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NBA: 3 Sleeper breakout star candidates heading into 2023-24

By Alexander Shefchyk

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 18: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles down court during the second quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on April 18, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 18: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles down court during the second quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on April 18, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Highlighting three sleeper breakout star candidates for the 2023-24 NBA season. 

Before each NBA season, NBA fans like to predict players who could break out as potential stars. In many cases, there are obvious players who make the leap, but there are also other players that make the jump that very few saw coming.

With that being said here are three sleeper breakout stars for the 2023-24 NBA season.

Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies 

Desmond Bane has already proven himself as one of the best scorers in the NBA, but this upcoming season I believe he can reach even higher heights. At the start of this offseason, Bane signed a five-year, $207 million extension, which means the Grizzlies believe the same thing.

Since he got into the NBA, Desmond has proven himself as one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, and over the last two years he’s shown he’s much more than just a shooter. Bane is an all-around player. Specifically, last season he greatly improved his finishing around the bucket and his off-the-dribble scoring. Bane was on track to average around 25 points per game season if not for an ankle injury that made him miss 17 games, and that really slowed down his early season momentum.

In the 2022-23 season, Desmond Bane also took great strides as a secondary ball handler, upping his assists from 2.7 in 2021-22 to 4.4 last year. Bane has even proven to be a great defender, a rare trait to find in such a young, talented offensive player.

With Ja Morant missing the first 25 games of this upcoming season, Bane will be the primary creator on offense for Memphis, and he’ll need to shine to keep the team afloat in Morant’s absence. I think he will, and next year we should be looking at a first 25+ PPG and All-Star year for Desmond Bane.