Believe it or not, the NBA season is right around the corner. In just under a month, the 2021-22 season will be underway and just like every other year, we will see some new faces breakout onto the scene and make a name for themselves. In this article, I am going to highlight a few young players entering their third season who I believe will make some serious strides towards stardom.
Jordan Poole (Guard, Warriors): 20-21 stats: 12.0 PPG, 1.9 APG, 35.1 3P%, 88.2 FT%
Jordan Poole followed his lackluster rookie season with an impressive sophomore campaign. Poole again got off to a slow start, not seeing heavy minutes early on, but looked like an entirely different player after he returned from the G League Bubble. In 8 games without Steph Curry last season, Poole averaged 22.0 points; 3.3 assists and shot 39.1 from deep. Poole showcased some of what Warrior fans hope to see in the near future when he exploded for a career-high 38 points vs. the Pelicans in the last game of the regular season. Poole is a highly skilled scorer, who is never lacking in confidence on the court. With Klay not in the lineup for opening night, it is very likely that we will see him in the starting lineup out the gate for the Warriors. With the leap he took last year and the opportunity to play big minutes for the Warriors this upcoming season is why Poole is my pre-season pick for Most Improved Player.
Darius Garland (Guard, Cavaliers): 20-21 stats: 17.4 PPG, 6.1 APG, 39.5 3P%, 84.8 FT%
Cavs point guard Darius Garland is another player entering his third season who took tremendous strides last year in the right direction. In his second season, he not only scored the ball better (+4.9 ppg from his rookie season), but also improved as a facilitator as well, increasing his assists per game from around four a game to just over six. Garland did this while also developing into a much more efficient shooter from both the field and three-point line. I anticipate his development as a playmaker will continue to improve since he will now be playing alongside the Cavs 2021 first-round draft pick, Evan Mobley, who is a versatile big that will be able to finish around the rim and stretch the floor for Cleveland. In April, Garland had perhaps his best game as a pro against the Spurs when he scored 37 points, tallied seven assists, and knocked down five three-pointers in a win. Garland’s improvements as a scorer and potential as a playmaker, as well as his increased efficiency are all reasons to expect a big year out of Garland in 2022.
Michael Porter Jr. (Forward, Nuggets): 20-21 stats: 19.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 54.2 FG%, 44.5% 3P%
Michael Porter Jr. is no doubt the most established player on this list. The 23 year-old has already put up numbers and even had some big time moments in the playoffs with the Nuggets the last two seasons. Given that Jamal Murray will be out for a good portion of the year after suffering a torn ACL in April, the Nuggets will need a true second star to emerge next to the reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic. Look no further than Porter. Porter is a special offensive talent. There are not many players in the league with his size and shooting ability. With an increased role in the offense in his second year, he saw his points per game jump nearly 10 points in the 2021 season. With their current injury situations, Porter will be asked to do even more for Denver this upcoming year. Don’t be surprised if he is averaging well over 20 points per game and making a real push for a spot in the all-star game this season.
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