5 2013-14 NBA Breakout Players Who Nobody Saw Coming
NBA fans and analysts alike spend every offseason predicting breakout years from highly anticipated players, but there are often a handful of captivating competitors that no one saw coming.
The 2013-14 season features an exciting group of breakout performers that snuck up on us.
Some are already several years into their NBA careers, and we didn't plan on their stock soaring so high in 2013-14.
There are also a couple young guns bursting onto the scene, as a pair of second-year players seemingly came out of nowhere to make big early-season splashes.
Who are these unsuspecting standouts, and what's fueling their hot starts?
Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks PG
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2013-14 Stats:ย 33.7 MPG, 18.4 PPG, 8.7 APG, 44% FG
Eye-popping Game: 33 points, 10 assists in win over Philadelphia 76ers
Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague isn't experiencing a breakout performance in the traditional sense, but his significant boost in production has caught many by surprise.
He's become more adept at diagnosing defenses and taking advantage of small windows to drive. Teague is also drilling mid-range jumpers and connecting seamlessly with Al Horford in the pick-and-roll.
The Hawks roster underwent a mini-transformation during the offseason, not to mention a coaching change, so we didn't know how Teague would fare in the early going.
He ended up exceeding expectations and eclipsing career-best numbers, and Atlanta is doing a great job of sharing the ball all around.ย Once Teague finds his range from three-point land, his production and impact could be even more potent.
Tony Wroten, Philadelphia 76ers PG
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2013-14 Stats:ย 26.8 MPG, 13.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 42% FG
Eye-popping Game:ย Triple-double (18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds) in win over Houston Rockets
After failing to crack the Memphis Grizzlies rotation in 2012-13, Tony Wroten is making the most of his new opportunity with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 2012 draftee was an unpolished prospect coming out of Washington, but he had loads of potential. He's not a finished product yet, but Philly is starting to reap the rewards of trading for him.
Even before Michael Carter-Williams was sidelined with a foot injury, Wroten was making noticeable contributions off the bench. When MCW went down and Brett Brown needed Wroten to fill the void, he was more than ready.
During his triple-double against the Houston Rockets, he demonstrated his quickness as a slasher, his scoring prowess and his ability to find cutters rim-running. Wroten followed that gem up with three games of at least 19 points, so his breakout year is officially on everyone's radar.
With an uncanny ability to put pressure on opposing defenses, this second-year standout has a chance to be one of the best playersย of his draft class.
Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns C
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2013-14 Stats:ย 31.2 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 51% FG
Eye-popping Game: 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in season-opening win over Portland Trail Blazers
We can't really blame ourselves for not predicting Miles Plumlee's breakout start for the Phoenix Suns, as he was slated to help Alex Len back up Marcin Gortat. Even after Gortat was traded to the Washington Wizards in the preseason, no one knew how Plumlee would fare.
The sophomore center spent his rookie year riding the pine for the Eastern Conference finalist Indiana Pacers, so he used that pent-up energy in his Suns debut this fall. In one game with Phoenix, he outscored his 2012-13 pointย total.
He's been an integral part of the Suns' rebuilding process since he set foot in the desert, serving as an explosive finisher, strong rebounder and mobile defender.ย
Plumlee's not just an alley-oop rim-crusher and a leaper, though. He utilizes a solid short-range hook shot with either hand and can use the glass on post-ups or drives to the bucket.
On the other end of the floor, he covers a lot of ground and has shown flashes of his enormous defensive potential. Plumlee's quickness helps stymie pick-and-roll attempts, and his vertical gifts protect the basket and alter shots.
Eric Bledsoe, Gerald Green and Markieff Morris are all having breakout years, but Plumlee's is the most surprising.
Arron Afflalo, Orlando Magic SG
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2013-14 Stats:ย 36.7 MPG, 22.5 PPG, 4.5 APG, 49% FG
Eye-popping Game: 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists in win over Milwaukee Bucks
Arron Afflalo led the Orlando Magic in scoring for most of the 2012-13 season, so why is he on this list?
Because he's everywhere, and his stats aren't just upโthey're up dramatically in every category. He's delivering a bigger breakout start than Magic fans ever hoped for.
Afflalo went from 16.5 points per game to 22.5, 3.2 assists to 4.5 assists and 44 percent shooting to 49 percent.
What's most impressive is his breakout performance behind the arc. Afflalo is making 3.0 three-pointers per night, which is twice as many as he's ever averaged. And he's hitting them at a ridiculous 54 percent clip.
His shooting efficiency will come back down to earth at some point, but I still expect him to post career highs in nearly every major statistic.
Michael Beasley, Miami Heat F
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2013-14 Stats:ย 15.6 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 56% FG
Eye-popping Game: 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting in win over Milwaukee Bucks
Is it possible for someone to have two breakout seasons in one career?
Michael Beasley's breakout year was 2010-11, when he registered 19 points per contest for the Minnesota Timberwolves.ย These days, he's averaging a modest 10.9 for the Miami Heat.
But those 10.9 are taking most of us by surprise.
Between 2011 and 2013, Beasley's stock dropped like a rock, as ineffective play and disruptive off-the-court shenanigans turned him into an object of widespread scorn. After being released by the Phoenix Suns, he was lucky enough to land in South Beach. But even then, he was projected to be more of an afterthought than a legitimate cog in the rotation.
With efficient shooting and maximum effort on both ends, Beasley is quickly reshaping his NBA identity. He knows he's fortunate to play with championship-caliber teammates and is elevating his game to their level. The new and improved Beasley works hard to find high-percentage opportunities, cuts to the rim and integrates himself into the club's game plan.
Consequently, he's shooting 56 percent with the defending champs.
Follow Dan O'Brien on Twitter: @DanielO_BR
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