With the 2024-25 NBA regular season a little more than a week away, here's a look at five players well-suited to make a leap toward basketball stardom.
2023-24 statistics:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 54 | 42.7 | 81.4 | 4 | 4.5 | 19.1 |
The Oklahoma City Thunder will need Williams to develop further as a two-way star beside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander if they want to become a bona fide championship contender. The 23-year-old wing has steadily improved over two NBA seasons, capitalizing on his increased opportunity last campaign as the Thunder made the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Williams increased his scoring average by five points between his rookie and sophomore seasons, inching closer to becoming a 20-point-per-game scorer. His efficiency also shot up from his debut campaign, ranking in the top 20 in effective field-goal percentage for all wings last season, according to Cleaning the Glass. Williams continued his consistency from the regular season into the playoffs, ranking second on OKC with 18.7 points per game over 10 playoff contests. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.7 steals in the postseason.
Over the offseason, the Thunder swapped out Josh Giddey, an offensively oriented player, for two defensively focused additions: Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. While they'll have their own roles in coach Mark Daigneault's offensive system, Caruso and Hartenstein shouldn't take shots away from Williams and the rest of the Thunder's key scorers. With championship expectations beginning for OKC, Williams can be the catalyst helping them reach the next step.
2023-24 statistics:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | 52.9 | 32.1 | 74.6 | 4.8 | 2.2 | 16.1 |
The Golden State Warriors will look rather different this season after moving franchise icon Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks. Head coach Steve Kerr has already said that every starting spot - apart from Steph Curry's - is up for grabs. If the Warriors want to get out of the dreaded play-in game, they'll need Kuminga to take one of those starting spots and run with it. Fortunately for Kuminga, his size and athleticism at the wing position are something his team desperately needs.
The 22-year-old cracked Golden State's starting lineup 46 times last season and averaged career bests in points, rebounds, and assists. The rim pressure he created as a downhill driver contributed to most of his improvement. Curry (8.9) was the only Warrior to average more drives per game than Kuminga's 6.2 in 2023-24. And despite his increased usage, Kuminga has decreased his turnover rate each year.
Kerr will likely have to lean heavily on Kuminga this campaign, with his development playing a key factor in determining Golden State's success. However, Kuminga's usage should shoot through the roof considering Thompson is gone, Curry and Draymond Green are a year older, and Andrew Wiggins' status is still unknown. The former lottery pick is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and can expect a big payday should things go well in 2024-25.
2023-24 statistics:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 49.8 | 35.7 | 80.4 | 2.1 | 4.1 | 9.2 |
Nembhard exceeded expectations in his first postseason, averaging almost 15 points on 56% field-goal shooting in the Pacers' improbable run to the Eastern Conference finals last season. Few people counted on Nembhard to increase his scoring average from the regular season, but his offense proved helpful behind the team's three leading scorers - Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, and Myles Turner.
Nembhard's best series came in the conference finals, averaging 21 points and almost eight assists against the eventual champion Boston Celtics. Despite the sweep, Indiana lost by single digits in three of the four defeats in the series, staying in every contest except Game 2's 16-point loss. Nembhard also delivered timely buckets against the New York Knicks in the semifinals, including a memorable step-back triple over Jalen Brunson to secure Indiana's first win of the series.
With the Pacers on the rise, the organization rewarded Nembhard by declining his team option for the 2025-26 season and signing him to a three-year, $59-million contract. While Bennedict Mathurin could challenge for minutes when he returns from injury, Nembhard's new contract, outstanding playoff showing, and growing connection to the team's stars should keep him in the starting lineup with an opportunity to take another step.
2023-24 statistics:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 47.1 | 39.7 | 75.6 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 12.6 |
At just 23 years old, Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has become one of the NBA's most feared defenders despite being listed at just 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds. While playing for the league's third-best defense, Suggs led Orlando in deflections per game (2.5), loose balls recovered (0.8), and steals (1.4) to earn his first All-Defensive team nod.
Suggs is undoubtedly an elite defender, but his offensive growth is why he's primed for a breakout year. He shot a putrid 21.6% from three and 59% at the rim in 2022-23 before improving those averages to 40% from deep and 68% at the basket last season. The growth of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as primary ball-handlers has let Suggs grow into the role of an elite play-finisher. No longer asked to create shots for himself, Suggs has become one of the most efficient 3-and-D players in the Association.
The Magic will again ask the former fifth overall pick to hound opposing ball-handlers while he continues to grow his offensive game. This young team will need a breakout year from Suggs if it wants to improve on last season's 47-35 record.
2023-24 statistics:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 49.5 | 36 | 71.5 | 5.4 | 3.3 | 20.2 |
At just 24 years old, Barrett seems poised to make the next leap in his career at home in Toronto. Coming over in a midseason trade from the Knicks, Barrett was seen as a throw-in as part of the deal that helped the Raptors acquire a new lead guard in Immanuel Quickley for defensive stalwart OG Anunoby. While Quickley improved as a scorer and playmaker in a full-time starting role, Barrett flashed a sustainable scoring presence that fans have hoped for since the Knicks drafted him third overall in 2019.
In 32 games with the Raptors, Barrett averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 33.5 minutes per contest. He increased his efficiency with his new team, shooting 55.3% from the field and 39.2% from three and posting a 60.1 effective field-goal percentage. A slightly altered shot diet helped Barrett's numbers, as he decreased his 3-point attempts from 5.0 to 3.8 and raised his 2-point attempts from 9.9 to 11.6 between the Knicks and Raptors.
Playing for a relatively young team that'll need consistent scoring, there's a role for Barrett as the dependable wing who can get a bucket when the offense gets stagnant. With two playmakers like Quickley and All-Star forward Scottie Barnes flanking him, Barrett can expand beyond his strong finish to last season and take another leap as a scorer.
