Hoops Habit
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Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 24

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 18, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Utah Jazz power forward Derrick Favors (15) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 89-69. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Utah Jazz power forward Derrick Favors (15) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 89-69. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks (10) sits courtside during warm-ups prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Alec Burks

Alec Burks has been sidelined since late December with an ankle injury, but he seemed poised for a breakout season with Dante Exum out and plenty of minutes available in the backcourt. Through the first 28 games of the season, Burks averaged a career-high 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 38.7 percent shooting from three-point range.

Early in the season, Burks was a frontrunner for the Sixth Man of the Year Award; now the Utah Jazz are just hopeful he can return to practice soon as the team desperately tries to claw its way back into a playoff spot.

Either way, Burks was having the best season of his career and holds his own on the defensive end for one of the league’s best defensive teams when fully healthy. Here’s hoping the injury woes of the last two years don’t derail what was shaping up to be his most promising season yet.

Next: No. 5