10 young NBA players in need of a breakout season in 2017-18

5. Emmanuel Mudiay

Avoiding players with only two years of experience was an important goal for this list, but we can’t ignore that Emmanuel Mudiay‘s time in the Mile High City is already nearing its end based on what we’ve seen so far.

As a rookie, Mudiay averaged an atrocious 3.2 turnovers per game, posted ugly .364/.319/.670 shooting splits and struggled in his 66 starts, but there was enough athleticism, flashes of potential and a complete lack of competition at the 1-spot to make sure his job was secure.

That didn’t hold true last season, when Mudiay averaged 2.2 turnovers in only five fewer minutes per game, barely improved his ugly shooting splits to .377/.315/.784 and eventually lost his starting job to a 35-year-old Jameer Nelson and rookie Jamal Murray.

The Denver Nuggets eventually pushed him to the edge of the rotation, and now his place with this young core is in question. A change of scenery might be needed if this 21-year-old is unable to reassert himself in Michael Malone’s lineups, take care of the ball and at least shoot 40 percent from the field for the first time in his career.