season to season, the nba add new names to his constellation stars. Not just for the rookies who make it to the league, but mostly for them players making a leap in quality and complete consolidation among the competition’s best.
Who can be the protagonists of this team in the 2023-2024 season? Then seven candidates who appear as possible new elements.
Jordan Poole
Poole’s may end up being one of the biggest jumps in grade point average. Is that he will go from some Warriors where he was a third or even fourth offensive option, to a Washington, which will likely have him as the main point of reference in the offense alongside Kyle Kuzma.
Poole comes from the average 20.4 units in 2022-2023 and it wouldn’t be surprising if they were around 25 next seasonin which he will surely have plenty more minutes and shots at his disposal on a Wizards projected to be near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
The key for the former Golden State is not so much through the volume of points, but rather increase your efficiencyespecially the triplera: it stayed at 33.6% in the last contest.
said Cunningham
Cunningham seemed ready to have that quality jump in 2022-2023but a serious left leg injury quickly halted his second NBA season after being selected with the first pick of the 2021 Draft.
In the 12 games he played last season he averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6 assists. And while he needs to raise his percentages significantly (41% from the field, 28% on 3-pointers), Cade doesn’t appear to be far from 7-25-7 worthy of the best players in the competition.
Without further ado, in the last 30 years of the league, only LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic have reached those values. Yes improve your three-point shotCunningham can – at least – approach the door of this exclusive club.
It is also that he will not have much aggressive competition in a Detroit with Bojan Bogdanovic and Jaden Ivey as other references to the attack.
Jabari Smith
Jabari Smith looked much improved in last Summer League, with much more confidence in shooting and attacking one on one. The number three pick in the 2022 Draft had a rough rookie year, but improved over the months to close with averages 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 36% on 3-pointers in the 18 final matches of the bell.
The only possible brake on Smith’s development is that he will share a team with players who don’t exactly stand out for their teammates’ participation, such as Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks or to a lesser extent, Frank VanVleet. Likewise, in the long run talent prevails and Jabari has it in abundance.
Jaylen Williams
It is extremely rare that a beginner is not alone productive (14.1 points), but also effective (field 52%). But that’s exactly what Jalen Williams was in his rookie year with the OKC Thunder. Even on a perimeter overloaded with talent, the 22-year-old guard has what it takes to establish himself as young star in a team that will likely fight for a place in the Playoffs 2024.
Williams isn’t the most dangerous 3-pointer, but he has one impressive ability to create with the ball and set within color or mid-distance. It should be consolidated as the Second scorer on the roster in 2023-2024, maybe around 20 points per game.
Scotty Barnes
Neither Scottie Barnes nor Evan Mobley had the expected jump in quality after a stellar rookie season in 2021-22. And while it might be a little harder for Mobley to explode on a team with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell dominating the ball, Barnes should get a lot more opportunities in Toronto.already without Fred VanVleet and probably with Pascal Siakam coming out of list of names short term.
If you manage to give one small step forward as a shooter and consolidate all the good things he has already shown as a passer and creator with the ball, Barnes would end up establishing himself as one of the most versatile forwards in the league and one of those players that it is not surprising to see near a triple-double night after night.
Tyrese Maxey
Maxey’s case has some similarities to Poole’s. He was already a 20-point scorer last season, but circumstances could push him to that many more plans in 2023-2024. In his case, without leaving Philadelphia, but certainly with more exposure after an expected transfer of James Harden.
Of course, Joel Embiid will continue to be the primary offensive reference for the 76ers, but Maxey looks to have the talent to approach the 76ers’ backcourt. 25 goals per match. In fact, he was already close to that mark in the 41 games he started in 2022-2023: he averaged 22.3 points with 49% from the field and 46% on 3-pointers in these duels.
Shaedon Sharpe
Just as Maxey will benefit from Harden’s possible departure from the 76ers, Sharpe will likely do the same in Post-Lillard Portland. The explosive Canadian had a solid rookie year and shined every time he started: 18.5 points in 32.9 minutes during 15 matches in which he started for the Blazers.
No matter what happens give me, Sharpe will start in Portland in 2023-2024 and, if you were already over 18 as a rookie, you should have no trouble getting over 18 points. 20 point average. He has plenty of athleticism, but he also has shooting and ball creation skills.
