With the NBA season only a few days away, it’s that time of the year where analyst makes their predictions for the upcoming season. There is always excitement about seeing a young star or an unexpected star who breaks out onto the scene. Everyone who plays basketball and are in the NBA waits for their opportunity to have their defining moment. Here are five young players who I believe could have a breakout season.
Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward, Memphis Grizzles:
Jaren Jackson Jr was apart of a top heavy 2018 NBA draft class, which all of them has a good chance in breaking out for the upcoming season. Jackson has a very compelling case since his role is the likeliest to increase for the upcoming season. Jackson, who is one of the youngest players in the NBA, put together a very solid rookie season. Jackson averaged 13.8 points per game on over 50% shooting from the field, 35% from the 3, and 1.4 blocks per game. With Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr gone, expect the offense to run through Jackson and expect Jackson to step up, both offensively and defensively.
Dejounte Murray, Point Guard, San Antonio Spurs:
Murray was a popular choice to break out last year, prior to tearing his ACL, which cost him the entire season. With an entire year of rehab and opportunity to improve his offensive repertoire, Murray will showcase why many chose him to have a breakout season last year. While Murray is only 22, he is already an elite defender who has already made the all-defensive second team. Nothing but good things has come from the Spurs coaches and players on Murray’s improved shot and refined offensive game. If, Murray can continue to be elite on defense then him and Derrick White can be one of the best defensive backcourts in the league.
Bam Adebayo, Power Forward, Miami Heat:
With the departure of Whiteside, Adebayo is the future for the Miami Heat at the center position. While his offense is still a working progress, he’s very athletic and shows incredible two-way potential. Last season, Adebayo averaged 8.9 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game, however, the advanced metrics/stats shows that Adebayo made a bigger impact both offensively and defensively in the paint. Now as the starting center and with the departure of Whiteside, expect a role increase and for him to take that next step. While Adebayo is only 21, he’s overflowing with two-way potential, now with a larger role, Adebayo has a great opportunity to breakout during this upcoming season.
Jonathan Isaac, Forward, Orlando Magic:
At 6’10 with a 7’4 wingspan and only 21, Jonathan Isaac has all of the intangibles. From his rookie season to his second season, Isaac showed a good amount of growth. However; he still struggles with being consistent, Isaac also showcased some good moments where he looked like a future all-star. Isaac will need to continue to improve his shot, but he’s screaming with two-way potential. With being 6’10 and very athletic, he has already showed his potential on being an elite defender, along with his ability to create his own shot and ability to knock down the three is everything in today’s NBA. With Isaac being solidified at the four spot, along with the increased minutes and role, expect him to break through as one of the main guys in Orlando.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard, Oklahoma City Thunder:
Oklahoma City is now in rebuilding mode, with the departures of Russell Westbrook and Paul George, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the focal point. Therefore; Shai will have many opportunities to take that next step. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, as he exceeded his rookie expectations as he averaged 10.8 points per game while shooting 47.6% from the field, 3.3 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game. Shai elevated his game even more during the playoffs against the best team over the last five years in Golden State. It’s rare to see a rookie in his first ever playoff series not just increase his scoring, but become even more efficient in doing so. Even though it was one playoffs series, Shai showcased all-star potential. With Oklahoma City in rebuilding mode, look forward to hearing Shai among the most improved players during this upcoming season.
By: Tramaine Griffin
Miles Bridges, F, Charlotte Hornets:
For me, I will start off my five players poised for a breakout list with another former Michigan State Spartan. Having spent his rookie season catching backdoor passes and lobs alike from the franchises face Kemba Walker, Bridges was able to endure growing pains while making plenty of highlight reels. Aside from his well-publicized and other-worldly athleticism, the bouncy swingman is a workhorse. No surprise given his college roots under coach Izzo, but Bridges is a gritty, hardnose, high energy player who uses his stature and quick-twitch reactions to dive for loose balls and crash the glass. Bridges was a plus defender in +/- last season which bodes well moving forward, along with averaging a block, a steal, and 7 rebounds per 36 minutes in his rookie campaign. With the aforementioned Kemba Walker relocating to Boston, expect for Bridges to see an uptick from the 15.1% usage rate he registered over his first season. He should be given the keys to the team as the Hornets begin their rebuild and he embraces a first option role. Some rookies struggle in their first then make a leap in productivity their second season, I fully expect for Bridges to do just that in his sophomore season.
