Toronto Raptors: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2018-19

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 9: Some of the 2nd unit, from left, Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23), Toronto Raptors forward CJ Miles (0), Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) and Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (42) line up for the anthem. Toronto Raptors vs Houston Rockets in 1st half action of NBA regular season play at Air Canada Centre. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. OG Anunoby

It’s rare for a young player to go head-to-head on the defensive end against LeBron James in the playoffs. Even more rare is the zealous nature OG Anunoby displayed in taking on the daunting assignment.

Anunoby’s high motor is going to take him far in the NBA and there’s no better time to start than this season.

As a rookie selected towards the end of the first round, expectations weren’t high for Anunoby last season. He easily exceeded them, starting 62 games and playing menacing ball on both offense and defense.

He averaged just 5.9 points per game, but that stat betrays his true impact on the court, particularly on the defensive end; Basketball-Reference credited him with 1.6 win shares on the defensive end, 0.2 more than his offensive output.

The biggest moment of his rookie campaign came in April.

Serge Ibaka was already around, but now the Raptors have one of the best defenders in the NBA in Kawhi Leonard on their roster. He could be the perfect player to mentor Anunoby in that aspect of the game.

By the end of his breakout season, OG Anunoby should be one of the best wing defenders in the league.

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