A Star Is Born: NBA Players Who Broke Out in 2014-15
If the NBA is where amazing happens, then the 2014-15 regular season is where bewilderment merged with unpredictability to form the wildest 82-game slate in recent memory.
Between presumed also-rans shaking up conference standings, fierce battles for postseason position and a neck-and-neck MVP race, there's been no shortage of drama.
And while the 2014-15 campaign will be revered for the elite teams and superstars that made it special, a collection of point guards, sharpshooters and rim-protectors made this their year by bursting onto the scene with head-turning performances night after night.
To be clear, the following players are those whose status was elevated to the point where they're now widely recognized for their accomplishments on a national stage.
Excluding surefire studs (i.e. John Wall, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson) and rookies—since we need a larger sample size to witness evidence of sustained growth—relive the explosive exploits of this season's breakout stars.
Honorable Mention: Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF, Milwaukee Bucks
1 of 8
Age: 20
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 12.8 PTS, 6.7 REB, 2.5 AST, 1.1 BLK, 0.9 STL, 15.1 PER
Giannis Antetokounmpo checks in as an honorable mention for a couple of reasons.
For one, he's just 20 years old, and moderate growth was expected during his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
And two, Antetokounmpo hasn't been prolific enough to be elevated into a new realm of superstardom. While his highlight-reel moments have been positively jaw-dropping, Antetokounmpo's game isn't known on a national level the way more established qualifiers are.
But trust me, there's no ignoring blocks that turn into coast-to-coast trips requiring only a handful of strides. On a raw statistical level, the Greek Freak's scoring average has practically doubled since last season, while his field-goal percentage is up 8.3 points.
"He's doing this while still developing on both ends of the floor and not having a reliable jumper on the offensive end," Steven LeBron wrote for Sports On Earth. "He's working on that aspect of his game, and if it ever comes together, anything is really possible."
Since Antetokounmpo's already a league-average shooter from mid-range armed with unprecedented physical tools, expect him to shed the honorable mention label sooner rather than later.
Jimmy Butler, SG, Chicago Bulls
2 of 8
Age: 25
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 20.0 PTS, 5.8 REB, 3.3 AST, 1.8 STL, 0.5 BLK, 21.3 PER
A year removed from averaging 13.1 points on 39.7 percent shooting, Jimmy Butler has emerged as the Chicago Bulls' steadiest scoring option.
Not only is Butler making opponents pay with an improved three-point stroke (up to 36.7 percent from 28.3), but he's making 7.2 trips to the free-throw line per night. Only five other players—James Harden, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan and DeMarcus Cousins—have hit that tally this season.
Butler owns the league's sixth-most win shares to boot, accounting for more estimated victories than Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, James, Westbrook and Tim Duncan.
"And, of course, he's still pestering opponents with the sort of ferocity and effectiveness that should earn him a second consecutive spot on one of the NBA's All-Defensive squads at season's end," Bleacher Report's Josh Martin wrote.
To cap things off, Butler ranks No. 2 overall among shooting guards in player efficiency rating behind Harden. Dwyane Wade and Klay Thompson occupy the third and fourth spots on that list.
Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz
3 of 8
Age: 22
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 8.2 PTS, 9.4 REB, 2.3 BLK, 1.3 AST, 0.8 STL, 21.5 PER
If a basketball enters Rudy Gobert's orbit, it's generally a safe bet that said ball will wind up getting engulfed by his gargantuan wingspan (7'9").
A hawking presence in the paint, Gobert has transformed from promising prospect with potential to full-blown defensive building block in the span of one season.
Not only are his per-game averages up across the board, but The French Rejection is protecting the rim at a league-best rate. Among players who defend at least five shots at the rim per game, Gobert ranks tops with an opponents' field-goal percentage of 39.7.
"We thought he would be a good player but we didn't know it would happen this soon, to this degree," Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said, according to Brad Rock of the Deseret News. "No one had a crystal ball to say this is what he's going to do in his second year."
Gobert's also averaging 10.9 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks since becoming the full-time starter at center. This season, Andre Drummond and DeAndre Jordan are the only players averaging at least 10 points and 13 boards.
Expect more where that came from.
Draymond Green, PF, Golden State Warriors
4 of 8
Age: 25
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 11.8 PTS, 8.2 REB, 3.7 AST, 1.6 STL, 1.3 BLK, 16.6 PER
Draymond Green isn't just one of the NBA's most improved players; he's also contending with Rudy Gobert and DeAndre Jordan for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Tied with Jordan with a league-leading 5.1 defensive win shares, Green has vaulted into a new stratosphere of recognition thanks to his flexibility.
A willing defender who can switch onto sharpshooting 3s, rangy 4s and even powerful 5s, the Michigan State product has made a name for himself as one of the league's most versatile players.
"His talent comes out most when he plays teams with dominant point guard-power forward combinations, like what you'll find with the Los Angeles Clippers or Trail Blazers," Fred Katz wrote for Fox Sports. "When the Warriors do all that switching and Green doesn't miss a beat, you know he's a special player, especially when you see him guard Chris Paul and Blake Griffin on back-to-back possessions."
