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NBA: 15 Young Players In Need Of A Breakout Season In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 20, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) drives to he basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first quarter at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) drives to he basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first quarter at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Heading into the 2016-17 NBA season, here’s a look at 15 young players who are in desperate need of a breakout year.

NBA
Oct 20, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) drives to he basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first quarter at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

In a league where only one of 30 teams wins the championship every year, the other 29 NBA fan bases are constantly looking for a way to console themselves. This is a cyclical league, where contenders fall far more quickly than they rise, and every franchise that’s stuck in a rebuilding phase is constantly looking ahead to the next big thing.

Because of this, fans and NBA experts alike take as much joy in watching young players with upside try to establish themselves as they do watching big-name superstars like LeBron James or Stephen Curry achieve everlasting glory in the playoffs.

In essence, the NBA is always looking for the next big thing, reveling in every painful but necessary step that it takes to get to the top.

Related Story: 10 NBA Players On Their Last Chance In 2016-17

However, not every player with upside makes it in this league. From draft busts to unfulfilled flashes of potential, there are plenty of young players under the age of 25 that fail to put it all together and become more than just average role players.

Heading into a new NBA season, there are plenty of players who are on the verge of fitting that description. Here’s a look at 15 youngsters who drastically need a breakout season in 2016-17 in order to prove their worth to their current team, set themselves up for a better payday in free agency next summer…or stay in the league altogether.

Honorable Mentions:  Tim Hardaway Jr., R.J. Hunter, James Young, Anthony Bennett, Thomas Robinson, Reggie Bullock, Ray McCallum, Ian Clark, James Michael McAdoo, Donatas Motiejunas, Jordan Adams, P.J. Hairston, John Henson, Cleanthony Early, Jerami Grant and Nik Stauskas

Next: No. 15