exchange for sharpshooter Cameron Johnson during the offseason. The general consensus was that the Nuggets wisely moved off of Porter’s albatross of a contract (two years, $79.1 million remaining) and upgraded the roster. 

However, Porter responded by scoring 24.2 points per game on 59.5% true shooting this season for a rebuilding Nets squad. Numerous contenders inquired about him at the trade deadline, but Brooklyn held out for a higher price. Essentially, Porter transformed from a negative contract that could only be traded as a salary dump by attaching draft capital into a premier trade target who received All-Star votes.  

The Biggest Negative Reputation Shifts

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Although Giannis Antetokounmpo posted the highest true shooting percentage of his career and remains an apex predator, his reputation has taken a hit. 

Antetokounmpo's main priority over the next few years is competing for a championship, and the Bucks’ title window is closed for the foreseeable future. But the superstar has refused to demand a trade despite clearly wanting a different situation because he loves Milwaukee. It’s almost as if Antetokounmpo is waiting for the front office to force the issue so that he remains the good guy in the eyes of Bucks fans. 

However, fans and the front office are souring on his passive aggressive attitude the longer this toxic standstill drags out. The recent dispute in which Antetokounmpo publicly slandered the Bucks for shutting him down for the season did not help matters.  

Opposing franchises are also discussing whether Antetokounmpo is still worth last offseasons price tag because of injuries. The 2x MVP has an extensive injury history and once again dealt with numerous health issues this season. 

Why Narratives Change So Quickly

The media inherently desires change because it sells better than the status quo. As a result, narratives are often embellished, generated too quickly, and thrown around without restraint. Fans also run away with narratives since they have strong (and frequently uninformed) opinions on their favorite teams and rivals. 

Another contributing factor is the NBA being a very fluid league that features more upheaval and turnover than other professional sports leagues. It’s the new norm to see stars switch teams like hitchhikers. This constant change in scenery creates different environments, thus allowing players to change their reputation via differences in production and team success from season to season. 

Finally, recency bias is a cognitive bias that continues to dominate sports discussions. Hot and cold streaks are fundamental to basketball, and these small samples can trick people into believing a player has drastically improved or declined. But regression to the mean inevitably happens, which causes the narrative pendulum to swing back. 

Which Changes Are Real Or Not?

Context is crucial when predicting whether change is real or not. 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker was a key bench piece for Minnesota last season but signed with Atlanta and became one of its most important creators. As a result, his field goal attempts and drives per game doubled, and his on-ball action share increased from 17.5% to 26.6% according to Basketball Index. Alexander-Walker’s reputation boost is legitimate because it was caused by a change in role and usage rather than unsustainable efficiency. 

New teammates or coaches can also enhance a player’s skill set. James Harden is one of the best pick-and-roll playmakers in NBA history who elevates his centers through precision passes. Cleveland acquired Harden at the trade deadline, and it immediately boosted Jarrett Allen’s production. Allen has averaged 23.9 points per 75 possessions on 70.5% true shooting this season when he shares the court with Harden compared to 18.9 points per 75 possessions on 65.4% true shooting without him. Allen’s leap is sustainable as long as Harden is on the Cavs, but he probably reverts to his former self sans Harden. 

Shooting luck is arguably the most deceptive driver of reputation change because hot or cold streaks eventually regress to the mean over time. Some players also play extremely well during contract years yet lose motivation once they are paid lucrative contracts. Others are backups who stuff the box score in March and April when most teams are tanking or locked into their seeds and thus not expending maximum effort.  

Essentially, change is likely sustainable if players find themselves with new roles or environments and subsequently increase their production. But the new situations must continue for the change to stick. For example, Cason Wallace averaged 14.3 points and 5.2 assists per game across three weeks in February because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams were sidelined. Expecting this level of production to continue once the Thunder’s stars returned was unrealistic because Wallace reverted to being a defensive specialist. Wallace showed he’s capable of more, but he does not have the opportunity while on the Thunder. 

Conclusion 

This season had clear winners and losers in terms of narratives, but player perception is constantly evolving. The playoffs are especially effective at driving change.  

Paolo Banchero and the Magic were torched on social media after losing their play-in tournament game to the 76ers, but Orlando responded by stomping Charlotte and stealing Game 1 against Detroit. The Magic’s narrative flipped from “break up the core” to “they could beat the one seed” in a span of five days. 

Overall, it’s both a blessing and a curse that players’ reputations are extremely malleable. For more read our guide on NBA sports betting.