Now that Green is putting his diverse range of qualities to work under head coach Steve Kerr, the time has come for him to shine as a legitimate cog the Golden State Warriors can't live without.
Kyle Korver, SG, Atlanta Hawks
5 of 8
Age: 34
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 12.1 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.6 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.6 BLK, 14.7 PER
Kyle Korver's star status has had nothing to do with per-game averages. Rather, it's revolved around his ability to stroke threes at rates elite marksmen can only dream of.
Once threatening to record a 50-50-90 season, Korver has regressed ever so slightly. With three games remaining on the Atlanta Hawks' slate, Korver is posting a filthy slash line of .488/.494/.891, putting him on pace to lead the league in three-point percentage for the second year in a row.
That's right, Korver's shooting threes at a higher clip than twos. At present, Korver's conversion rate from distance trumps his two-point shooting percentage (47.0) by a solid 2.4 points.
It's not like he's doing this on a selective basis, either.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, Korver is on track to become the first player in league history to drill at least 49 percent of his threes while attempting more than five per game.
"I'm amazed every time," Hawks point guard Jeff Teague said, per CBS Sports' James Herbert. "Some of the shots he makes in the game, how far he shoots it, contested shots. I know he's the best shooter I've ever seen, but I think he's probably one of the best shooters to ever step on the basketball court."
With pinpoint accuracy and a rapid release, there's no stopping Korver.
Or containing him, for that matter.
Victor Oladipo, SG, Orlando Magic
6 of 8
Age: 22
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 17.8 PTS, 4.2 AST, 4.2 REB, 1.7 STL, 0.2 BLK, 16.0 PER
The Orlando Magic continue to lack a firm identity or much direction, but Victor Oladipo's second-year emergence has helped ease concerns regarding the team's murky future. He has developed into Orlando's most consistent contributor outside of borderline All-Star Nikola Vucevic.
Not only are Oladipo's shooting splits (.436/.338/.832) trending in a positive direction, but he's using his heralded blend of speed and strength to attempt a higher number of shots at the rim.
During his sophomore campaign, Oladipo's attempted more than 42 percent of his shots inside of three feet—up 4 percent from his rookie season.
Since the All-Star break, Oladipo has scorched opponents to the tune of 20 points per game, which is tied with Blake Griffin and fractional points better than Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler.
A full-blown breakout is still a year or two away, but Oladipo's ability to ward off regression and play to his strengths points to future gains as the Magic seek to climb up the Eastern Conference ladder.
Jeff Teague, PG, Atlanta Hawks
7 of 8
Age: 26
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 16.0 PTS, 7.0 AST, 2.5 REB, 1.7 STL, 0.4 BLK, 20.7 PER
At long last, Jeff Teague doesn't have to be considered underrated.
After the Atlanta Hawks ran roughshod over the Eastern Conference during the regular season, he finally received the props he's long been due.
Orchestrating one of the league's most fluid attacks, Teague is receiving rightful recognition as a high-caliber scorer and distributor. And, according to CBS Sports' James Herbert, Teague credits head coach Mike Budenholzer and the Hawks' free-flowing scheme for allowing him to flourish:
"He just gave me an opportunity to be myself. Not to say that nobody else did, but I guess he believed in me a little more. He put the ball in my hands and gave me an opportunity. And I think he did that for every player in here. I think he puts so much confidence in you and he builds your confidence up so high that you have no choice but to go out there and give it your all.
"
Not only was Teague's breakout season validated in the form of his first-career All-Star nod, but statistics are mighty friendly to his case as an elite floor general.
The 26-year-old point man is one of seven players averaging at least 15 points and seven dimes, and he's touting a player efficiency rating higher than John Wall's, to boot.
He may never be mentioned in the same breath as Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving, but Teague's mastery of Atlanta's system will put him in position to succeed for years to come.
Hassan Whiteside, C, Miami Heat
8 of 8
Age: 25
2014-15 Per-Game Stats: 11.5 PTS, 10.0 REB, 0.1 AST, 2.5 BLK, 0.6 STL, 26.1 PER
Breakout stars don't get much more unique than Hassan Whiteside.
After kicking around the D-League and partaking in overseas competition for the past two seasons, Whiteside made an uneventful, two-minute debut for the Miami Heat on Dec. 1 that consisted of a single rebound and no field-goal attempts.
Since then, Whiteside has erupted as a shot-blocker, lob-finisher and rebounding machine of epic proportions.
Following a 16-point, 18-rebound outing in Saturday's 107-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors, Whiteside is now one of 11 players averaging at least 10 points and 10 rebounds this season. Tack on two blocks to that per-game line, and he's saddled up alongside Anthony Davis and DeAndre Jordan in rare statistical air.
Whiteside is also officially eligible for Most Improved Player honors despite his two-year absence from NBA action, according to the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman.
And with Miami's postseason hopes waning significantly, Whiteside's shot at hardware may be the only silver lining left for the Heat this season.
All statistics are current as of games completed through April 11 and courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com, unless noted otherwise.
