5 best NBA sophomores with a chip on their shoulder for the 2021-22 NBA season

There is a plethora of young talent in the NBA, with the likes of LaMelo Ball, Zion Williamson, and Ja Morant establishing themselves as the best players on their team. However, there are some young players who have failed to make their mark on the NBA so far despite having the potential to be world-beaters, and in this article, we take a look at the 5 best sophomores who will have a point to prove next season.

The 2020 NBA draft class was filled with talent, as players like Tyrese Haliburton and Patrick Williams showed last season. Both players played key roles for their teams in their first season themselves, and are expected to improve further in the 2021-22 season.

Here are five NBA sophomores who go into the new campaign with a chip on their shoulder -

#5 - Kira Lewis Jr., New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans v Portland Trail Blazers

Drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Kira Lewis Jr. was brought in by front office executive David Griffin to be the perfect foil for star power forward Zion Williamson. Lewis Jr. spent his debut season being an understudy for Lonzo Ball, but now with Ball gone, is expected to get some major minutes at the point guard position next season.

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Lewis Jr. had a mediocre 2020-21 NBA season, averaging just 6 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists. Hence, both he and the Pelicans will be hoping that the point guard has a much better year than that this time around.

#4 - Deni Avdija, Washington Wizards

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Israeli sensation Deni Avdija was targeted by multiple NBA teams, but ended up going to the Washington Wizards with the 9th overall pick. Avdija came from Maccabi Tel-Aviv, and it is safe to say that he had a relatively slow start to his NBA career on a team that would have probably wanted him to contribute more in his debut year.

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Avdija ended the 2020-21 season with an average of 6 points and 5 rebounds, featuring in 54 games. Avdija is expected to start at small forward next season and should shine in that role.

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#3 - Aaron Nesmith, Boston Celtics

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An athletic and switchy perimeter player, Aaron Nesmith had a slow start to his NBA career, averaging just 4 points and 2 rebounds. The Celtics selected him with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, expecting him to replicate his Vanderbilt form.

Nesmith showed immense potential during the summer league and he will be raring to go in the 2021/22 NBA season. The Celtics have a great core of young players, and Nesmith will be developing under two of the best Under-25 players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

#2 - Killian Hayes, Detroit Pistons

French international Killian Hayes was drafted 7th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2020 NBA draft, hoping that the youngster's arrival will coincide with the team's good fortunes. However, Hayes ended up having an injury-plagued season that saw him play just 26 matches, averaging 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists.

It is unnatural to see a player put up 5 assists per game in just his debut year, and Hayes' numbers despite the limited sample size suggest that he is set to have a great sophomore season. Hayes has the potential to be one of the best playmakers in the league in a few years, and he will be one to keep an eye on in the 2021-22 NBA season.

#1 - James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors

It would be unfair to call Golden State Warriors big James Wiseman a bust, but it cannot be denied that the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft didn't live up to expectations. The Warriors got Wiseman with the expectation that he would be able to deliver immediately and help them make a deep playoff run, but the rookie center was only able to contribute with 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Going into the 2021/22 season, Wiseman will have a massive chip on his shoulder and will be looking to display the level of talent he showcased in college. The Golden State Warriors are a win-now team, and Wiseman will play a critical role in how the team fares next season.