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

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 /

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Mar 4, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside might be higher on this list if he had an attitude that didn’t feature the phrase “sense of entitlement.” But after coming out of nowhere last year, Whiteside will be the Miami Heat’s starting center and is poised to have an even bigger breakout year than 2014-15, when he averaged 11.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in only 23.8 minutes per game.

At 7’0″, Whiteside has the size and the length to be a defensive anchor in the paint. He doesn’t have extensive range on offense, but he’s certainly capable of finishing around the rim — especially with a crafty point guard like Goran Dragic there to set him up for easy alley-oops out of pick-and-roll sets.

To be perfectly honest, Whiteside has all the talent and physical attributes to excel in this league. If he can keep his head on straight, work hard, stop talking s**t to NBA champions and channel that temper into something more productive, he could be a breakout performer in 2015-16.

Next: No. 6