NBA 2010-11: Five Third-Year Players Poised to Make the All-Star Jump
The 2007 NBA Draft has shown to be one of the most talented drafts in recent history.
Kevin Durant is the shining star who is on top of a gifted group of players who have only played professionally for three years.
Durant, the star of the USA Team thatโs playing in the FIBA World Championship right now in Turkey, is still developing and some believe his upside is high enough to place him above LeBron James as the NBAโs best player.
And just like Durant, many of the players on this list possess the potential to be legitimate stars, and that could come sooner rather than later.
Al Horford
1 of 5
Al Horford is definitely among the rising third-year players in the NBA.
Horfordโs numbers improved all around in 2009-10 (14.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 55.1 percent shooting) and he was a more chief member of a developing Atlanta Hawks squad.
If he can keep getting better this season, Horford will have a great chance at making the All Star Game.
But, to go along with playing against Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard, Horford will have to match Chris Bosh at times too.
Still, Horford is one of the better young big men, and he looks to still have a good amount of upside.
Jeff Green
2 of 5
Jeff Green is a good young player, with the potential to be great.
Despite regressing a bit last season, his numbers were still solid (15.1 PPG, 6 RPG) and his Thunder were the surprise team in the Western Conference.
Green, Durant, and Russell Westbrook form a formidable trio in Oklahoma City, and they pushed the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to a six-game series.
Green is better on the inside, but he does possess an outside game as well, plus heโs learning how to pass better.
What hurts Green is that his size makes him a tweener. He isnโt really big enough to play power forward (6โ9โ 235 pounds) and Durant already plays at the small forward spot.
Green will be overshadowed by Durant, but if he can play really well, Green could earn a place on the All Star team as well.
Joakim Noah
3 of 5
Noah is a big man with energy that never seems to run out.
Noah saw the most significant improvement last season in points (6.7-10.7) and rebounds (7.6-11.0) on the list, and he could be even better than averaging a double-double some day.
Along with Carlos Boozer and Derrick Rose, Noah, and the Bulls will be players in the Eastern Conference this year, and beyond.
Rodney Stuckey
4 of 5
Rodney Stuckey is a talented young guard. Heโs shown the ability to be a streaky scorer, and heโs working to become more consistent overall.
Stuckey obviously worked the hardest on filling up the bucket, as his scoring numbers (16.6 PPG) ballooned.
Stuckeyโs rebounding numbers also went up a bit (3.5-3.8), but his assist numbers were stagnant.
If he wants to be an All-Star in the East, Stuckey must be both more dependable and more rounded on the hardwood.
But, it looks like the future is bright for this young stud, Stuckey.
Aaron Brooks
5 of 5
Brooks is a speedy young point guard, and heโs proven hard to defend for many opponents as of late.
Brooks has developed quickly, and as the full-time starter now, his numbers are much improved (19.6 PPG, 5.3 APG).
Really, Brooks is the closest on this list to being on an All-Star team now, but there is so much competition at his position in the West (CP3, Deron Williams) that heโs got an uphill battle to shine brighter than them.
Still, Brooksโ skill set (great shooterโs touch and athletic ability) gives him the potential to be one of the best players in the NBA.
