- Jordan Poole will look to be the new offensive leader for the Washington Wizards while they keep rebuilding
- After a season riddled with injuries, Cade Cunningham seems to be on his way to stardom with the Pistons
- Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets are a team to watch out for in the Eastern Conference
The NBA often features stars who exceed expectations and establish themselves as the next in line each season, and with the 2023-24 campaign approaching, some names could break out during the year.
10. Jordan Poole
2022-23 stats: 20.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 25.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
The talented guard of the Washington Wizards recently arrived in DC after being traded from the Golden State Warriors, the team that drafted him with the 28th overall pick in 2019.
Jordan Poole landed on a Wizards team that parted ways with Bradley Beal, their franchise player and is desperately in need of a new perimeter scoring leader who can ignite and take control of a game.
Poole could be the perfect player for Washington, which will be looking to tank for a high pick in the 2024 draft. In his new role, possibly as a starter, he will have the green light in Washington to significantly improve his statistics.
9. John Collins
2022-23 stats: 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 17.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG
The power forward for the Utah Jazz also left his original franchise, the Atlanta Hawks, after being traded this offseason. Similar to the case of Lauri Markkanen after he arrived in Utah from Cleveland, Collins could have his best season yet in a Jazz system that turned the Finn into an All-Star for the franchise.
Collins, now 26 years old, will enter his prime years soon, and a breakout season with Utah will be vital for his next contract. In 2022-23, he averaged 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and shot a somewhat inefficient 29.2% from beyond the arc.
This season, John Collins could surprise a lot of people and show why he is still an elite Power Forward. With Lauri Markkanen beside him, the Jazz could assemble a dynamic frontcourt duo that might lead them at least to the Play-In positions in the Western Conference, where they would look to grab a spot in the postseason.
8. Rui Hachimura
2022-23 stats: 11.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 14.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
The Japanese small forward was a crucial piece for the Los Angeles Lakers in their playoff run, culminating in a deep run to the Western Conference Finals. He played 33 games and started 9 for the team during the 2022-23 season, with averages of 9.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and a 48.7% shooting percentage from the field.
Having taken a relatively low-risk gamble to acquire him before the trade deadline, the Lakers found in Hachimura a player who provided a bit of everything during his brief time wearing the Purple and Gold. With a full preseason with the team, Hachimura’s role may expand for the upcoming season, especially as Anthony Davis and LeBron James continue to age.
So far, Rui has not reached his full potential as a player, and it seems that his fit with the Lakers has helped his style of play, making him one of the standout players for 2024. The Lakers will need their younger players to step up to give LeBron James another ring, and Rui showed flashes of being able to become a key player in the squad for the next season.
7. Cade Cunningham
2022-23 stats: 19.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 23.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
The Detroit Pistons selected Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. In his first season, he played 64 games and averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. In his second season, because of injury, he played only 12 games and averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game.
This summer, his impressive performances with the USA Select Team give hope to the Pistons fans that he is ready to lead them to the NBA Playoffs. Cade is just 22 years old, and this is the perfect time for him to show his talents, skills, and improvement for the 2023-24 season.
Cunningham is set to be the Pistons’ franchise player for years to come, and for now, he hasn’t been able to show his full capacities as a leader of this young team. Detroit got a lot better this past couple of seasons with draft selections and trades, so it is expected that Cade can find a lot of success for the team in the future.
6. Alperen Sengun
2022-23 stats: 14.8 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 17.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.2 BPG
The Turkish center was one of the pleasant surprises for the Houston Rockets last season. His 2022-23 season was very impressive, even without being the team’s volume shooter, as he averaged 14.8 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, and shot 55% from the field with a 33% rate from behind the arc.
With a team that had little chemistry and struggled to fit many individualistic players, his style of play brought a breath of fresh air to the franchise, with his skills in the low post, ability to assist in the paint and touch around the rim drawing comparisons to double NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
With a pure point guard like Fred VanVleet leading the way, Sengun will benefit from pick-and-roll situations and see an increased offensive production for the upcoming season. His understanding of the game is already at an elite level, and with more veteran players on the team he could be even more dangerous as a passer and a scorer in 2024.
5. Tyrese Maxey
2022-23 stats: 20.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 25.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Maxey has taken giant strides in his game over the past few seasons. The arrival of James Harden in Philadelphia could have stunted his growth, but he embraced a secondary role, letting Maxey become an elite scorer when the moment calls for it. In his third season with the 76ers, he made a significant leap in scoring, reaching the 20 PPG mark. The young shooting guard averaged 20.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, and 2.9 RPG, shooting at 48.1% from the field.
However, with James Harden on the decline and seeking a new destination, Maxey’s level will need to be even more remarkable in 2024, potentially putting him on the cusp of an All-Star Game selection in Indiana if he can reach a 25-point average. He showed a polished offensive game that took the NBA by surprise last season, so the Sixers are counting on him to be even better next year when the team will desperately try to compete for a championship.
4. Michael Porter Jr.
2022-23 stats: 17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 20.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Fresh off a season where the Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship, Porter Jr. played a significant role for the Colorado franchise. His last season was already quite impressive, with 17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and a remarkable 41% shooting from beyond the three-point line.
With some departures like Bruce Brown to the Pacers, Denver will need their young forward to elevate his game to replicate the success of past Finals. Porter Jr. has always had a natural talent for scoring from range, and if he can stay injury-free for an extended period, this could be the year where he starts drawing comparisons to players ranked higher than him in the league.
3. Mikal Bridges
2022-23 stats: 20.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 24.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG
After his trade from Phoenix to Brooklyn, the small forward who competed in the FIBA World Cup this summer with Team USA showed that he’s more than just a perimeter defender. He excelled with averages of 20.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, and a lethal 38% from beyond the three-point line.
With a franchise that’s willing to give him offensive freedom, and after significant production on that end in the World Cup, Bridges could enter the 2024 season as the leading scorer for the Nets, unveiling an offensive facet that he couldn’t fully display in Phoenix alongside two offensive All-Stars in Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
In a Brooklyn team where there’s no clear ball-dominant player, Mikal seems to be the team’s primary offensive option, and he is set to take another big step in his offensive development next year for the Nets, carrying more responsibilities and possibly having a big jump in his scoring numbers.
2. Jonathan Kuminga
2022-23 stats: 9.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 13.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG
The young product of the G-League Ignite didn’t see many minutes with the Golden State Warriors despite being chosen as the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft. Kuminga showed signs of being able to create with the ball in his hands, but within the Warriors’ system, his best version played as a forward, using his athleticism to present a threat in the paint without the ball.
With the arrival of Chris Paul and the Warriors’ desperate need to elevate the level of their young pieces, Kuminga could have a breakthrough year coming off the bench.
1. Desmond Bane
2022-23 stats: 21.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Predicted 2023-24 stats: 26.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
During the 2022-23 season, the shooting guard for the Memphis Grizzlies averaged 21.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.0 SPG, while shooting 48% from the field and 40% from beyond the three-point line.
The 25-year-old player has showcased significant skills since being drafted by the franchise. Furthermore, in games where Ja Morant was absent, he always managed to step up and display a polished offensive game, in addition to his growing defensive prowess on the perimeter. Year after year, the TCU product has managed to increase his scoring production, going from 9 to 18 points in his sophomore season, and surpassing the 20-point mark in his third campaign with the Grizzlies.
