National Basketball Association

Brooklyn Nets: Which Players Will Break Out This Season?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:24 p.m. ET

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Apr 13, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) drives against Toronto Raptors forward Bruno Caboclo (20) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Breakout players in the NBA have the tools to shine and have shown flashes of greatness, but need to become more consistent contributors.  Based on the Brooklyn Nets roster, there are three players primed for a breakout season.

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Breakout players in the NBA typically fall into two categories.  One category is a player who comes out of nowhere to exceed expectations.  The other category is a player that is due for a significant jump based on their developmental trajectory.

Players can break out in different ways.  Some become elite on-the-ball defenders or rim protectors.  Others become microwave scorers that provide instant offense off the bench.  Sometimes, a player becomes a consistent “energy guy” that makes all of the winning plays. Regardless of the category players fall in, developing teams require significant jumps from young talent in order to progress.

Here are the players most likely to break out for the Nets in the 2016-17 NBA season.

Apr 3, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Luke Babbitt (8) guards Brooklyn Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) in the second half at Barclays Center. Pelicans defeat the Nets 106-87. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Kilpatrick

Sean Kilpatrick had somewhat of a breakout season last year as an unexpected contributor from the D-League.  After being signed to a three-year deal, Kilpatrick soon proved himself as a spark plug scorer. He averaged 13.8 points in just 23.2 minutes per game.

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With a respectable three-point percentage of 36.1, solid ball handling and driving ability, a strong build, and a solid midrange jumper, Kilpatrick has the skills.  While he may never turn into a consistent option, he can potentially pan out to be a Leandro Barbosa, J.R. Smith, or Jamal Crawford type of player for years to come in Brooklyn.  At age 26, he is right at the point of his career where those flashes can become a regularity.

Mar 24, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Bojan Bogdanovic

Bojan Bogdanovic is the type of player every team wants.   He is a player with a high IQ, who is always in the right spot, and never takes plays off.  Furthermore, Bogdanovic has a solid skill set.  He is a strong shooter, moves well without the ball, and has great hands. Additionally, he can put the ball on the ground.  Bogdanovic is quite versatile, and that versatility could pay dividends for the Nets.

After a strong showing in the Olympics with Croatia, Bogdanovic is poised to take that momentum into the NBA regular season.  With better point guard play, Bogdanovic should benefit more than any other Net.  Look for Bogdanovic to improve in every statistical category this year.  Should he do that, he could be knocking on the door of Most Improved Player of the year.

Apr 13, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) drives against Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross (31) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

No one knows what Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will become.  The hope is that at a minimum, he will become a player like Tony Allen.  At a maximum, he will develop into a Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler.  Odds are he will probably end up somewhere in the middle along the lines of Jae Crowder.

The Dallas Mavericks used Crowder inappropriately. After arriving in Boston, Crowder saw his stats jump to 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.  The following year he saw another jump to 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.  Hollis-Jefferson will get plenty of opportunities.

There is reason to believe Hollis-Jefferson can make similar strides offensively.  Defensively, he has the makings of a lock down defender.  If he makes the jump on both sides of the ball, the Nets could have themselves a steal.

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