NBA: 5 players that could take a Pascal Siakam-like step this season
Five players that have the potential to take a Pascal Siakam-like jump during the 2019-20 NBA season
The NBA is loaded with young, talented players. Every season it seems that one or more players emerge as a potential All-Star or All-NBA level player. In 2017, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo. In 2018, Victor Oladipo. And last season, it was Pascal Siakam who took that step.
With all of the talented young guys in the league, that trend is bound to continue this season. Here are five guys that I believe could be prime candidates to take a leap on the level of the three guys mentioned above in the 2019-20 NBA season.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Many were saying this could be the year where Bam could take that next step, and he is already off to a great start to his 2019-20 season. By trading Hassan Whiteside in the offseason, the Heat pushed all their chips in the middle with Bam, and it has paid dividends early.
His numbers are up from last season in essentially every major category. He is averaging 16 points per game, up from just nine points per game last season. He is averaging 3.5 more boards, pulling down nearly 11 a game, and his assist numbers are even up to almost five a game.
Early in this season, Bam is getting to the free throw line much more often, and is blocking twice as many shots a game as he was last season, which is something he has turned out to be elite at.
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1189350020115521537
So his numbers are up. That’s a good start. But this season it has been about more than just his numbers being up. Bam is making a legitimate impact on every game. He makes shots difficult and defends the rim as well as anyone in the league on the defensive end of the floor, and he has really found his rhythm and spot with this team on the offensive end of the floor this season.
And with the other offensive threats this team has, namely Jimmy Butler and rookie sensation Tyler Herro, Bam is sure to see even more looks as the season goes on.
On top of all this, Bam is still only 22 years old. He still has years to continue to develop. He has already proven to be one of the best young defenders in the league. And if he continues to improve on the offensive end of the floor as well, which he has shown that he can, Bam Adebayo could most certainly take that next step to stardom before long.