Almost every year, you have one or two players who have a breakout season and improve in many aspects of their game. Players that have been medicore throughout their career until one year when they just explode and seem like an entirely different guy. My question to you is, Who will be this year's breakout player? Let's take a look at some guys who have had breakout seasons in the past. 2000-2001 Tracy McGrady Orlando Magic 2001-2002 Jermaine O'Neal Indiana Pacers 2002-2003 Gilbert Arenas Golden State Warriors 2003-2004 Zach Randolph Portland Trail Blazers 2004-2005 Bobby Simmons Los Angeles Clippers These are all talented players and we can only wonder who will be added to that list this year. Will it be a guy who we have never heard of before? Will it be someone like Kwame Brown who never reached their full potential? It is hard to predict something like this but I want to know who you guys think will breakout in 2006 and why.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jumpman:</div><div class="quote_post">I think it will either be Darius Miles or Kwame Brown.</div> the only way darius miles will have a breakout year will be if he got locked up and then escaped
I think it will be Tyson Chandler. I just think after getting a big contract from the bulls he'll step it up. However thats based on my understanding that the contract is full of incentives.
Joe Johnson - He's kinda obligated to break out. Chris Bosh - He will breakout this year and put up something in the range of 19-9-3 numbers. Josh Howard - He will get more shots with Finley gone, and with Christie who's more of a defensive guy being put into the starting lineup. Something like 15-6-2 is possible. Travis Outlaw should get a lot more minutes on the Blazers, and he has improved his handles and jumper a lot, so he should produce. Something like 12-5-2. Marko Jaric - He's starting now, and if he can stay healthy, and get minutes, he'll do good, I don't know if I can really say "breakout" though, but he will have a good season. Luke Ridnour - He should continue to improve and progress from last year, and with AD gone, he will have more of an oppurtunity, and will get to play down the stretch more. Kwame Brown - He can really help the Lakers, and if he get's the minutes can give them a solid 12-13 points, and 8-9 rebounds. Marquis Daniels - I'm not sure how the minutes are working in Dallas, but given an oppurtunity, he can produce. Mickeal Pietrus - Any year now, we're still waiting, but he has to prove he can play smart, and stay on the floor, and getting minutes with J-Rich and Dunleavy Jr will be hard. Stromile Swift - He's finally starting, and he should give the Rockets about 13 PPG, 8 RPG, and 2 BPG. Mike Sweetney - It has to happen sometime doesn't it? If he can stay on the floor, and play, he can produce fairly well for the Knicks. I don't want to mention 2nd year players because it's kinda expected for them to improve after one year in the league learning and adjusting, but: Dwight Howard - It's just the beginning, I expect him to put up about 16-10 and 1.8 BPG this coming season. Al Jefferson - He should be the starting PF now, and with his interior skills, and scoring/rebounding ability, he can put up about 13-9 for the Celts this year. JR Smith - It's him Paul, and Magloire on the team. He will get shots, and if he can get minutes, he can be a big scorer, putting up close the 15 PPG for the Hornets. Guys that will improve, but not really "breakout" yet: Luol Deng - He will go to the 13-6-3 range, but I think his breakout year will be 06-07. Andre Igoudala - Same with Deng, 06-07 is his year, but this coming season, he'll give Philly about 12-6-3. Shaun Livingston - If he starts he will be up there in the league in assists. As a starter with about 32-34 MPG, he'll give something in the 12 PPG and 6-7 APG range. Sebestian Telfair - He could also be starting, and as a highschool guy, adjusting to the NBA is big. He will have to battle with Jack for minutes, but 10 points and 5-6 assists is possible.
I think any of the following: Josh Howard, Stephen Jackson, Kwame Brown, Luke Ridnour, Shaun Livingston, Tyson Chandler, Josh Smith, Troy Murphy, Stromile Swift, Joel Pryzbilla
I got to go with Joe Johnson, he should see lots of shots in Atlanta, and I think alot of this depends on opportunity. I also like Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and my longshots are James Posey and Devin Brown (depending on opportunity).
