15 NBA Players Who Are Ready to Prove They're Legit

Every NBA season, there are guys who have the opportunity to prove that they are legit stars in the NBA. Sometimes they are rookies, sometimes they are more established or up-and-coming and sometimes they are veterans looking for a second wind to their career.

Guys like Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon and James Harden are all players who have been in the league for a while and now appear ready to prove themselves as legit stars or superstars.

Guys like Chris Bosh and Kendrick Perkins are veterans who are looking to show the NBA that they are still as good as ever.

And then guys like Kyrie Irving, Norris Cole and Ricky Rubio are rookies who appear poised to become young stars in this league.

Each type of player is ready to prove how legit he is, but for a different reason. Here are 15 ready to solidify themselves in 2012.

Blake Griffin

It may seem odd that a guy who averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds last year need to prove that he is legit this season. But Blake Griffin still does.

One great season is nothing to base superstardom on. While Griffin does seem poised to continue in the same way he did last season, he still needs to do it to prove that he is going to be the guy we all think he will be.

He also has ways he can improve that will make him even more legit. Improving his free throw shooting (63 percent) and expanding his jump shot are ways that he can become the most legit power forward in the NBA.

Eric Gordon

As we all know by now, Eric Gordon was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the New Orleans Hornets in the Chris Paul trade. Now that he's in New Orleans, Gordon has a chance to prove himself as the guy.

He will undoubtedly be the leading scorer for Hornets. After averaging 22 points per game sharing the ball with Blake Griffin last year, he should score even more now that he's the main guy for his franchise.

He has a chance to show that he can be a franchise's star shooting guard.

James Harden

Unlike many of the guys on this list, James Harden does not start. Like many of the guys on this list, he does play starter's minutes.

The leading candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award, Harden is averaging 17 points per game off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harden is also playing 32 minutes per game, the most in his career, and this will be his first full season as the third scoring option.

Harden's play this season will determine whether he is too legit not to start or just a bench player.

Serge Ibaka

A player who often gets overlooked based on the star power around him, Serge Ibaka is poised to position himself as one of the best young defensive big men in the NBA.

The 6'10" 22-year-old averaged nearly 10 points and 2.4 blocks per game last season and has a chance to increase on those numbers in his first full season as a starter.

Look for other teams to start eyeing Ibaka if he continues to improve.

Rodrigue Beaubois

Rodrigue Beaubois might have been the only Dallas Maverick happy about the departure of J.J. Barea. Barea's depature will mean even more playing time for Beaubois, a combo guard who is quick and can score.

Beaubois will be one of the first guys off the Dallas bench and has the opportunity to prove himself as a young player. If he can score and distribute well off the bench, he will have proven himself as a legit sixth man and possible starter.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is the most criticized player in the NBA.

The 23-year-old averaged 22 points and eight assists per game last season and helped lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Western Conference Finals berth. So why does he need to prove himself as legit?

Because everyone is questioning whether or not he can play the point guard position and play harmoniously with Kevin Durant. Westbrook will be looking to prove that he can do both this year.

Norris Cole

A Cleveland State product, Norris Cole is a rookie point guard who is averaging 11 points off the bench on the same team as Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Wow.

He's also averaging 3.4 assists per game and beginning to position himself as the point guard of the future for this Heat dynasty. He proved against Boston that he could take big shots in big games, scoring 20 points (most of that in the fourth quarter).

If Cole continues as he's going now, he'll be a starter with the Heat in no time.

Kyrie Irving

There were big expectation for former Duke point guard Kyrie Irving heading into this season. As the No. 1 pick in the draft to Cleveland, many saw Irving as the first step in rebuilding the Cavaliers post-Lebron.

So far, Irving isn't disappointing. He's averaging 14.6 points per game and nearly six assists. He's also shooting over 45 percent from the field and the three-point line.

Irving looks like the well-rounded point guard that Cleveland wanted. He'll need to keep that up to prove his legitimacy.

Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh is a very, very good player. But he was overshadowed by Lebron James and Dwyane Wade this season. He needs to prove that he can be a superstar alongside them this season and that he's not as soft as people think.

He's off to a good start so far. He's averaging 18 point and eight rebounds, which are close to the same as last year. He's also shooting the best percentage of his career from the field and averaging the most steals per game of his career.

He needs to improve his rebounds and keep performing at a high level in the other areas. Doing that will prove he is a legit superstar.

James Anderson

James Anderson is a second-year shooting guard for the San Antonio Spurs. Coming out of Oklahoma State, Anderson was one of the best scorers in college basketball. He's struggled to adjust to the pro game, especially after missing most of last season with an injury.

Now that Manu Ginobili will be out for at least two months with a broken left hand, Anderson is the starting shooting guard.

If he can score more efficiently and contribute more consistently with this increase in playing time, look for Anderson to blossom into a very legit wingman.

Dante Cunningham

Dante Cunningham is already a journeyman, playing for his third NBA team (Memphis Grizzlies) in his third season. But now he has a golden opportunity to show whether or not he's legit.

With starting power forward Zach Randolph out at least two months, Cunningham will see much more playing time and probably even some starts.

If he can show that he can at least be a solid backup, look for him to finally have a place he can call home permanently.

Ricky Rubio

Few players have been discussed more before ever stepping onto an NBA court than rookie Ricky Rubio. Debates have raged about whether or not he could be successful in the NBA. This season he will have the chance to prove his worth with Minnesota.

So far, so good. Rubio is averaging nine points and seven assists per game off the bench. He's also shooting 52 percent from the field and 60 percent from behind the arc. He play impresses beyond the stats, as he's a razzle-dazzle kind of guy who makes amazing passes to guys most people don't realize are open.

Look for him to be starting soon if he continues his current pace. That would be majorly legit.

Kendrick Perkins

At one point the defensive glue of a championship squad, Kendrick Perkins was called fat and overrated after his season last year with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Perkins lost 30 pounds in the offseason and now looks like a different player. He's quicker and can now keep up with the best big men in the NBA. In the season opener, Perkins held Dwight Howard to just 11 points on 12 shots.

He's also shooting 52 percent from the field and 79 percent from the charity stripe (he's a career 60 percent free throw shooter).

It's clear that Perkins is on a mission to prove that he's still a legit championship caliber defensive center. If the Thunder make it to the Finals, mission accomplished.

Kemba Walker

Much like some of the other rookies on this list, Kemba Walker is proving himself off the bench. He's averaging nine points and three assists in his first season.

The 6'1" point guard proved that he could be clutch in leading Connecticut to a national championship in college. He hopes to take that clutch gene to Charlotte to help the Bobcats become winners.

If he can continue to improve, he'll be the starter at the point. Doing that by the beginning of next season would prove him as a legit point guard.

Michael Redd

Michael Redd still plays in the NBA. I know, I'd forgotten to.

Redd can prove he's legit by contributing off the bench for a Phoenix Suns team that needs all the help it can get. He averaged 4.4 points in just 13 minutes per game last season.

If he can do a bit better than that with Steve Nash passing him the ball, he'll prove that he's still a legitimate veteran who can contribute to a team.