Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 16
Next
NBA
May 13, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross (31) shoots the ball in front of Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (0) during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Terrence Ross

Terrence Ross is on the books for $31 million over the next three years, so he’s hardly playing to put food on the table. But entering his fifth season in the league, this 25-year-old wing’s game has basically plateaued.

Over the last three seasons with the Toronto Raptors, Ross has averaged 10.9, 9.8 and 9.9 points per game, respectively. He’s shot 42.3 percent, 41.0 percent and 43.1 percent from the field and 39.5 percent, 37.2 percent and 38.6 percent from three-point range, respectively.

There’s something to be said for consistency, but Ross has brought little more than efficient three-point shooting and a few eye-popping displays of athleticism in limited minutes. He hardly gets to the foul line, he isn’t a lockdown defender and he doesn’t contribute outside of the scoring column.

At this point, most “We The North” fans have accepted that he’ll never be a star. Games like his 51-point, 10-triple performance from his sophomore season suggested he might develop into one, but Ross has never been able to put it all together.

He still has room for growth, but his recurring struggles in the postseason would’ve been a major story over the last few seasons if not for all the attention being given to Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan‘s similar shooting woes.

Toronto has Ross on an agreeable contract for the next three years, but with the emergence of Norman Powell and the Raptors trying to build on their conference finals appearance last season, it’d be nice to see some sort of forward progress in 2016-17.

Next: No. 4