I am going to exclude second year players for this one but I do think Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, and Al Jefferson will all become elite players this season. Michael Sweetney is one player that I feel will do great things this season for the New York Knicks. As well as Luke Ridnour as he now is starting for the Sonics and not splitting time with Daniels. At last, Josh Howard, of the Mavs who is going to start getting some major minutes and possibly breakout.
I think Swift will break out with better numbers now that he is a starting Rocket. GP-MIN/G---PPG---REB/G---AST/G---BPG---FG % 60-21.3----10.1--4.5-------0.7-----1.53---44.9 to GP-MIN/G---PPG---REB/G---AST/G--BPG---FG % 78-36------16.3---9-------1.6-----4-5----53.5 Yes significant improvement. But he will be coached by Jeff Van Gundy. He will know his place and know which shots he can take. He will have a lot of put backs. His blocks will be so much better, because of more minutes, and we have slow guards at houston so he will have to stio the ones that get by. I don't want to type out all of the reasons I know he will get (atleast) those numbers, but if you strongly doubt one then question me and I will tell you why. Another breakout...Kirk Hinrich. Did you see him in the playoffs last year?
Did everyone forget about Dalembert? Remeber he never had the season that he was poised to have. For the last two/three years he was projected to have a breakout year but every season there is always something that comes up such as last season O'Brien at times didn't even play him at all. But when it came to the point where he HAD to play Dalembert, Dalembert was averaging 12 PPG, 12 RPG along with 2.5 BPG against the defending champions in his first playoff series. So when you take that and top it off with the fact that he is now more experienced, confident and a lot of people are expecting big things from him I think this is finally the season when Dalembert will finally break out. They gave him those big bucks for a reason and I think he will show why he deserved those $$$. Another player(s) I think that will have a breakout, or more like a noticeable season is Maurice Evans and Josh Smith. I think Maurice will make himself known while Smith will make a significant amount of improvement.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">Did everyone forget about Dalembert? Remeber he never had the season that he was poised to have. For the last two/three years he was projected to have a breakout year but every season there is always something that comes up such as last season O'Brien at times didn't even play him at all. But when it came to the point where he HAD to play Dalembert, Dalembert was averaging 12 PPG, 12 RPG along with 2.5 BPG against the defending champions in his first playoff series. So when you take that and top it off with the fact that he is now more experienced, confident and a lot of people are expecting big things from him I think this is finally the season when Dalembert will finally break out. They gave him those big bucks for a reason and I think he will show why he deserved those $$$. Another player(s) I think that will have a breakout, or more like a noticeable season is Maurice Evans and Josh Smith. I think Maurice will make himself known while Smith will make a significant amount of improvement.</div> That's a very good point Avery. With Marc Jackson out of Philly, Dalembert should get more opputunities to shine and I think he will step and improve. I think we will see something like 13-9 with 2 BPG from Sammy D if he can stay consistent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ItsShowtyme24:</div><div class="quote_post">Josh Howard,love that kids game.My sleeper is JR Smith</div> JR Smith is a great choice, he's ready to become a scoring machine this year, and with a PG to run the floor with him, he'll fill up the buckets this year. My breakout player is Nene. He's in the final year of his contract, and as we've seen time and time again, players usually give their best effort when they are in line for a huge pay day. Nene will be showcasing all his talent this season to increase his value. The Nuggets should give him more playing time to see if he's worth a $10M contract, and ready to push Camby to the bench.
