10 Athletes We Can't Wait to Watch This Fall
With the 2016 Summer Olympics officially over, we now have our sights on fall and all of the great things in sports that go along with it.
We know the NFL, NHL and NBA kick into regular-season gear, while baseball turns into postseason mode. It's truly a glorious time for fans to gather and huddle around the TV.
Fall also means we tend to focus on certain athletes. These are people who are either poised to break out, just enjoyed lofty finances or are looking for a rebirth of sorts.
The list you're about to embark on features 10 athletes we can't wait to watch this fall. Perusing through the entire landscape of sports, each name we're going to talk about comes equipped with a compelling narrative.
Find out more by starting the slideshow below.
Kevin Durant
1 of 10
Kevin Durant has had quite the summer. Between his decision to leave Oklahoma City for the Golden State Warriors and championing the United States men's basketball team to a gold medal, KD has reshaped himself.
You have to be some sort of glutton for punishment if you don't want to watch Durant take the court this fall. He's embraced the dark side of the force, creating a superteam in Northern California. For that reason alone, Durant should become the center of attention.
With the Warriors, Durant's role could also be altered. Instead of anchoring a franchise with Russell Westbrook, he'll now be able to suit up with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The combination is riveting, and watching Durant try to mesh with this offense is going to be incredibly fun on its own account.
There are few athletes we can't watch to watch as much as KD. The longtime forward and member of the NBA's scoring society is going to grab plenty of headlines this fall.
Tom Brady
2 of 10
Tom Brady's hunt for redemption is set for another run at your local NFL stadium—remember Brady's post-Deflategate performance last season after getting his suspension overturned? With Deflategate officially in the books, Brady will serve a four-game suspension before he's allowed to return to the field.
It's what happens after he gets back that the world will be waiting to see. Will Brady's suspension serve as a healthy dose of jet fuel? Can the New England Patriots quarterback step back into the starting role and carry his team to an eighth-consecutive division crown?
The 39-year-old hasn't stopped producing yet. Last season he threw for 36 touchdowns and 4,770 yards. Nothing and no one has been able to put the brakes on No. 12. He's shown zero signs of slowing down.
Watching him return from this final chapter of Deflategate is a storyline NFL and sports fans in general simply can't afford to miss.
Finn Balor
3 of 10
WWE's era of ushering in new talent officially took shape at SummerSlam when Finn Balor defeated Seth Rollins for the newly constructed WWE Universal Championship, as Bleacher Report's Mike Chiari detailed.
Balor's pedigree in the wrestling world is close to being unmatched. He's wrestled all over the planet, showcasing his will to win. On top of that, his persona is alarmingly infectious and his in-ring ability is second to none.
With the new title strapped to his waist, Balor should take the coming fall months by storm. Headlining the Raw brand, he was able to make the leap from NXT—the WWE's developmental brand—to being the franchise player on the flagship show in just over a month.
Fall looks like a time where even casual fans can get lost in the Balor hype. He's a rare Superstar who can work all styles on the mat and put five-star matches on display night in and night out.
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Robert Griffin III
4 of 10
There are so many reasons to watch Robert Griffin III this year that there honestly could be an entire slideshow dedicated to the reasons why.
But the gist of it is, Griffin is on a self-inflicted journey toward salivation. The former No. 2 pick in the NFL draft has seen his career go from being a superstar to a player who struggled with injuries, the media and coaching.
Griffin's journey led him to the Cleveland Browns at what appears to be the perfect time. First-year head coach Hue Jackson has spent the better part of 13 years creating offensive masterpieces—Jackson became Washington's offensive coordinator in 2003.
With Jackson as his tutor, Griffin has managed to wrangle the starting quarterback job in Cleveland. In two preseason games, he's already looked extraordinary.
"It may only be Week 2 of the preseason, but Robert Griffin III is balling out, and I, for one, am ready to get excited about RG3 again," wrote Matt Borcas of The Ringer. He's spot-on. Griffin has shown poise, a willingness to stay in the pocket and has displayed vintage RG3 arm strength.
Should we be excited? Who knows? It is Cleveland sports at the end of the day. But seeing Griffin this preseason has us giddy for the prospect of him slinging the rock this fall.
Connor McDavid
5 of 10
Connor McDavid is 19 years old. He's next in line to take over the National Hockey League. McDavid also carries the Edmonton Oilers' rich history of superstardom with him—a history enriched with the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.
Will this fall begin the coronation of McDavid's legend?
His rookie year lasted a mere 45 games—thanks to injury—where he netted 16 goals and 32 assists. In that span he proved the hype surrounding him is worthy, floating around the ice, netting goals and setting up his teammates with enough style and flare to give you flashbacks of vintage SportsCenter montages.
