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The NBA is home to a plethora of talents, and there were glimpses of excellence from a few players during the ongoing 2020-21 NBA season.
Although not MVP-worthy, these players have contributed immensely to their team's success this season. While most are sophomores, some experienced players also elevated their levels during the campaign.
On that note, let's take a look at the top ten breakout players in the 2020-21 NBA season.
#10 Shai-Gilgeous Alexander
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The OKC Thunder had one of the worst runs in the 2020-21 NBA regular season, finishing 14th in the Western Conference standings after making a 22-50 run.
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Despite their dismal returns, the Thunder's shooting guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander was one of their rare bright spots during the campaign. Although his season was cut short due to injury, there were enough star performances from him to classify his 2020-21 season as a breakout one.
The OKC Thunder went 6-31 without the shooting guard, who was sidelined due to injury. He averaged 23.7 points per game and a field goal percentage of .508, making him one of the most efficient scorers during the 2020-21 regular season.
#9 RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett was saddled with more responsibilities in his second season in the NBA, but the guard was equal to the task. He is the only player who featured in all 72 regular-season games for the New York Knicks this season.
Barrett finished the campaign as the second-leading scorer behind Julius Randle for the Knicks. In his short stint in the NBA, he has shown spectacular poise and understanding of the game, making him an invaluable asset to the Knicks.
#8 Mikal Bridges
Mikal Bridges is one of the youngsters who helped the Phoenix Suns advance to the 2021 NBA playoffs Western Conference semi-finals. In a hard-fought win over the depleted reigning champions LA Lakers, Bridges excelled from beyond the arc.
Bridges started all 72 games for the Suns this season, averaging 13.5 points with a field goal percentage of 0.543. His shooting from distance has also improved tremendously (42.5%) compared to that in his previous two seasons in the NBA.
#7 Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant has bounced around four different franchises in his eight years in the NBA but will stay with the Detroit Pistons till 2023. The move is perhaps what the forward needed, as he had a breakout season in his first year in Detroit.
Grant scored a career-high 43 points in February 2021 against the Chicago Bulls and was a significant contributor for the Pistons in offense and defense. He finished the regular season averaging 22.3 points per game. Before the 2020-21 NBA season, his highest point average in the league was 13.6 during his second stint with the OKC Thunder.
#6 De'Aaron Fox
The Sacramento Kings finished the 2020-21 NBA regular season 12th in the Western Conference. But that was not a reflection of how De'Aaron Fox fared during the campaign. Although the Kings had the worst defensive rating in the league, their offense was effective, thanks to Fox.
He led the team in points (25.2), assists (7.2), and steals (1.5). Although Fox has gradually improved in his last three seasons, he took his game to another level this campaign. Recognizing his contributions, the Sacramento Kings have extended his contract to 2026.
#5 Terry Rozier
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. 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.
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 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.
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.
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