Top 10 breakout players of the 2020-21 NBA season

#5 Terry Rozier

Terry Rozier (#3) of the Charlotte Hornets

Terry Rozier was selected in the 2015 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, who failed to get the best out of the guard. The 2020-21 season, his second with the Charlotte Hornets, has been his best season so far in the NBA.

Rozier has improved as a playmaker and had an impeccable season, leading the Hornets from the backcourt. Although the Hornets missed out on the postseason by the smallest of margins, Rozier averaged 20.4 points and shot 45% from the field.

#4 Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown has improved his game in the five years he has spent in the NBA and is now an invaluable player for the Boston Celtics. His absence in the NBA playoffs was a huge blow to the team, who fell to the Brooklyn Nets in five games.

Brown was the second-leading scorer for the Boston Celtics behind Jayson Tatum during the regular season. He averaged 24.7 points while shooting 48.4% from the field.

#3 Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets

Michael Porter Jr. was the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. The Denver Nuggets had to wait a year to play Porter Jr. because he was sidelined with a back injury for the entire 2018-19 campaign.

Michael's reintroduction to the NBA was not as smooth, as he started only eight games in the 2019-20 season, averaging 9.3 points per game. He has bettered his game across all parameters this campaign, though, making him one of the Nuggets' key players.

Michael Porter Jr.'s 22 points are the most in the 1st quarter of a playoff game over the last 25 seasons. His 6 3-pointers are tied for the most in any quarter in NBA postseason history. pic.twitter.com/OWCyS25EDT
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 4, 2021

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The forward was impressive in the regular season, stepping up to show his worth, especially in Jamal Murray's absence. He finished the season with an average of 19 points and is keeping his team in contention for the championship.

#2 Julius Randle

Julius Randle won the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award, and for good reason. He was the spark in the New York Knicks' resurgence, although he was not as impressive during the postseason.

The 2020-21 season was Randle's seventh year in the NBA, but it was the first time he made an All-Star appearance. He finished the regular season with a double-double, averaging 24.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

#1 Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson (#1) of the New Orleans Pelicans

Zion Williamson missed a significant number of games in his rookie season, which was why he did not win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Despite his absence, he showed glimpses of why he was the no. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Zion Williamson - Season Grade (A+)27 PPG7.2 RPG3.7 APG61.1% FGSeason Highs :39 points / 15 rebounds / 8 assists Season Awards :2021 NBA AllStarContract Status : RFA in 2023 (Age 24) pic.twitter.com/nBc1GgCHDU
— Pelicans Lead (@PelicansLead) May 31, 2021

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It was an entirely different story in the 2020-21 regular season, though, as Williamson was one of the most explosive players in the league.

Postseason was in sight for the New Orleans Pelicans. But an injury to Williamson and Brandon Ingram, coupled with four straight losses at the end of the season, knocked the team out of the play-in tournament contention.

Williamson finished the regular season with an average of 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. In the process, he surpassed Shaquille O'Neal's 2001-02 record of 20.1 points in the paint.