Utah Jazz: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2019-20

2. Royce O’Neale

Royce O’Neale is a player that doesn’t get much attention on the Utah Jazz. O’Neale is 26 years old and has played two seasons in the league. This means that he came into the league older than most rookies, which limits how much better he can really get.

Despite that, O’Neale has a good case to be a breakout player for the team next season.

Last season, O’Neale averaged 5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while playing in all 82 games. This was all done in 20.4 minutes per game. Looking at those stats, they are definitely worse than Tony Bradley’s, but there is a reason he ranks ahead of Bradley on this list.

Fast forward to the playoffs, and O’Neale’s points increased to 10.6 per game, while grabbing an extra rebound per game (4.6 rebounds).

Coach Quin Snyder showed trust in O’Neale in the playoffs, giving him seven extra minutes a game, putting him at 27 minutes per night. For a second-year player, that kind of playoff exposure is huge.

The fact that O’Neale increased his statistics shows that he is not scared of the moment,  either. His confidence should and will most likely increase as his career progresses.

Entering his third year, he is the clear backup for the small forward. He should get around 20 minutes per game consistently, and maybe more. O’Neale started 16 games last season, and should only see more chances to start if he plays past his expectations.

The main reason that O’Neale ranks ahead of Bradley is that opportunity. He’ll have the time to show what he is capable of night in and night out. Bradley cannot say the same about his role on the team.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if O’Neale doubles his points from 5.2 to 10-11 per game next season. Anything close to that should be considered a breakout season from a player like him.