Five NBA players that are flying under the radar but could play a significant role for their respective teams in 2017-18 and beyond
Entering every NBA season there are obvious breakout candidates, players that appear poised to take a major step in their development. However, one tier below such players is a group of guys flying a little below the radar. Sometimes these players experience their own breakout season ahead of schedule, while some may experience another year foreshadowing what could be.
Few thought Rudy Gobert was a monster waiting to happen entering the 2014-15 campaign. The Utah big man, fresh off a rookie season in which he posted averages of 2.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, was certainly flying under the radar back then, as much as a 7-foot-1 guy can fly under anything.
Not many people expected Gary Harris to up his scoring from 3.4 points per game to 12.3 in 2015-16. Today he’s a hot name as one of the more underrated young players in the entire league.
Who saw Malcolm Brogdon coming last season? Milwaukee’s second-round pick possessed a game mature beyond his years and rode it all the way to Rookie of the Year honors.
The writing may have been on the wall for each of these players. Here are five players that are flying under the radar entering the 2017-18 campaign that could play significant roles for their respective teams this season and in the future.