All NBA players are asked to step up at some point of their careers, and either because they’re more experienced, injuries, roster changes or whatever, they just need to deliver when it matters the most or just hit the road.
Year in and year out, coaches work around the clock to try and find their best lineups to match up perfectly against their rivals, and as the season progress, they have a better inside on who should play and who shouldn’t.
For what we’ve seen after a week of NBA basketball, we can be sure that this trend is likely to continue, and that some players will actually outplay some of their teammates. Today, we’re going to let you know about 10 players that will have a larger role this season as the year goes by.
NBA Veterans
10. Derrick Rose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMqCvabt_8w
Derrick Rose has looked like his former self in the handful of appearances he’s made this season. He’s been explosive, confident, aggressive and has shown all of his offensive repertoires so far, as he finally looks motivated.
If Rose can stay healthy, and of course, that’s a big If; he’s going to be one of the frontrunners to take home the 6th Man of the Year Award, and could even wind up replacing an aging Jeff Teague who has vastly disappointed in Minnesota.
9. Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade has already made it official by stating that this will be his last season, a “last dance”, if you may. Obviously, after embracing a lesser role over the last couple of years, seeing him start will be quite difficult this season.
Even so, considering that he’s going on his farewell tour and will be highly motivated to take his team to the playoffs, we can definitely expect him to pile up a lot of minutes as the season goes by.
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Young Players
8. Malik Monk
Malik Monk was one of the most disappointing players of his class last year, as he struggled with his shot all year long after being a walking bucket in NCAA. His confidence looked way off, and he lost minutes as the season went by.
Even so, with the Charlotte Hornets looking to rebuild and most likely knowing that they’re going to have to trade Kemba Walker, it would be dumb of them not letting their young stud grow through his mistakes and start over Jeremy Lamb.
7. Mo Bamba
The Orlando Magic is likely to trade away free-agent-to-be Nikola Vucevic at some point of the season, so Mo Bamba is definitely going to be the team’s starting big man at the end of this year.
His offensive game is way ahead of schedule, his defensive awareness is surprising, and his upside is just terrific. Also, the team has already committed to finding minutes for him, pairing him up with Vucevic and even Aaron Gordon.
6. Marvin Bagley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-rG-1_IIM
When the Sacramento Kings drafted Marvin Bagley with the 2nd overall pick, we all thought they were kind of reaching and judging for what we’ve seen out of the big man so far, we’re kind of disappointed right now.
Even so, and even with their crowded frontcourt, the Kings are going to find a way to give Bagley minutes so he can eventually step up as the team’s starting power forward.
5. Collin Sexton
Collin Sexton was one of the most impressive players during preseason and Summer League, showing glimpses of greatness and that even though he was still a bit rough, he had a bright future entering his first year in the NBA.
Sexton is an aggressive scorer and playmaker, and with the Cavs being nowhere near Championship contention, they’re just going to let their young point guard pulls the string of the offense while George Hill takes the backseat.
4. Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis has been great off the bench so far this season and has even outplayed Myles Turner, to be honest. Still, with the franchise committing in the latter, he’s unlikely to take his starting spot, but joining him in the lineup would be a wise choice.
That way, Thadd Young will shift to the second unit to work as their 6th man, while Sabonis continues to impress as a solid, reliable scorer from inside and outside the restricted area, while Turner makes up for his defensive flaws.
3. Bam Adebayo
Bam Adebayo got off to a very strong second half of last year’s season and he really impressed coach Erik Spoelstra, even taking most of Hassan Whiteside’s minutes in crunch time after the All-Star break.
With Whiteside likely done with the Miami Heat and the team trying to move their athletic big man, the door will be wide open for Bam Adebayo to establish himself as a 15-10 kind of guy in over 36 minutes of play.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh045gs4PnE
The Clippers got one of the most intriguing prospects in the Draft in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and it didn’t take long for the point guard to impress during summer league while showing his two-way impact.
Gilgeous-Alexander is likely going to take Patrick Beverley’s starting spot, considering he’s set to become the franchise’s starting point guard for the future, and that he’s got the upside to become one of the best defensive guards in the league.
1. Julius Randle
Even though Julius Randle is coming off the bench, he’s playing starters minutes and has been a beast ever since joining the Pelicans, and a Mirotic – Randle – Davis frontcourt is just scary as hell.
Randle has vastly improved as a shooter and a ball handler, and the Pelicans would be better off just throwing him into the starting 5 and sending Moore to the second unit as their offensive spark off the bench.
