NBA: 10 Candidates For A Breakout Season In 2015-16

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Jan 13, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) breaks with the ball as he is chased by Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Bucks 116-94. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Unlike other professional sports leagues, the NBA is fairly methodical and at times, even predictable. In the NFL, MLB or even the NHL, a team that gets hot right before the start of the playoffs could just as easily win it all as the team that dominated the entire regular season. In the NBA, however, you can usually single out 2-4 teams as the title favorites based on the 82-game regular season. In the NBA, the best team usually wins the title in the end.

Bearing that in mind, we also know who the NBA’s best players are. We know that LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and James Harden are all the kinds of superstars capable of leading a team to the promised land. So what incentive is there for NBA fans to care about the non-superstar players, or the superstar players on non-contenders?

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Well, because as much as we enjoy the premier players, the NBA is always looking for the next great thing. As sports fans, nobody wants to believe that what they’ve already seen is as good as it’s going to get. There would be no excitement in basketball if we couldn’t wonder whether or not we’re witnessing something that the world has never seen before.

Heading into the 2015-16 season, there are tons of young, talented players on the rise, but which ones are due for the biggest breakout campaigns? To answer that question, it’s time to take a look at 10 players who could be due for breakout seasons.

Even if none of the players on the list will rise to superstardom next year, these are the players who should be on everyone’s radar because of their potential or an expanded role that could have them destined to make “the leap” next season.

Honorable Mentions: Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, Reggie Jackson, Zach LaVine, Nikola Mirotic, Nik Stauskas

Note: Franchise players like Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Davis were not included here because they were too obvious. No duh they’re going to be monsters soon, they’re already monsters as it is.

Next: No. 10