The National Basketball Association is a battleground itself. With 30 teams and only 15 roster spots available in each team, players battle for a spot for the dream to play in the NBA. Even so the NBA is a landscape of amazing talents from mediocre players to franchise stars. With the new 2017-18 NBA season approaching out of all the hundreds of NBA players, these three men stand out the most as the NBA’s next breakout stars.
Jusuf Nurkic
No one expected Jusuf Nurkic to turn a lot of heads with his play with Portland at the end of the 2016-2017 season. Playing 20 out the last 27 games of the season last year, Nurkic averaged 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, helping the Blazers go 14-6. His presence was a boost in both ends of the court as he can score in the low post, post up smaller defenders and make turn around shots being a scoring threat on offense and also is a shot-blocking force on defense, which was something the team lacked. Nurkic provided elite rebounding, good passing, and good lane defense to the Portland.
Jusuf’s value was shown as the Blazers struggled without him on the floor. Their offense plummeted without Nurkic, to 96.3 points per 100 possessions and their defense imploded, allowing 114.6 points per 100 possessions. Their net rating was a horrible negative 18.3. The Lillard-McCollum-Nurkic trio played 419 minutes together in the regular season, outscoring opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions during that stretch. This off-season Nurkic dropped 35 pounds from working out daily in the summer and is now ready to up his game to the next level:
“I'm in the best shape of my life and the best mentally I can be," he said. With an injury (fractured leg) ended his season early last year Jusuf is ready to prove his play was no mere fluke and how valuable he is to RIP city.
Stats:
Age: 23
2016-17 Numbers (Portland): 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals per game
Projected 2017-18 Stats: 17-18 points, 11-12 rebounds, 3-4 assists, 1.5-2.0 blocks, and 1 steals per game
Myles Turner
Myles Turner was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Going out of the draft no one believed he was the next franchise player of the Indiana Pacers as they already had Paul George, but since then things have changed. Now the most talented player on the team and billed as the future of the Pacers, Turner is poised to breakout this season. Turner was one of the two players who averaged at least 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game while hitting at least 40 threes in 2016-17, with the other being Anthony Davis. Playing at the center spot, Turner fits in perfectly with this generation’s style of play as he can score the ball in the paint, make fade away shots, shoot threes, rebound and make highlight plays on the defensive side of the court.
The scary part is that he is only 22 years old which means he has a lot of time to grow to become the best self of his potential. Turner who’s shown growth has been improving statistically every year since he has been in the league. Improving in every main statistic (points, rebounds, blocks, assists, and FG %). This off-season he has expressed his confidence in himself. "I want to start establishing myself as a leader in this league and on this team," he said. "I know I’m quite young compared to a lot of guys on this team, but the best time is to start young.” Turner is ready for the challenges ahead and deeply believes in his team progress and his leadership to them. After having a disappointing year Turner is eager to put them back on track in the Eastern Conference.
Stats:
Age: 22
2016-17 Numbers: 14.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.1 blocks, 0.9 steals per game
Projected 2017-18 Stats: 19-20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.5 blocks, 1 steals per game
Kristaps Porzingis
“I really wanted to get drafted by the Knicks, and it was a dream comes true. I wasn't even hearing the boos that night. I was just having a special moment with my family, hugging them.”
Kristaps Porzingis’ words at the 2015 draft after being picked 4th overall with boos and disgusted reactions from the Knicks fans, Kristaps has proven to every single one of them that they were wrong about his selection as he is now the face of the New York Knicks. Porzingis is the only rookie in the history of the NBA to score more than 1000 points, 500-plus rebounds, make 75-plus three-pointers and block more than 100 shots.
At first, when he entered the league he was second the second option, next to the franchise player of the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony. Things, however, changed this off-season with ‘Melo’ being traded away to the OKC Thunder. Kristaps will take the mantle as the new leader of New York. "It's something that I wanted one day, to be like that. I just kept working towards it, kept getting better and I'm going to keep growing” he said. Standing at 7’3 at the power forward position he has shown abilities to score, rebound, handle the ball, shoot, and block shots on the defensive side of the court. After horrible team seasons coming into the 2017-18 season, Porzingis is ready to lead the Knicks in the “Post Melo era” and ready to get into winning form.
Stats:
Age: 22
2016-17 Numbers: 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 blocks, 0.7 steals per game
Projected 2017-18 Stats: 22-24 points, 9-10 rebounds, 1-2 assists, 2-3 blocks, 1 steals per game
By Corey Robert Richards / morningnbadaily@gmail.com
By Corey Robert Richards / morningnbadaily@gmail.com
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