The NBA is blessed with new talent every year through the NBA Draft in June. The first couple years is a tough year for some players. It is where you can make a name for yourself early in this league, or it can be a time where you find yourself on the back burner of this league. Let’s take a look at some players who can breakout this season.
Nerlens Noel
The Sixers are still a bottom-feeder in the Eastern Conference, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have young promising talent. Nerlens Noel had one of the best defensive seasons for a rookie and it seems to go unnoticed. He was close to becoming the fourth player in league history to average two steals and two blocks in one season, which shows his amazing skill-set for a player that is still very much growing.
With Jahlil Okafor being drafted this past June, Noel will be moving to the power forward position, which means he will have to improve his jump shot. Okafor and Noel can feed off each other, but not without some growing pains. Noel moving to the four can help create a whole new element to his game.
Nikola Mirotic
One of the best things to happen to Mirotic was being given the opportunity to be a starter. Now, it is a wait and see situation for Mirotic because he was so efficient last season coming off of the bench. Some players are just more productive as sixth men and Mirotic was very productive last season.
As you can see, per 36 minutes, Mirotic was efficient.
(Via Basketball-Reference.com)
He had a lower three-point percentage at only 31.9% last season, but that is expected to improve. With a bigger role under Fred Hoiberg, Mirotic is set for a fantastic sophomore campaign.
Julius Randle
With an average of 11 points and almost 6 rebounds in the preseason games, it is great to see such a young promising player like Julius Randle back on the floor again. He is a player with so much potential, but unfortunately missed all of last season with a broken right tibia.
Coach Byron Scott sees multiple All-Star appearances in Randle’s future and it doesn’t come with a surprise. Randle will have a lot to prove this season as Kobe Bryant is in the final year of his contract. The Lakers need to solidify their core of players going forward. Randle can lead the way with a big season in his “2.0 rookie season”.
