Breakout Players
By Gene Huh
Some players like Steve Francis, Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan dominated from day one, but others like John Stockton, Theo Ratliff and Dirk Nowitzki needed some time before growing into stardom. The conventional wisdom is that a player generally breaks out during his third season in the league, but sometimes a player needs a little extra time in order to reach his true potential. We would be masters of the obvious to list guys like Darius Miles and Baron Davis as potential breakout players, so we've limited the list to guys who receive very little hype and do not receive a ton of playing time. The following is a list of unheralded young players who have displayed the talent and potential to break out into stardom:
Keon Clark (6-11 F/C), Toronto
Clark, possessor of the scrawniest legs in the NBA, has shown his potential during the past two seasons. A great athlete with explosive leaping ability and a vast wingspan, Clark can be a dominating shotblocker and offensive rebounder. As an offensive player, Clark has good touch, quickness and improving moves, but does not have the strength to anchor himself down on the low blocks. Clark averages 26.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6 blocks per 48 minutes of play. By comparison, All-Star Theo Ratliff averages 16.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5 blocks per 48 minutes of play.
Eddie Robinson (6-9 F), Charlotte
Eddie Robinson is a great athlete who already makes the highlight reels due to his high-flying jams. As a relatively deep reserve, Robinson shoots an excellent 53% from the field and scores over 19 points per 48 minutes, which is comparable to teammate Derrick Coleman's 20 points per 48 minutes. Already a fine transition player, as Robinson improves his shooting range, he will become a fine all-around small forward.
Corey Maggette (6-6 G/F), Los Angeles Clippers
Maggette has faded into obscurity ever since his ill-fated decision to leave Duke after his freshman season. However, Maggette is quietly becoming one of the most explosive reserves in the league. A fastbreak flyer who runs the court like a more muscular version of Latrell Sprewell, Maggette is a three-point shot away from stardom. Of course, Maggette will need to cut down on the number of boneheaded plays on the court, but his physical ability is immense. Currently, Maggette is averaging 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per 48 minutes of play. Compare that to Latrell Sprewell's 21.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per 48 minutes.
Morris Peterson (6-6 G/F), Toronto Raptors
Peterson is probably the most widely known player on this list, but he qualifies because he was only a low first round pick in last June's draft. As a rookie, Peterson has shot exceptionally well from beyond the arc and is scoring around 10 points per game. As his already very polished game continues to develop, Peterson will become a top defender and a scoring threat in the Eddie Jones mold.
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