It truly is an exciting time in the NBA. The next generation of basketball is in good hands with the amount of young talent dispersed throughout the league, ready to break out as soon as 2023.
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook, among other players who have dominated the NBA for over a decade, are going to be at least 34 years old when the 2023 season begins. While these players haven't shown signs of slowing down any time soon, we must not take their time for granted. While Curry says he is in the prime of his career at 35 years old, James admitted Father Time is undefeated.
Regardless, time is of the essence for the players who were drafted over a decade ago, as the new wave of talent is catching up to them. Players entering the league today are coming in ready to compete from day one — but they also just scratching the surface of what they're capable of. When they enter their second and/or third seasons, they begin to hit a stride and make a leap toward becoming an All-Star.
These five players have a chance to do just that this year and break in a big way.
NBA players primed for a breakout season No. 5: Trey Murphy III, Pelicans
Trey Murphy has proven to be of the NBA's most exciting young talents. The 6-foot-9 forward has a great blend of size, athleticism, and shooting that makes him a premier and prototypical wing.
Murphy has hit 40 percent of his threes through two seasons and nearly joined the historic 50-40-90 club in 2023 while averaging 14.5 points per game. Per NBA University, he was one the most efficient scorers of his draft class in their second seasons, recording a 65 true shooting percentage.
Not only is Murphy a highly-efficient shooter, but he is also a great athlete as illustrated by his performance in the 2023 dunk contest.
His size and strength enabled him to average 1.1 steals per game last season while quickly developing into the ideal 3-and-D wing that the NBA covets and is a perfect complimentary piece to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Unfortunately, for the Pelicans, Williamson and Ingram's health continues to remain a question mark as the former has suited up for 114 of a possible 328 games in his career and the latter hasn't played more than 62 games in a season since his rookie season in 2016. Their inability to be available on a nightly basis will continue to create a large void that the Pelicans need to fill, and Murphy will continue to be one of the biggest beneficiaries.
After spending time with the USA Select Team this Summer the No. 17 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is only 23 years old and primed to break out in 2023 as the Pelicans continue to put more on his plate.
NBA players primed for a breakout season No. 4: Franz Wagner, Magic
Franz Wagner is already one of the best young forwards in the league who had a mini breakout in 2022, but 2023 is where he takes the leap to become the first No. 8 pick in the NBA Draft to become an All-Star since Vin Baker accomplished that feat back in 1993.
At 6-foot-9, Wagner is a very versatile player who can create his own shot off the dribble, generate offense for others, stretch the floor, attack the basket, and moves well in transition. Last season, Wagner averaged 18.6 points per game on 14 field goal attempts per game. If he can get even a couple of more shots up on a nightly basis, he should have no problem clearing the 20 points per game threshold.
Wagner is heading into the season with momentum after he will be playing in the FIBA World Cup representing Germany. Not to mention, he recent;y drilled what was essentially the game-winning three in the final minute of Germany's exhibition game versus Canada earlier this week:
According to The Lead, Wagner is one of only four players under the age of 22 to average at least 18 points per game on 58 percent true shooting. He is already such a refined scorer at such a young age. Brighter days are ahead for the Magic led by the pair of Wagner and Paolo Banchero. They're going to be a formidable duo for years to come and it wouldn't be surprising to see them compete for a Play-In spot in 2023 because of Wagner's presumed breakout.
NBA players primed for a breakout season No. 3: Keegan Murray, Kings
When the Kings traded Richaun Holmes to the Mavericks to create cap space, it felt as though they were prepared to follow up their unexpected yet impressive season with a splash free-agent signing. However, they elected to use that extra cap space to take care of their own — giving Domantas Sabonis a handsome pay raise while re-signing Harrison Barnes and Trey Lyles.
With that, the Kings are betting on continuity and the progression of their 2022 No. 4 overall pick, Keegan Murray, to take a step forward and emerge as the clear-cut third option behind De'Aaron Fox and Sabonis.
Murray is already one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. Whether it be catch-and-shoot, spot-up, or transition threes, he can simply do it all with an extremely quick trigger. There is no wasted movement in his efficient and smooth shooting stroke. He just set the record for 3's made in a season by a rookie while shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc on 6.3 attempts per game.
He did what rising stars are supposed to do when they are still participating in Summer League and balled out before the Kings realized they have seen enough. In the California Classic, he scored 70 points in the two games he played, showcasing his ability to do more than just shoot the basketball. Murray is also a solid defender who can guard multiple positions on the floor due to his combination of size and athleticism.
Murray continued his busy Summer after dominating the California Classic and spent time with the 2023 USA Basketball Select Team, alongside Trey Murphy and some of the NBA's most exciting young players (including one more player on this list).
The Kings need Murray to break out in a big way if they want to prove last year wasn't a fluke and that they can contend in the West.
NBA players primed for a breakout season No. 2: Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets
Jabari Smith Jr. had a wildly inefficient and inconsistent rookie season but showed flashes of the player he can be when he puts it all together at the end of last season.
And in the Summer League, it felt like Smith took the momentum he gained from the end of the season and finally began putting it together. He absolutely dominated the competition, even hitting a miraculous buzzer-beater versus the Blazers.
The talent and skillset are so easy to see when watching Smith. He was widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick before the Magic ultimately decided to take Paolo Banchero, despite Banchero never even working out for the team.
After a rookie year filled with ups and downs, Smith himself has made it a goal to be more consistent and win Most Improved Player in 2023. The 6-foot-10 forward has a 7-foot-2 wingspan that enables him to shoot over virtually any defender and he has an extremely pure jump shot.
Entering his second season with some NBA experience under his belt should go a long way for the 20-year-old. Not to mention, the coaching upgrade from Stephen Silas to Ime Udoka should pay dividends for Smith and the rest of the young Rockets players moving forward.
It is a crowded frontcourt between Smith, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks, and Cam Whitmore, but the Rockets are going to give Jabari Smith Jr. every opportunity to build off the momentum he developed between the end of last season and Summer League.
NBA players primed for a breakout season No. 1: Jalen Williams, Thunder
Jalen Williams was absolutely incredible in his rookie season. He was one of the most efficient rookies in recent memory and a major draft steal (fell to Thunder at No. 12 overall) en route to finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. After the All-Star break is when Jalen Williams really began to take off:
Williams was a consistent and reliable second and/or third option behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, which helped propel the Thunder to a surprising Play-In tournament appearance. Williams averaged 14.1 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field.
Like Keegan Murray and Jabari Smith Jr., Williams also dominated the Summer League in the limited action he saw. He scored 21 points in 22 minutes in the Thunder's Summer League opener versus the Jazz before the team ultimately decided to shut him down for the Summer not too long after. Once his time in the Summer League concluded, he joined the USA Select Team and has reportedly been a standout since his arrival on the team.
Williams is listed as the Thunder's starting power forward despite being 6-foot-6. His strength and 7-foot-2 wingspan help him to match up with bigger defenders. However, he has also shown he has the ability to run the offense and operate as a playmaker/ball-handler when needed.
The Thunder's young core consisting of Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey, Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort, and Cason Wallace makes OKC one of the most exciting franchises in the NBA.
Jalen Williams is a star in the making and the breakout is set to happen as soon as 2023.