NBA: 11 players poised for a breakout season in 2019-20
10. Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers
The one thing that has held Malcolm Brogdon back so far in his NBA career has been injuries. Despite questionable health, he has still managed to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2017 and has steadily improved in each and every season.
He’s grown into a pretty lethal marksman from outside and is super efficient from just about everywhere on the floor, as showcased by him joining the 50/40/90 club last year with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Defensively, Brogdon is also very valuable as he is able to guard both guard positions and can occasionally hold his own against smaller small forwards.
He’s proven he can fit well into an offensive system with other stars (he played off Giannis and Middleton extremely well in Milwaukee) but now in Indiana, his offensive responsibilities will be expanded – past where they ever were with the Bucks.
And as Victor Oladipo continues to recover from that leg injury he suffered last year, there will be even more pressure on Brogdon to take that next step in his game, possibly becoming a borderline all-star.
I would expect him to put up numbers in the range of 18-19 points on terrific efficiency. Throw in 4-5 rebounds, five assists, and solid perimeter defense and I would say that definitely counts as a break out year.