7 Sophomore-Year Players Ready to Emerge into the National NBA Spotlight
Sometimes it takes a year to adjust to the NBA's speed, size and strength.
The following sophomores each look poised for a breakout season after experiencing rookie turbulence in 2013-14.
A few of them just needed an opportunity. Others are coming off a strong summer performance that has fueled the belief a big year is coming.
We've determined that Michael Carter-Williams, Tim Hardaway Jr., Victor Oladipo and Mason Plumlee already broke through onto the national radar as rookies.
Otto Porter, Washington Wizards
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You almost forget Otto Porter was a No. 3 pick and considered one of the safest options on the board in 2013.
Injuries delayed and ultimately ruined his rookie year in Washington, where Trevor Ariza was blowing up and the Wizards were competing for playoff position.
But now Porter is coming off a healthy offseason and a highly productive summer league, and with Ariza gone and Bradley Beal out with an injury, a window of opportunity has opened.
Porter's game revolves around versatility—at 6'8", he can handle the ball, slash, score in the mid-range and stretch the floor as a shooter.
He went for his first 20-plus-point game three contests into his sophomore year, when he shot 7-of-11 against the Milwaukee Bucks in a win.
J. Michael of CSNWashington.com believes (via Bleacher Report) he's the team's long-term answer at small forward.
A jack of all trades and master of none, Porter should be looking at his first crack at the national spotlight with the Wizards expected to remain a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference.
C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers
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The Portland Trail Blazers have become one of the premier NBA teams to watch—and C.J. McCollum is about to get himself involved.
You didn't hear his name called much last year after a broken foot delayed his career, but McCollum was a clear-cut lottery prospect for a reason.
He's a scoring playmaker—a guy who can generate offense one-on-one, as well as stretch the floor as a shooter off the ball.
In his first 20-minute game of the season in a win against the Dallas Mavericks, McCollum went for 13 points and three assists on three made three-pointers.
"A lot more comfortable. It comes from getting reps. It comes from having half a year under your belt and kind of getting more acquainted with the system, but I'm definitely getting more comfortable each night," McCollum told Mike Richman of The Oregonian. "I'm definitely confident because I've put so much time in, put so much work in and I feel like it's going to all pay off."
His role might fluctuate throughout the year based on specific matchups and timing, but given the lack of firepower offered by Portland's bench, something tells me McCollum will emerge as a regular guard in the rotation.
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder
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There hasn't been much to cheer about in Oklahoma City, but come on—the emergence of Steven Adams is pretty exciting.
And forget about his skill set for a second. In just his second year, he's already established himself as one of the game's most physically imposing enforcers. Adams gives tough fouls and sets hard screens. The interior presence he offers alone is worth 25-30 minutes a game.
But most dirty-work guys like Adams aren't usually 7-footers that run and jump.
He picks up easy buckets off offensive rebounds, drive-and-dumps and lobs that Kendrick Perkins can't get to. And though it's come in spurts, Adams' jump hook in the lane has looked much-improved since 2013.
It's still his defense and rebounding that Oklahoma City values most, but as his role and confidence increase, look for Adams' production to follow.
He's already notched double digits in scoring twice in five games after doing so only three times as a rookie last year.
Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Gorgui Dieng found the global spotlight during the summer's FIBA Basketball World Championships. Next up is the NBA, even if it happens as a backup in 2014-15.
A full-time opportunity hasn't been there for Dieng just yet, but his per-minute production is just too good to ignore.
He finished with the second-best player efficiency rating of any rookie last season, per RealGM.com, and through four games this year, he has a 22.33 PER, according to ESPN.com.
A disruptive defensive presence and space-eater under the boards, Dieng's offensive game has made some strides, as we're starting to see him knock down mid-range jumpers and convert contested finishes off pick-and-rolls.
He's had some solid showings early on in 2014-15, including a 10-point, eight-rebound, 16-minute game against the Bulls and an six-point, eight-rebound, three-block, 19-minute game against the Memphis Grizzlies—two opponents with monster front lines.
Playing behind Nikola Pekovic, Dieng's numbers might fluctuate, but by the end of the season, it should be fairly obvious that the Wolves are working with two major assets at the center position.
Cody Zeller, Charlotte Hornets
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Cody Zeller was fairly disappointing as a rookie when he shot just 42.6 percent and looked physically outmatched on the interior .
It's a good thing he's worked on that jumper.
Zeller has a soft touch in the mid-range, where he's already hit seven of his first 16 shots (43.8 percent) on the year (NBA.com).
He's playing with a whole new level of confidence, and though we're still in November, it's resulted in more shot-making and activity early on.
Zeller ultimately gives the Hornets' frontcourt a dimension of size and athleticism not found in the starting lineup. With a better feel for the NBA's speed and strength, along with a more polished jumper and defined role, look for Zeller to emerge as a solid bounce-back candidate and valued member off Charlotte's bench.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
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Giannis Antetokounmpo pretty much became a household name to NBA fans as a rookie despite his pedestrian seven-point-per-game average on a 15-win team.
And though his scoring numbers probably won't skyrocket, we should see a little more of his upside come to life as a sophomore.
He's already putting up more production in less time per game—9.2 points and five boards in only 21.4 minutes.
And just wait—when there are a good 35 games left and the Bucks have nothing to really play for, you have to think coach Jason Kidd will increase Antetokounmpo's role and extend his leash.
Standing at least 6'9" with a legitimate handle, threatening jumper and super athletic ability, the two-way mismatch potential here is really can't-miss.
It might be a few years before he's doing it every night, but in 2014-15, look for the Greek Freak to emerge as one of the game's top under-21 prospects.
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
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Rudy Gobert's standout play during the FIBA Basketball World Cup carried straight into summer league and preseason.
And now he appears to have emerged as Utah's most feared weapon off the bench.
Few players take up as much space inside as Gobert, whose 7'8" wingspan stretches from block to block and waist to rim.
His rebounding percentage is great—it was 20.17 percent last year, and through five games this season, it's at 21.2 percent, per RealGM.com.
Of course, it's at the defensive end where he makes his money. He covers a ton of ground out there, whether he's switching onto a guard off a screen, challenging at the elbow or protecting the rim down low.
Offensively, while he remains raw in terms of creating his own shot, Gobert still poses as a monster target off pick-and-rolls and drive-and-dumps. And if there's a miss within his area, he's a strong candidate to clean it up.
With Gobert, it's not necessarily about the numbers as much as it's about his impact. Expect him to win over the NBA crowd this season, even if his role is limited to just 15 minutes a game.
Note: Stats up to date through Nov. 6 games.
