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Barely a little more than a month remains until the 2021-22 NBA season. Energies are already running high. Trade markets are still buzzing with rumors and anticipated transfers. Predictions are being posted like letters in a war. It's unbelievable the kind of impact basketball's premium league can have on the world, the media and social media.
Sophomore NBA players that could make the All-Star team in the 2021-22 season
One thing that excites us the most regarding the upcoming season? Not the LA Lakers or Brooklyn Nets super team. Not even a Christmas Day game between them. The most exciting thing for us in the 2021-22 NBA season would be to watch the rookie boys of 2020-21 turn to men in their sophomore year.
The potential shown by these youngsters far exceeded anyone's expectations. They were brilliant in their style of play, their will to fight and their contribution to their team and the league.
That being said, a sophomore player making it to an NBA All-Stars game is not at all common. 60 players were drafted into the league in the 2020 draft class. It'll be special even if a single one of them can make it to either the West or East team. As a follow up to our thoughts, we list the five players with the highest chance, as of now, of making it to the much anticipated showcase game of the 2021-22 NBA season.
#5 Jae'Sean Tate - Houston Rockets
What Jae'Sean Tate lacks in shooting from downtown, he makes up for with his slashing. The youngster averaged 50 percent of field goals scored in his rookie season. A percentage that is worth a praise. He is capable of making runs from baseline to baseline and finishing with spectacular dunks.
In his 70 games, the Houston Rockets youngster played about 29.2 minutes per game. Tate is also a brilliant rebounder, making him both an offensive and defensive threat. As an NBA rookie, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 turnovers per game. He will definitely be one of the best sophomore players in the due season and if he can improve his scoring and rebounding averages along with his arc shooting, he just might make it to the All-Stars game.
#4 Saddiq Bey - Detroit Pistons
Another high-flying slasher, Saddiq Bey, is one of the two exceptional Detroit Pistons rookies. The second one being Isaiah Stewart. Unlike Tate, however, Bey is not only a phenomenal slasher but also a considerable threat from the three-point line.
He maintained a 38 percent 3P success rate in the 2020-21 NBA season. Also a scorer of great potential, the sophomore born in Charlotte averaged 12.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
#3 Tyrese Haliburton - Sacramento Kings
One thing about this sophomore NBA player - he's got style. Tyrese Haliburton was picked by the Sacramento Kings as the 12th overall pick. He went on to play 58 games for the Kings, where he averaged 13 points and 5.3 assists. Due to an injury in a match against the Dallas Mavericks, Haliburton had to sit out for the rest of the season.
Haliburton is a phenomenal ball handler with a mean hesi. He is also the best three-point shooter on the list with a success rate of 40 percent. This player holds the potential to turn into one of the best youngsters in the league in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#2 Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards is a treat to watch. He is without a doubt the best dunker amongst the sophomores, meaning he is a vicious rim finisher and can battle the best of the best on the rim. In an interview with Chris Hine of the Star Tribune, Edwards' coach had this to say about the player:
Chris Finch: He told me don’t let me get to 6’6 or else I’ll be Michael Jordan.
If Finch is to be believed, Edwards has grown two inches during the off-season. Already a high-flyer, it will be truly interesting to see how he performs in the restricted zone in the 2021-22 NBA season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' promising sophomore player averaged 19.3 points, 4.7 assists and 2.2 turnovers. He is definitely the best second-year scorer in the NBA and is also a considerable threat from beyond the arc.
#1 LaMelo Ball - Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball has been scrutinized, criticized and hyped since he was a middle-schooler. Despite such overwhelming pressure and publicity, the youngest of the Ball brothers has established himself as a sweet basketball player in the NBA.
Given the nickname Melo, the sophomore represents the Charlotte Hornets in the league. He won the 2021 Rookie of the Year award and rightly so. He is a complete baller, no pun intended. Playmaking, rebounding, scoring, LaMelo has it all.
In fact, in just 51 NBA games, the least on this list, Melo totaled 803 points, behind only Saddiq's 857 and Edwards' 1392. Making him the third best sophomore point scorer amongst the rookies in terms of total points scored and the second best in terms of points per game (15.7 ppg). He also averaged 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists. With such stats and performance, he is definitely a player worthy of becoming an All-Star just in his sophomore year.