Torrey Craig, F, Denver Nuggets:
As the Nuggets have continued to blossom into a formidable contender, there have been young players in their system whose names have picked up attention. Last season being the first in the true ascension of Denver, they saw a collective package of efforts from their hyper-active young wings. Of those players, who stood out to me most was Torrey Craig. The 6’7 wing has the stature, athleticism, and all the makings of the prototypical 3 & D wing. After two-way wings, the hottest commodity remains the 3 & D wing type players. Craig, who saw the 3-ball drop at a 32.4% in the regular season (and an attention garnering 47.2% in the playoffs!!!) combined with his plus defensive efforts in the box-score +/- for regular season and the playoffs, he has the statistical evidence to support his status as a top flight player in that mold. Continued growth towards his true potential will be vital not only for him but for his team, as the Nuggets will need him to reach their aspirations of a conference finals appearance in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference. Craig will undoubtedly be up for the challenge. His fiery style of play will be fun to follow in this upcoming season.
Malcolm Brogdon, G, Indiana Pacers:
Seen by many Bucks fans as their saving grace at times as Eric Bledsoe’s consistently untimely shortcomings would somewhat hamper the team, Brogdon has taken his talents to Indiana. For the Pacers, and Brogdon, this should be an extremely beneficial pairing. Not only will Brogdon be the starting point guard, but he will be part of a system not zero’d in one player featured in every set. Yes, the Pacers have all-star G Victor Oladipo. However, as he returns from injury, expect for the egalitarian approach to offense that kept them afloat in his absence last season to carry over into this season. Head coach Nate McMillan will surely put Brogdon in situations where he can flourish. In just his third season, Brogdon was able to eclipse the mark of peak efficiency as an offensive player as he joined the exclusive 50-40-90 club. Having his name lumped into a group of players like Curry, Durant, Nash, and Bird bodes well for the fourth-year guard. His ability to operate both with and without the ball will make for one deadly backcourt when Oladipo’s services are fully back in rotation. Brogdon also gets after it on the defensive end and is a bigger guard too at 6’5 230lbs. His dynamic added to this modified rendition of the Pacers should keep them in the playoffs as a more than formidable middle of the pack team in the East.
Derrick White, G, San Antonio Spurs:
After having the opportunity for more playtime in the absence of Dejounte Murray, Derrick White was able to make the most of his touches. During the playoff was when White’s impact was more profound. In a first round series where he was matched up with a guard not unlike himself in Jamaal Murray of the Denver Nuggets, White was able to put his stamp on almost every game in that entertaining 7 game first round series. He averaged 20 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds while almost averaging a block and a steal as well. He is an athletic 6’4 combo guard with a profound scoring prowess who can get hot in an instant. He has plenty of growth ahead of him, but being thrown in the fire of the Western Conference playoffs last season should expedite his progress as well as his hunger. What will be tricky with his situation is how he will be utilized this season. Last year he was the starter in most games, however, with Murray coming back from injury there’s a level of uncertainty regarding how Coach Popovich will distribute the minutes in his rotation for these young studs. I would predict that White will eventually take a backseat to Murray and Derozan in the starting lineup which may slightly stagnate his progression, but in the system, he is playing under Coach Pop, he will have plenty of touches.
Lonzo Ball, G, New Orleans Pelicans:
A misunderstood talent thanks to situations not caused by him, Lonzo has now found himself in a new situation. He is finally detached from the media frenzy that is Los Angeles (and not being on a team with the best player of this generation helps) and can now finally breathe in a far less stressful situation. I expect for Lonzo, along with his modified jump-shot, to find success in New Orleans. This will be his first time in a non-major market, so that should also allow for him to focus without the many distractions that come with Los Angeles or those purple and gold jerseys. Ball is a big, athletic playmaker. He’s very much an anomaly in this generation of guard that are all presumed as “score first.” Great vision combined with an advanced IQ and the roster compiled in New Orleans will make for a basketball marriage. Coach Gentry seems elated to add another big bodied guard to his roster and to integrate him into a roster that already has plenty of young talent. For New Orleans to make the playoffs this season, they will need for Ball to be more productive than he was in his last season with the Lakers. It will be a similar situation regarding the distribution of touches in the lead guard category as he will be sharing those duties with a few other capable playmakers. However, I think the ball will naturally end up in his early on.
By: Stephen Gardner