The Top 10 Under-the-Radar Breakout NBA Players for 2009-10

Every NBA season sees a few guys break out. Players that finally get the chance to play the necessary minutes to put up legit stats and take advantage of the opportunity.

Jeff Green of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kelenna Azubuike of the Golden State Warriors were these type of players from this past season. Green went from 28 to nearly 37 minutes a game upping his average from 10.5 to 16.5 ppg. Azubuike’s minute total went from 21 to 32 and he took advantage upping his points per game average from 8.5 to 14.4.

Who will be the guys that rise to the occasion this upcoming season?

Milwaukee's Amir Johnson

Only 22, but has been in the league since 2005 buried on the Pistons bench with some time in the D-League.

Seldom had the chance to incur the growing pains a young player needs in order to develop—he never got the necessary minutes. Johnson should see plenty of time in Milwaukee under coach Scott Skiles who will appreciate his defensive effort.

Look for Amir to round out his game and see an upward swing in production in the first quarter of the season. That is, if Skiles lets him play through his mistakes.

Oklahoma City's D.J. White

The former Big 10 Player of the Year came into the league last season, but his rookie year was delayed five months after undergoing surgery on his jaw to remove a benign growth.

Played six games in the D-League before debuting for the Thunder in April. Played in only seven games but immediately proved he could play against NBA talent scoring 8.9 points with 4.6 rebounds in just over 18 minutes per game.

Should fit right into the Thunder rotation for 2009-10 as one of the first players off Scott Brooks’ bench.

Minnesota's Corey Brewer

Bulked up about 15 pounds while rehabbing his surgically repaired ACL which was a necessity considering he was listed last year at just 185 lbs. which wasn’t much for a player standing 6’9”.

Has been working on what his game lacks most, shooting. If Brewer can raise his offensive game to match his defensive tenacity, he will be well on his way to becoming the player Minnesota thought he was when they selected him with the seventh pick of the 2007 Draft.

Portland's Rudy Fernandez

The decorated European star had an excellent first season in the NBA last year in the Pacific Northwest setting the rookie record for most three-pointers made (159), but has just scratched the surface of realizing his potential.

If he gets more than the 25 minutes per game he averaged last year, the Spaniard could explode into one of the top players in the league.

Recent rumors of his unhappiness after Portland’s failed attempt to sign Hedo Turkoglu could result in Fernandez being included in any potential deal in the making.

Chicago's Tyrus Thomas

Overdue for his breakout year. If Thomas can stop his love affair with the jump shot and continuously attack the rim, his point per game total will dramatically increase.

He is a solid free throw shooter (78 percent last year) and by getting to the rim, he could up his scoring average to 18-20 points per game. If he can stay on the court for 35 minutes a game, should produce All-Star caliber numbers.

Anything less would be a real letdown. Rumored to be part of a deal that would send him to Utah with Carlos Boozer coming to Chicago.

Oklahoma City's Shaun Livingston

A career thus far plagued by injuries, most notably the one suffered in February 2007 against the Charlotte Bobcats.

He suffered a debilitating knee injury, dislocating his left kneecap after landing awkwardly, resulting in his left leg snapping laterally. Youtube the video. It's quite disgusting.

Livingston injured almost every part of his knee, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament, the posterior cruciate ligament, and the lateral meniscus, badly spraining his medial collateral ligament and dislocating his patella and his tibia-femoral joint. Ouch.

During a brief stint late in the season, Livingston averaged 7.8 points on 53 percent shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 2 assists in 23 minutes per game. Will see time off the Thunder bench to make up a solid three-guard-rotation with rookie James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Houston's Carl Landry

A solid rebounding guard and strong finisher. With Ron Artest gone, Yao Ming done for who knows how long, and Tracey McGrady on the trading block, Landry will see the floor much more.

Averaged 9.3 points and five rebounds in only 21:18 minutes a game. If he’s on the floor for 30-35 minutes per game, his numbers should improve significantly. This guy is just flat out tough. How many people do you know who run for help after being shot in the leg?

Orlando's Ryan Anderson

The Orlando Magic love their three-point shooters, and Anderson will fit right into their system with his ability to launch from deep.

Anderson is fierce on the offensive glass, and has been tearing up the NBA Summer League competition. With Rashard Lewis slated to move back to small forward after Hedo Turkoglu's departure, Anderson could open up the middle for Dwight Howard by forcing big men out of the paint to defend his shooting. Will dramatically improve the Magic's spacing.

New Jersey's Chris Douglas-Roberts

Must be one of the happiest player in the NBA now that Vince Carter has departed for Orlando. Didn't see much time as a rookie, but displayed potential late in the season.

In April he averaged 10.8 points with 2.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds in almost 27 minutes a game. As his minutes increase, expect CDR to settle into his role and be a solid performer at the NBA level.

At 6’7”, he has the athletic ability to move to the three if Courtney Lee is the starter at off guard. Was the leading scorer (18.1 points a game) on the Memphis team that went to the NCAA Title game in 2008. Too bad about those free throws.

Golden State's Anthony Randolph

The youngest player in the NBA last season didn’t get consistent minutes until the team was eliminated from playoff contention and decimated by injuries.

Don Nelson isn’t the most nurturing of coaches with young players and chances are Randolph would have blossomed sooner under the tutelage of a different coach.

Scored 24 points and 16 boards against Tim Duncan and the Spurs in one of the final games of the year. Could one day soon be considered the best player from the 2008 Draft.