'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A new NBA season always provides chances for every player to show his abilities and for young, talented athletes, every new season is a chance to develop. In the 2021-22 NBA season, there will definitely be those players who deliver on their team's expectations and show their potential.
It is not easy to come into the league as a young talent who has not competed against experienced players for more than 50 games, in most cases. While some prospects manage to adapt quickly to the league, it is tough for many, possibly for most.
Five small forwards likely to show their potential in the 2021-22 NBA season
In this article, we're focusing on young, talented small forwards who could take a huge leap in performance in the 2021-22 NBA season and possibly show their entire basketball potential.
It isn't easy to determine which players could be set for a huge, breakthrough season, but it could definitely be an interesting dynamic.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five promising small forwards who could be able to show us their full potential in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#5 Mikal Bridges
The 2020-21 Phoenix Suns really gathered a lot of experience, although it might be normal to think that the team will be kicking itself for losing the 2021 NBA Finals. Learning usually goes alongside losing, and it is something that turns defeat into opportunity.
That's the case for the 2020-21 Phoenix Suns, and for Mikal Bridges, who had an efficient season for the team last year (including the NBA Playoffs) and could be set for a breakout 2021-22 season, even if he simply stays as a master of his role.
Bridges averaged 13.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Phoenix Suns in last year's regular season with 54/42/84 shooting split. He added 11 points per game in the NBA Playoffs with 48/36/89 shooting split, and Bridges could take a huge leap forward after experiencing a deep postseason run.
He might not become a star in the NBA, but the Phoenix Suns might not need him to do so to stay as an essential maker of winning plays for Phoenix.
#4 Dillon Brooks - Memphis Grizzlies
The 2020-21 Memphis Grizzlies were carried by three players last year: Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks and Jonas Valanciunas.
With Valanciunas traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, the offensive opportunity for a star in the making, Morant will naturally go up, especially after what he showed in the 2021 Play-In Tournament/NBA Playoffs.
For Dillon Brooks, that will also probably be the case. Last year, the 25-year-old averaged 17 points per game with 41/34/81 shooting splits in the regular season and 25.8 points in the 2021 NBA Playoffs (51/40/80 shooting splits).
His upward trend in scoring was also present in the final nine games of last year's regular season, when he averaged 20 points per night.
#3 Brandon Ingram - New Orleans Pelicans
Brandon Ingram is already an NBA All-Star, which makes his presence on the list probably surprising to some. However, it could be said that he has not achieved his full potential as of now, given the lack of collective success of his teams.
Arguably Ingram's next step is to be able to lead his New Orleans Pelicans team to the NBA Playoffs alongside Zion Williamson. It's never an easy task to achieve in a stacked Western Conference, but achieving the full potential will never be a straightforward matter for anyone.
Ingram wasn't an All-Star in 2021 after achieving the feat in 2020, and that's an individual achievement that could be synonymous with team success in the 2021-22 NBA season.
Ingram averaged 23.8 points, virtually five rebounds and five assists per game last year with 46/38/87 shooting split. Although he's already shown his legit talent, the 24-year-old small forward, who won the Most Improved Player award in the 2019-20 season, could take another step in his development as an NBA player.
#2 Michael Porter Jr. - Denver Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr. will play in his third NBA season since being drafted in the 2018 NBA Draft. His progression stalled a bit after missing his entire rookie season and then slowly integrating into the league in the 2019-20 NBA regular season.
He showed some glimpses of his offensive skills during what was effectively his rookie year.
In the 2020-21 NBA season, Porter Jr. established himself as an efficient scorer for the Denver Nuggets, putting up 19 points and 7.3 rebounds per game with 54/44/79 shooting splits in the regular season.
For the 2021-22 NBA season, not only his experience but also his confidence should be at the highest of his career, as he is coming off signing a five-year contract extension with the Nuggets that could be worth up to $207 million.
#1 Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics
Yes, Jayson Tatum could still show a new gear in his basketball abilities, even though he is already a two-time All-Star and made the All-NBA third team in the 2019-20 NBA season.
However, the next step for Jayson Tatum's growth as an NBA player could be establishing himself as a clear-cut NBA MVP candidate and leading the Boston Celtics as the face of the franchise.
The 23-year-old has already played in four NBA seasons, and he has shown progress each year, ultimately averaging 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in the 2020-21 NBA season with a 45/38/86 shooting split.
Tatum could already be described as an NBA superstar, but his development as an NBA player will surely continue and he could even enter the discussion to be considered the best player in the game as soon as he can lead the Boston Celtics to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Also read: NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons traveled to Philadelphia without informing Sixers officials, showed up at the team arena for the Brooklyn Nets match.
