Part of being a successful NBA fantasy manager is the ability to predict who the next breakout stars will be. Everyone knows the picks at the top of the draft but the league is usually won when players breakout – like Nikola Mirotic and Nerlens Noel – and give teams a boost to the title.
It’s never too early to look ahead to next season especially with all of the stats and info from this year readily available to dissect. Here our look at five players that appear poised to break out next season.
Alex Len – Phoenix Suns
Len hasn’t put up dominant offensive numbers in his two NBA seasons but there is enough raw talent there to think he is due for a breakout next year. The 21-year-old center stands 7’1’’, 255 pounds and his coaches have loved the progress he has made so far. You can see the coaches are trusting him more and more as he’s playing six minutes more per game since the All-Star break. Factor in that he has averaged 1.6 blocks per game in just his second year and that he will play a bigger role in his third season and there are plenty of indications that Len is ready to break out next season.
Jusuf Nurkic – Denver Nuggets
Another big man that has already delivered with 1.3 blocks per game despite playing just 18 minutes per game as a 20-year-old backup for the Nuggets, there is plenty of reason to buy in with Nurkic. There is lots of upside for a player that has already averaged 7.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in limited time this season. Remember, the Nuggets had Timofey Mozgov and JaVale McGee earlier this and haven’t really given Nurkic regular playing time. With an opportunity to play a bigger role on a Denver team that is lacking big men, there is no reason to think he can’t average at least 10/10/2 next season as a breakout center.
Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
The third overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft has sat out the entire season after suffering foot fractures in last year’s NCAA tournament. Despite rumors that his weight has ballooned while he has been sidelined this year, the reality is that he will have all offseason to work his way back in to shape and prepare for his first NBA season. Embiid has all of the tools to be a successful center at 7’0’’ and 250 pounds and he should make an immediate impact for Philadelphia next season. We saw what Noel did after sitting out a full season and a lot of fantasy general managers are going to look at Embiid on their draft days and expect a similar outcome next season.
Shabazz Muhammad – Minnesota Timberwolves
While No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins and Slam Dunk contest winner Zach LaVine have stolen the spotlight in Minnesota, there appears to be another young star in the making in Muhammad. The young forward averaged 13.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Timberwolves this year before suffering a finger injury that forced him to have season-ending surgery. His numbers could be even better next season as a young Minnesota team continues to develop and get better together.
Rodney Hood – Utah Jazz
The Jazz have a wealth of young guards and former Duke star Rodney Hood is among those most likely to break out next season. He had a slow start to the season but lately, he’s proved he could handle the NBA game. Since the All-Star break, Hood is averaging 10.9 points per game, 1.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.6 threes, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks since the All-Star break and you have to like a rookie that’s getting better as the season continues. This is a Jazz team that’s on the rise and Hood should be a solid under-the-radar fantasy in next year’s drafts. Expect his playing time and numbers to increase.