I think the breakout players will be: Stromile Swift, he's athletic as hell and with Yao on the inside beside him and T-Mac from the outside he's gonna be left open when one of the two get double teamed and with increased minutes he'll increase his productivity as well. Josh Smith, yes the Slam Dunk Champion. With JJ playing point and getting the majority of the shots Smith will most likely be playing the 4 more than the 3 where as last year it was reversed, Smith is athletic he can rebound and play D. Smith will get more minutes this year and less pressure, with JJ here and Childress being the former 6th overall pick they'll be in the spotlight while Smith will be silently putting up stats that you dont realize the value of until the end of the season. Al Jefferson, is a beast and its the same deal as with Stro. More minutes more productivity.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Joe Johnson - He's kinda obligated to break out. Chris Bosh - He will breakout this year and put up something in the range of 19-9-3 numbers. Josh Howard - He will get more shots with Finley gone, and with Christie who's more of a defensive guy being put into the starting lineup. Something like 15-6-2 is possible. Travis Outlaw should get a lot more minutes on the Blazers, and he has improved his handles and jumper a lot, so he should produce. Something like 12-5-2. Marko Jaric - He's starting now, and if he can stay healthy, and get minutes, he'll do good, I don't know if I can really say "breakout" though, but he will have a good season. Luke Ridnour - He should continue to improve and progress from last year, and with AD gone, he will have more of an oppurtunity, and will get to play down the stretch more. Kwame Brown - He can really help the Lakers, and if he get's the minutes can give them a solid 12-13 points, and 8-9 rebounds. Marquis Daniels - I'm not sure how the minutes are working in Dallas, but given an oppurtunity, he can produce. Mickeal Pietrus - Any year now, we're still waiting, but he has to prove he can play smart, and stay on the floor, and getting minutes with J-Rich and Dunleavy Jr will be hard. Stromile Swift - He's finally starting, and he should give the Rockets about 13 PPG, 8 RPG, and 2 BPG. Mike Sweetney - It has to happen sometime doesn't it? If he can stay on the floor, and play, he can produce fairly well for the Knicks. I don't want to mention 2nd year players because it's kinda expected for them to improve after one year in the league learning and adjusting, but: Dwight Howard - It's just the beginning, I expect him to put up about 16-10 and 1.8 BPG this coming season. Al Jefferson - He should be the starting PF now, and with his interior skills, and scoring/rebounding ability, he can put up about 13-9 for the Celts this year. JR Smith - It's him Paul, and Magloire on the team. He will get shots, and if he can get minutes, he can be a big scorer, putting up close the 15 PPG for the Hornets. Guys that will improve, but not really "breakout" yet: Luol Deng - He will go to the 13-6-3 range, but I think his breakout year will be 06-07. Andre Igoudala - Same with Deng, 06-07 is his year, but this coming season, he'll give Philly about 12-6-3. Shaun Livingston - If he starts he will be up there in the league in assists. As a starter with about 32-34 MPG, he'll give something in the 12 PPG and 6-7 APG range. Sebestian Telfair - He could also be starting, and as a highschool guy, adjusting to the NBA is big. He will have to battle with Jack for minutes, but 10 points and 5-6 assists is possible.</div> Nice list OG! Cannot disagree with many there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">Did everyone forget about Dalembert? Remeber he never had the season that he was poised to have. For the last two/three years he was projected to have a breakout year but every season there is always something that comes up such as last season O'Brien at times didn't even play him at all. But when it came to the point where he HAD to play Dalembert, Dalembert was averaging 12 PPG, 12 RPG along with 2.5 BPG against the defending champions in his first playoff series. So when you take that and top it off with the fact that he is now more experienced, confident and a lot of people are expecting big things from him I think this is finally the season when Dalembert will finally break out. They gave him those big bucks for a reason and I think he will show why he deserved those $$$. Another player(s) I think that will have a breakout, or more like a noticeable season is Maurice Evans and Josh Smith. I think Maurice will make himself known while Smith will make a significant amount of improvement.</div> I forgot about Dalmbert, but Mo Evans is on the Pistons now isn't he? He won't get nearly as much PT as he would've seen in Sacramento, I like him though. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">My breakout player is Nene. He's in the final year of his contract, and as we've seen time and time again, players usually give their best effort when they are in line for a huge pay day. Nene will be showcasing all his talent this season to increase his value. The Nuggets should give him more playing time to see if he's worth a $10M contract, and ready to push Camby to the bench.</div> I like Nene too, and I was going to put him, but unless Camby get's injured or something, he won't see enough PT on the Nuggets to breakout this coming season.
Since I'm a die hard Laker fan, I'm goin w/ Kwame Brown. I think he can be even better than Jermaine O'Neal.
