Five breakout players for the 2023-24 NBA season

Giddey’s taking pictures has at all times been the most important query mark, and final 12 months the Australian shot 32.5% from three, a considerable enhance from 26.3% in his rookie season. 

Going into his third season within the NBA, we may see one other leap in his taking pictures numbers, which can add a totally new dimension to his already spectacular recreation.

Bruce Brown, Indiana Pacers

You may argue that Bruce Brown already had his breakout season final 12 months with the Denver Nuggets, the place he averaged 11.5 factors, 4.1 rebounds and three.4 assists and performed a pivotal position in the course of the staff’s championship run. 

Nevertheless, Brown may solely simply be getting began.

Within the offseason Brown signed a two-year, $45M contract with the Indiana Pacers, indicating that the staff envisions a big position for his Swiss Military knife fashion of play. Brown shouldn’t have any drawback taking part in alongside first-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and second-year phenom Bennedict Mathurin, providing his distinctive mixture of rebounding, playmaking and protection to enhance the potent offense these two convey to the ground.

Brown additionally brings championship pedigree to a younger, gifted group of gamers and is the right participant for coach Rick Carlisle to lean on for one more revered voice within the locker room. 

On the courtroom, anticipate Brown to fill the stat sheet, making good performs evening in and evening out. He won’t produce the eye-popping stats you’d anticipate for a breakout participant, however his intangibles ought to produce a extra vital counting stat, wins.

Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets

After being acquired by the Brooklyn Nets within the Kevin Durant trade, Mikal Bridges assumed the position of primary possibility for a Nets staff that was rudderless with the departure of its largest star. 

His polished offensive scoring arsenal — which bears a placing resemblance to Durant’s — was totally unleashed for the primary time and Bridges jumped from 17.2 factors per recreation with the Suns, to 26.1 factors with the Nets

His effectivity left lots to be desired, at solely 47.5% taking pictures from the sector, however going from a task participant to a main scorer is a tall activity for any participant. 

With a full offseason and coaching camp to seek out his footing because the Nets’ franchise participant, we should always anticipate Bridges to take the following step into star participant territory.

Deandre Ayton, Portland Path Blazers

After a contentious 5 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, the place he was requested to take a backseat offensively to his star teammates, and his frustration manifesting itself each on the courtroom and within the locker room, Deandre Ayton has an opportunity for a contemporary begin with the Portland Path Blazers.

For his profession, Ayton averages 16.7 factors and 10.4 rebounds per recreation nevertheless it’s vital to understand that he put up these numbers because the third, generally fourth possibility for a majority of his profession. 

On a Blazers staff with low expectations, Ayton can have ample alternatives to showcase his skills and put up huge counting stats.

His tender contact across the rim, coupled together with his wonderful midrange scoring arsenal ought to complement No. 2 total choose Scoot Henderson’s run-and-gun strategy, leading to a excessive quantity of dump-offs and open pictures off penetration. 

Defensively, Ayton nonetheless has the bodily instruments to be a drive each contained in the paint and out on the perimeter, a high-value talent for contemporary huge males. 

Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic

The previous No. 1 total choose has had a tumultuous NBA profession to this point, as a mixture of unhealthy harm luck and psychological struggles hampered his development. After showing in 72 video games within the 2019-20 season, Fultz performed in 26 video games the next two seasons because of a torn ACL and lingering issues with his right shoulder.

Final season was Fultz’s first comparatively wholesome season because the 2019-20 season with 60 video games performed and his manufacturing elevated in consequence. Fultz ended final season with a career-high 14 factors and 5.7 assists per recreation on 51.4% taking pictures from the sector.

His long-maligned taking pictures type hindered his isolation scoring, nevertheless it’s clear that that is an space he has labored on within the offseason. That work appears to be paying off, as evidenced by this easy step-back midrange jumper on Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson within the preseason.

Going into the 2023-24 season, Fultz is anticipated to be the Magic’s place to begin guard, becoming a member of a gifted trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. within the quest for Orlando’s first playoff look since 2020. 

With renewed confidence in his jumper, and one other 12 months to get better from his ACL harm, Fultz ought to hit the bottom working and construct off the success he noticed final 12 months.