Going from a rookie to a sophomore in the NBA is a big leap. A year of training with an NBA staff and playing against the top talent in the world nightly can improve your skills dramatically. Several second-year standouts could set the league ablaze this upcoming season. However, we don’t want to talk about the obvious ones. Reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanayma is already a dominant force and will continue to improve rapidly. Sames goes for Chet Holmgren who started all 82 games for a No. 1 seed. Today, we’re going to look at five players who averaged less than 20 MPG as a rookie, and give a glimpse of what we could see from them in Year 2:
Anthony Black, Magic
The Magic caught a lot of flak for their 2023 draft. The team responded with their best regular season finish since 2011. However, neither of their first-round rookies contributed much to Orlando’s success. Jett Howard, the 11th overall selection, played just 67 minutes total over 18 games and spent most of his season in the G-League. Anthony Black, the No. 6 pick, played a bigger role and appeared in 69 games for the Magic. His play was up and down in the way you’d expect out of a 19-year-old. They’ll ask more out of him in Year 2 with Markelle Fultz gone. Black has a great feel for the game and might be Orlando’s best passing guard. He also shot the ball better than expected (39.4-percent on threes). The 6-foot-7 playmaker will be a useful piece on a team trying to make the postseason for the second year in a row.
Jordan Hawkins, Pelicans
New Orleans’ rotation is almost too deep. Adding Dejounte Murray confuses matters even more. Perhaps another trade is on the horizon (Brandon Ingram, anyone?). It may be difficult to find consistent minutes, but Jordan Hawkins has to be on the floor. The UConn product averaged 17.3 MPG last year while averaging 7.8 PPG. His numbers decreased as his minutes waned. Before the All-Star break, Hawkins was averaging 20.2 MPG and shooting 38.1-percent from beyond the arc. Post-break, the Pelicans got healthier, and Hawkins went down to 10.1 MPG and shot just 29.4-percent from three. There is a path for Hawkins to get more playing time, and it includes CJ McCollum playing less. McCollum just turned 33 years old and is coming off a brutal postseason showing. Hawkins adds elite shooting to a lineup that desperately needs it. He’ll find his way on the floor.
Julian Strawther, Nuggets
The Nuggets have a championship-caliber team. However, if they’re lacking one thing it’s players capable of creating consistent offense for themselves. That’s one of the reasons why they went out and signed Russell Westbrook in the offseason. Inserting Christian Braun into the starting lineup won’t fix any of those issues. One youngster on Denver’s bench to look out for is swingman Julian Strawther. The Gonzaga product has never shied away from shooting the basketball. Shot selection is an issue, but Strawther’s range and touch are apparent. He didn’t shoot it well last year (29.7-percent from three), but he knocked down over 40-percent of his threes during his last year with the Zags. Denver will appreciate his willingness to let it fly.
Olivier Maxence-Prosper, Mavericks
Derrick Jones Jr. was a vital part of Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals. His departure in the offseason opens the door for Klay Thompson to step into a starting role, but the four-time NBA Champion isn’t going to replace what Jones Jr. brought to the club. That’s where sophomore Olivier-Maxence Prosper will step in. The 22-year-old has strong physical tools and has shown to be a defensive playmaker in spurts. In Dallas’ first preseason game, Prosper registered 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Head coach Jason Kidd has remarked about how much better Prosper has looked in his second offseason. Expect big minutes for him as Dallas’ designated defender for certain matchups.
Ricky Council IV, 76ers
Let’s give an undrafted player some love. Ricky Council IV was picked up by the 76ers following one year at Arkansas (spent the previous two at Wichita State). Council IV is a plus-athlete who plays with a motor. He’s already a crowd favorite and head coach Nick Nurse has some trust in him. Having a player who can ignite the Philly faithful with a single highlight play is an important ingredient. And, Council IV has a knack for generating free throws. He averaged nearly 9 free throw attempts per 36 minutes — a rate higher than Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James. Durability isn’t a strong suit of this 76ers roster. Council IV will find his way on the floor at some point or another. And, he’s shown intriguing enough traits to warrant a look as he enters Year 2.