Writing about the chances he will be named captain of the Oilers, Marcy Di Michelle of the Hockey Writers summed up what McDavid represents: "Connor McDavid is a superstar in waiting. It’s largely expected he will become the best player in the world at some point. He was a first overall pick. He’s been a leader throughout his time in hockey."
We'll see early on if he's ready to make the jump to superstardom. This fall will determine if we're about to enter of the age of McDavid.
Ben Simmons
6 of 10
The Philadelphia 76ers have pushed all of their chips to the center of the table by selecting Ben Simmons with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
Emerging from the unlikely depths of LSU, Simmons has been tasked with finally turning around the 76ers' misfortunes. He's the team's best shot of turning this franchise around.
This is a team who last made the NBA playoffs in 2012 with a 35-31 record. Since then, the road has been trudging further and further downhill, culminating with 10 wins last season.
Ben Detrick over at The Ringer called him "the jumbo-size Jason Kidd." He honestly can be that good. Combine passing ability, lane-slashing ways and evolving offense game and what you get is a multitalented player this team needs to lean on.
It might not happen this year or even next year. But, eventually, the Simmons wave will eventually captivate people representing all walks of life. This fall, watch out for the initial season of Simmons' 76ers.
David Johnson
7 of 10
The Arizona Cardinals could have the NFL's top halfback when the 2016 season is all said and done.
David Johnson, the second-year runner, is becoming a weapon worthy of hype and headlines. NFL Media columnist Adam Schein mentioned Johnson as a sleeper choice for Offensive Player of the Year. "This 24-year-old is a multitalented terror in the backfield," Schein wrote.
He's already looking like a receiving threat of unimaginable proportions. With the pass-happy Bruce Arians calling plays out in Arizona, that fact is something fantasy football owners will salivate over.
Johnson has only had one season as a pro. He used said season to black out the stat sheet, racking up 581 rushing yards, 457 receiving yards and scoring 12 total touchdowns in only five starts.
Watching him this fall will let the world know if he really is the next big thing in football.
Bryce Harper
8 of 10
Unless there's a complete meltdown in the nation's capital, the Washington Nationals should be able to jump into the 2016 MLB postseason. A 73-50 record has the club in first place in the National League East.
Bryce Harper will be a player to watch this fall if the Nationals are to make any sort of World Series push. The reigning NL MVP has to find himself.
There's no hiding it. Harper has struggled this year. Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated wrote about the outfielder's continued issues after a hot start: "Harper's batting average this year is the lowest of his career by 28 points, the product of an NL-low .248 batting average on balls in play, down from a career-high .369 last year and a career mark of .333 coming into the season."
We will watch with an informative eye to see whether Harper can turn things around this fall. Despite his issues at the plate, the Nationals have managed to pull away within their division. But playoffs tend to be a different story. Everything is compressed, meaning Harper's performance will be magnified.
This fall, the former MVP will have to answer the bell and prove he's worth his weight in gold.
Paul Pogba
9 of 10
Money makes the world go around. It also makes us watch athletes with an even sharper eye when they receive generous funds.
Take Paul Pogba for example. Manchester United's reinvention took on its current shape when Pogba was transferred from Juventus for a record-breaking fee, per Jefferson Lake of Sky Sports.
The 23-year-old now has a chance to carry United into the future and put the Reds atop the Premier League.
We probably won't see stunning goal-scoring totals reminiscent of Lionel Messi, but that's not who Pogba is, despite manager Jose Mourinho's grandiose expectations. He's a different type of player.
Pogba is a controlling, physical force who sets the tone from his position in midfield. He's the complete package, and this fall we'll see if he can live up to the lofty expectations set before him.
Blake Griffin
10 of 10
Blake Griffin has gone from leaping over a Kia Optima to being a forgotten man in Los Angeles.
The narrative about Griffin representing the franchise has started to deteriorate. This offseason, things went into overdrive when Griffin was subject to a relentless swath of trade rumors. Bleacher Report's Tim Daniels gathered all of those reports in one spot.
A laundry list of comments, ranging from Griffin's injury history to whether the Boston Celtics would attain his services, flooded the airwaves. So far, he remains a member of the Clippers.
Watching what he'll do this fall is going to be entertaining. Having your name thrown around the internet almost begs for extra media attention. Coming off another major injury adds more gas to the fire.
Griffin is sensationally talented. We know this. "The Clippers forward possesses a rare blend of force and fluidity. Athletes that explosive and that agile don’t come around very often," The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor wrote.
Naturally, if the Clippers are to find any ground in the Western Conference, Griffin has to shine. This fall we'll find out if that becomes a reality.
All stats, box scores and information via Sports-Reference.com, unless noted otherwise.
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