NBA: These ‘Youngins’ Are Ready to up the Ante

The NBA season can’t come soon enough.

Various players are expected to make significant leaps, whilst already established superstars will look to add more to their stacked resumes.

If it isn’t already obvious, the SBOTOP NBA 2024 odds still favour the Boston Celtics to repeat. There haven’t been any considerable roster moves from their rivals that suggest otherwise. But when it comes to which young player—star potential or otherwise—will be proving their doubters wrong, the list is never-ending.

The league only has more or less than 500 players, and although competition is the toughest it’s been, I can assure you these kids are going to be quite alright.

 

Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Despite struggling in the playoffs last season—scoring 15.7 points on 42/35/81 shooting splits—there is still plenty of room for improvement for the Vanderbilt alum.

He’s already been an All-Star and has proven to be an extremely talented offensive threat. At the same time, his playmaking and overall guard skills are some of the best in the league. Oh, and he’s also lightning quick—arguably the shiftiest guard in the Eastern Conference.

The upcoming season will be his sixth year in the league, all of which has been spent with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the 24-year-old’s career is now at a crossroads.

Yes, he’s a very good player, but when he’s off, he’s way off. He’s also extremely injury-prone; the point guard has yet to play more than 70 games (reg. season) in his five years in the league.

And in a Cavaliers team where he has to share the ball with five-time All-Star and All-NBA Donovan Mitchell, his trajectory towards reaching his full potential is being stalled.

If he gets traded to a team where he’ll be given the keys to the offence, then expect crazy nights like when he dropped 51 points on 10 three-pointers against Minnesota or when he posted 19 dimes against the Sixers.

Don’t count him out just yet should he stay in Cleveland. He just needs to be healthy enough, and he’ll go right back to posting 20 points and eight assists a night. Who knows? He may snatch up another All-Star selection as well.

 

Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets)

When you’re being compared to Nikola Jokic, then you must be doing something right.

A versatile ‘do-it-all’ big man, 21-year-old Alperen Sengun is probably the biggest young talent in a Houston Rockets team loaded with promising youth.

Last season, Sengun averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists—enough to make him a finalist for the Most Improved Player award. Just like the Joker in Denver, Sengun is capable of acting as a playmaker on the post and work the pick and roll to perfection.

Perhaps the only flaws to his game so far are his abysmal shooting from the foul line and from deep. But with his upside and how good he is in the other areas of the game, I reckon he’ll be alright.

Look for him to average 20 and 10 next season … and the season after that, and after that and so on.

 

Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets)

Today’s game puts a premium on tall and lengthy players who can shoot, defend and handle the rock with relative ease.

Brandon Miller can do all those things.

In fact, if he was drafted in a different year, then he would’ve definitely won the Rookie of the Year award. Well, he had to contend with Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren so it’s quite alright that he finished third.

Standing at 6-foot-9, the 21-year-old small forward has the perfect size to replicate the game of Kevin Durant, Paul George (his idol), Jayson Tatum and plenty others.

In the 74 games he played last year, Miller averaged 17.3 points and four boards on 44/37/82 splits. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he cracks the 20-point barrier next season.

 

Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)

Johnson is undoubtedly the brightest prospect on this Atlanta Hawks roster. He’s only 22 and has already carved out a consistent starter role with the Hawks.

Prior to last year, Johnson was averaging 5.6 points and four rebounds. He was at 16 points and close to nine rebounds last year.

Extremely athletic and a workhorse on both ends of the floor, only injuries derailed Johnson’s promising season last time around. And with Dejounte Murray leaving for New Orleans, there’s less mouths to feed over at the ATL, which means, barring injuries, Johnson could be on the verge of a breakout year. Expect him to add even more buckets to his NBA 2024 highlights.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE BASKETBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.