5 Promising Young Ballers Ready to Break Out Next Season
The NBA is built around superstars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, but it's just as compelling to watch future cornerstones in the making.
This season, the league has seen a bounty of breakouts. We have witnessed the emergence of James Harden, Jeremy Lin and John Wall, among others, and next year, there's more on the way.
For every Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry, there are many more young athletes who receive less recognition than they deserve.
As we watch the former evolve into superstars, we must not neglect to pay homage to the unheralded young guns who aren't far behind.
Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Hornets
1 of 5Age: 23
Years Pro: 4
2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 20.6 points, 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, 1.4 steals, 2.7 turnovers, 45 percent shooting
This year was supposed to be the one where Eric Gordon established himself as a superstar, but injuries kept him out of the lineup for most of the season.
While Gordon has been impressive when healthy, next season will be the year—provided he stays healthy—he proves he is a clear-cut cornerstone.
Gordon is an efficient scorer, can play both guard positions and is an underrated defender as well. And what he lacks in size, he makes up for in explosiveness, as he can get to the rim as well as anyone.
Whether Gordon will continue his path to stardom in New Orleans remains to be seen, yet there is no doubt that next season it will continue—wherever he is.
Gordon Hayward, SG, Utah Jazz
2 of 5Age: 22
Years Pro: 2
2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.0 points, 3.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 0.8 steals, 1.7 turnovers, 45.8 percent shooting
Gordon Hayward has really begun to blossom in his second season out of Butler.
The 6'8" shooting guard has a phenomenal shooting touch and can score from anywhere on the floor.
Hayward is shooting nearly 35 percent from beyond the arc and has exhibited great off-ball anticipation on the defensive end, attributes that have landed him a prominent role in the Jazz's rotation.
Though Utah has managed to win games, it is in the middle of a youth movement, one that Hayward is an integral part of.
As the Jazz move forward, expect to see more plays drawn up for their young stud, as he is poised to establish himself as one of the league's premier perimeter threats.
Goran Dragic, PG, Houston Rockets
3 of 5Age: 25
Years Pro: 4
2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 11.8 points, 5.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 0.1 blocks, 1.3 steals, 2.4 turnovers, 46.4 percent shooting
For most of the season, it has been Kyle Lowry who has stolen the show in Houston, but Goran Dragic has been a close second.
Next year, though, he'll have a breakout year all his own.
Despite having an impressive season, Dragic has only begun to scratch the surface of his potential.
The point guard is a sound passer who can score from anywhere on the court. He's an active defender, especially on the ball, and doesn't receive enough credit for his ability to get to the rim.
Without a doubt, Dragic has proved to be a late bloomer, but next season he will prove—even more so—to be worth the wait.
Avery Bradley, SG, Boston Celtics
4 of 5Age: 21
Years Pro: 2
2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 7.5 points, 1.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 0.2 blocks, 0.6 steals, 1.1 turnovers, 50.8 percent shooting
Avery Bradley is rapidly becoming the steal of the 2010 NBA draft.
The shooting guard is extremely committed on the defensive end and can spend time at the point guard position in a pinch as well.
Most notably, though, his confidence has reached new heights in a short amount of time. Over the last 10 games, he is averaging 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals on 55.4 percent shooting per game.
Ray Allen is coming off the bench for a number of reasons, one of them being Bradley's ability to hold his own in the starting lineup.
Regardless of what happens this year, the Celtics are preparing for a wealth of uncertainty next season. Amid all the uncertainty, though, Boston knows it has a gem in Bradley.
Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Bobcats
5 of 5Age: 21
Years Pro: 1
2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.2 points, 4.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 0.3 blocks, 0.9 steals, 1.8 turnovers, 37 percent shooting
Next year, the Bobcats will still be bad, but there will continue to be a bright spot in Kemba Walker.
In less than a full season, Walker has already shown he will overcome his lack of size. The point guard is incredibly agile, can get to the rim and has improved his playmaking abilities a great deal.
Walker has also emerged as a leader for a more often than not listless Charlotte team; his intensity never wavers, and his basketball IQ is ever-present.
The Bobcats have underutilized Walker all season long, but come next year, the offense will be run through him, by him, as he instills star-caliber hope into a dying franchise.
