Acting at a excessive stage within the NBA as a rookie may be very difficult, as, for probably the most half, the expertise stage is a lot greater than any participant has ever confronted of their life beforehand. Nevertheless, many gamers typically see an enchancment of their manufacturing throughout their sophomore campaigns as they grow to be acclimated to the league and have a full offseason beneath their belt.
[Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy hoops league for the 2024-25 NBA season]
A key think about a breakout season is alternative, so all the following breakout candidates are at the very least projected to begin for his or her group subsequent season. I will not be selecting any rookies who had an excellent season in 2023-24; whereas Victor Wembanyama might very nicely be part of MVP conversations subsequent yr, he will not be on my fantasy basketball breakout candidates record.
Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
Thompson missed the ultimate 19 video games of 2023-24 with blood clots however is anticipated to be able to go for the start of 2024-25. Within the 21-year-old ahead’s 63 regular-season appearances, together with 38 begins, he averaged 8.8 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks in 25.1 minutes. Whereas Thompson established himself as one of many league’s finest perimeter defenders already, he additionally mightily struggled together with his effectivity, posting 48.3/18.6/59.7 taking pictures splits. Thompson’s exterior taking pictures is especially worrisome, however his capacity to crash the glass and influence the sport on the defensive finish at such a younger age ought to proceed to earn him prolonged minutes.
Not like his twin brother Amen in Houston, Ausar is anticipated to earn a beginning spot for Detroit this season, which ought to enable him to proceed to stuff the stat sheet. Do not count on enormous scoring outputs from Thompson, but it surely would not be stunning for him to look on All-Defensive Staff ballots.
Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors
Podziesmki was chosen nineteenth total by the Warriors within the 2023 NBA Draft and shocked many together with his contributions proper out of the gate. As a rookie, he averaged 9.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.7 assists in 26.6 minutes throughout 74 appearances, together with 28 begins, resulting in an All-Rookie First-Team selection. The 21-year-old additionally displayed spectacular effectivity for a younger guard, taking pictures 45.4% from the sector and 38.5% from 3.
With Klay Thompson leaving for the Mavericks within the offseason, Podziemski now has a transparent beginning spot alongside Steph Curry within the backcourt. The Warriors refused to incorporate Podziemski in commerce conversations final yr, demonstrating their confidence within the Santa Clara product to assist lead Golden State into a brand new period alongside Jonathan Kuminga. If Podziemski can carry over his effectivity to his elevated position and work off the area that Curry’s gravity generates, a Yr 2 breakout is definitely within the playing cards.
Gradey Dick, Toronto Raptors
Dick was chosen thirteenth total by the Raptors within the 2023 NBA Draft, principally as a result of his elite taking pictures resume at Kansas. Whereas the 6-foot-6 guard struggled together with his effectivity out of the gate, a short stint with the Raptors 905 of the G League helped him finally discover his footing within the NBA. Because the starting of 2024, Dick made 41 regular-season appearances for Toronto, together with 16 begins, and averaged 10.8 factors, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 25.2 minutes.
Essentially the most encouraging a part of the 20-year-old’s stretch of play was posting 44.8/39.1/86.3 taking pictures splits. On the season as a complete, Dick managed to transform 36.5% of his 4.0 3-point makes an attempt per contest. With Dick a powerful possibility to begin alongside Immanuel Quickley in Toronto’s backcourt, the sharpshooter’s capacity from past the arc ought to assist him become a high quality scoring possibility, constantly placing up double-digit factors.
Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz
At 6-foot-9 with the power to guard the rim and stretch the ground on the offensive finish, Hendricks’ intriguing talent set led Utah to pick him with the ninth total choose in final yr’s draft. After spending a lot of the early portion of the 2023-24 marketing campaign with the Salt Lake Metropolis Stars of the G League, the 20-year-old ahead was in a position to present his expertise within the NBA throughout the second half of the season.
In 40 appearances, together with 23 begins, Hendricks averaged 7.3 factors, 4.6 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals in 21.4 minutes. Hendricks not solely demonstrated his prowess on the defensive finish but additionally transformed 37.9% of his 3.5 3-point makes an attempt per contest.
Now that he’s a candidate to slip into the beginning energy ahead position, Hendricks ought to be capable of common double-digit factors and near a steal and a block per sport. Alongside Lauri Markkannen, John Collins and Walker Kessler, Hendricks will slot in properly with the Jazz’s versatile frontcourt rotation.
Scoot Henderson, Portland Path Blazers
Henderson might be the obvious choose on this record, as he was chosen third total within the 2023 NBA Draft by Portland. The rookie guard was compelled to overlook prolonged time with an ankle harm early within the season after which mightily struggled together with his effectivity when he was on the ground. That is demonstrated by his 38.5 field-goal proportion and 32.5 3-point proportion in 2023-24. Nevertheless, Henderson discovered his type late within the yr, beginning 14 straight video games on the finish of the common season earlier than lacking the finale with a hip harm.
Over that span, the 20-year-old guard averaged 18.9 factors, 7.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 34.2 minutes. Crucially, Henderson shot 40.8% from the sector and 39.5% on 5.8 3-point makes an attempt per contest throughout that stretch. Henderson clearly has the athletic potential and playmaking capacity to be a star. With him slated to begin subsequent to Anfernee Simons within the backcourt in 2024-25, his improved play from late final yr might level to an enormous breakout marketing campaign in fantasy basketball leagues.
Do not hand over in your Scoot Henderson inventory simply but.
