NBA: 10 candidates for breakout seasons in 2018-19

With the 2018-19 NBA season approaching, here are 10 noteworthy players poised to burst onto the scene with breakout years.

The NBA Draft Lottery is under constant scrutiny, but it’s one of the few things that differentiates the association from every other major sports league in the way it makes all 30 teams interesting to some degree. Even the worst teams have a chance to grab someone special and turn it all around.

While there are only a handful of teams expected to contend for a championship heading into every new season, the other 20-25 squads are still worth monitoring. Why? The young players who are trying to evolve from caterpillars into butterflies. Sure, it takes some time in the cocoon, but watching that growth is just as fascinating as the final product.

The NBA is a superstar-driven league, but very few burst onto the scene from day one. It’s a process that usually takes years, and the upcoming 2018-19 campaign will be no different. The question is, which younger players are primed for breakout seasons this year?

Whether they’ve been held back by injuries, limited minutes, organizational instability or simply following their own natural progression, quite a few recognizable names are ready for seasons in which they post career-best numbers, impact their team’s success in new ways, establish themselves as stars, or all of the above.

Bearing all this in mind, here’s a look at 10 noteworthy players ready for their closeup in 2018-19.

Honorable Mentions: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Domantas Sabonis, Terry Rozier, Dante Exum, Dejounte Murray, Josh Richardson, Jabari Parker, Justise Winslow, Rodney Hood, Lonzo Ball, Taurean Waller-Prince, Stanley Johnson, Kyle Kuzma, Kris Dunn, OG Anunoby, Bobby Portis, Dennis Smith Jr., Josh Jackson, Thon Maker, Mario Hezonja, Jordan Bell, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr.