Every NBA Season, we see players make huge leaps in their skill to become stars overnight or take the next leap into NBA Superstardom. Within this upcoming season, there is a bunch of candidates to take that next jump as well. It’s time we take a look at 10 of those athlete who are ready to break out in NBA 2K18.
NBA 2K18 Top 10 Players Ready to Breakout
Tim Hardaway Jr. (New York Knicks)
Since Melo has finally been traded, who is going to step up and be the main scorer for the Knicks? Most would assume Porzingis. Another candidate could be Tim Hardaway Jr who averaged 19 pts per 36 minutes. He does this on a team with Paul Millsap, Schroder and Dwight Howard. One would assume, without the other high usage guys to share the ball with, he will get plenty of chances to rake up stats this season.
Skal Labissiere (Sacramento Kings)
Skai went from one of the best high school prospects to an underwhelming college player at Kentucky. He still managed to get drafted in the first round due to his potential. Towards the end of the season, he started to show why he was so highly regarded. Post AS break, he averaged 11 points and 6 boards in 22 minutes. On the last month of the season, 13 and 5 in 30 minutes and this is coming from an extremely raw big man. With the guidance of ZBO (on the court), Skai has the potential to take his game to the next level. This time, he may truly live up to his once high expectations once and for all.
Willy Hernangomez (New York Knicks)
Porzingis wasn’t the only big man getting buckets on the Knicks last season. Hernangomez averaged a smooth 11.5 points and 9.2 rebounds post all start break for the Knicks. His only competition for the center position this season will be the over the hill Joakim Noah and the better served on the bench Kyle O’Quinn. His starting job should be secure after impressing last season as a result creating a nice Hi Lo tag team with Porzingis in the Knicks offense.
Jusuf Nurkic (Portland Trail Blazers)
Will finally playing a full season as the starter give 2K the evidence needed to improve Nurkic’s rating? While Nurkic played for Denver, it wasn’t odd to see a 15 pts, 10 reb, 2 block, 2 steal type of night out. He was constantly shifted back and forth from the starting lineup to the bench. So his court time ended up rather inconsistent. In addition, he dealt with several injuries.
Those who didn’t pay close attention didn’t know the beast that laid in waiting. That is until he got to Portland. Nurkic in 20 games averaged 15 pts 10 boards 3 assist 2 blocks and 1 steal a game. His performance was a key reason the Blazers went 14-6 down the stretch and made the playoffs. Does that sound like a 79 overall player? Nurkic is still only 23. Now, he finally will have a stable situation as Portland’s starting center. The only thing that will hold him back is his health. As we’ve seen, Nurkic is no stranger to the injury report.
Brandon Ingram (Los Angeles Lakers)
With all the high usage players either leaving for free agency or traded this offseason, the only thing Ingram will have to worry about this season is living up to his #2 pick status and receiving sweet passes from Lonzo Ball. Often compared to Kevin Durant pre-draft, Ingram shot 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from the three last season. As of now, he has a long way to go to live up to those high expectations. Fortunately for him, everything seems to be set up for him to do so. He will be asked to take on a heavier scoring load this season and with the increased chances and fewer mouths to feed on the offensive side of the ball, he can begin to live up to those Durant comparisons.
Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
Ever since he’s gotten into the league, LaVine has been known as one of the most overpowered players in the game. Mostly due to his ability to shoot 3’s and dunk on people. Well here’s his opportunity to finally show he’s the guy. He averaged 18 points per game per 36 the last 2 seasons as the 3rd option. He was behind Towns and Wiggins on Minnesota and now will be the most established scorer on a Bulls. Looking over their roster, it gets a little ugly. Depending on how well the rookie Markkanen does and if Dunn turns the corner, will determine just how crazy LaVine stats will be when he returns. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t become a low to mid 20 point scorer.
Dennis Schroder (Atlanta Hawks)
Schroder, to some degree, kind of broke out last year replacing Jeff Teague. He actually played pretty well, but it only scored him an lackluster 79 Overall. Now with the Hawks shipping off Dwight, letting go of Hardaway Jr. and Millsap, we have a Westbrook Thunder situation minus the triple double part. He’s a score first point guard whose second option is Kent Bazemore. His stats are probably going to go up this season. He drives to the paint relentlessly, so his field goal percentage will never be terrible. With his added responsibility this season, his stats are sure to impress.
Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)
With Paul George out the way, we’ll finally see what Myles Turner is made of. However, he won’t be the only guy in charge of scoring for the Pacers. They have Oladipo and Collison. Turner has the most potential of the three to put up a monster season. He’s like a poor man’s Towns or Embiid who really hasn’t had the opportuniy to shine. His ability to go in the paint, step back and knock back a three as well as play defense leaves him in elite company. I’m excited to see him take that it the next level.
Rodney Hood (Utah Jazz)
It’s Rodney Hoods time to shine! With Gordon Hayward moving on to greener pastures and the Jazz essentially swapping score first point George Hill for the pass first Ricky Rubio, Hood becomes the main source of scoring in the Jazz starting lineup. That is unless Rudy Gobert learns a post move. He’ll have every chance to become a 20 points per game scorer; not to mention the good looks he’ll be receiving from Ricky Rubio as a spot up shooter. He struggled last year with injuries and Iso Joe stealing his shine towards the end of the season. However, if Hood can develop into more than just a 3 point shooter, he can take his game to the next level and certainly improve off his 12.7 pts per game last season. Given this new look Jazz squad, they’re going to need him to.
DeAngelo Russel (Brooklyn Nets)
So far the bright spot in Russell’s career has been being picked #2 in the draft. There was the whole Nick Young thing, Byron Scott didn’t like him, Walton didn’t use him enough and Jordan Clarkson and Lou Wil recieved fourth quarter PT over him. He never really found his groove. Then, he was shipped off to make way for Lonzo Ball and the Big Baller Brand in LA. Off went Russell to Brooklyn. Despite all the drama that surrounded his time in LA, he’s still one of the best young talents in the league at 21 years of age.
Now, going to a team that is in desperate need of a go to, The Nets still don’t have much in terms of talent. The opportunity is there for Russell to turn into the player Lakers fans hoped he would become. The Nets do have Jeremy Lin, but they play the same position, so I can see Lin being the sixth man. I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people, Im talking 22-23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assist type numbers. You already know he’s going to drop 40 on the Lakers in one of their 2 games this season and that’s a fact.
Alright Sports Gamers, do you agree with the list? If not, who is a player you think is primed to breakout this season? Leave it in the comments down below. Be Sure to stay tuned for more NBA 2K18 content here at Sports Gamers Online. Check back here daily so you don’t miss anything we put out!