#55 Christian Wood – PF/C – Houston Rockets
2020-21 Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 0.8 STL, 1.2 BLK, 51.4 FG%, 37.4 3P%
Along with Jerami Grant, Christian Wood was one of the surprise breakout stars of the 2020-21 NBA season. Houston really struggled last year and finished with the worst record in the league, but Wood proved to be one of the better stretch big men in the league and now enters the 2021-22 season with a ton of versatile and young talents around him.
Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green are the two young leaders in the Rockets’ backcourt now, so it will be very interesting to see how these three guys all play together seeing as they are the future of the Houston Rockets’ organization.
#54 Kemba Walker – PG – New York Knicks
2020-21 Stats: 19.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 42.0 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 89.9 FT%
Knee injuries have limited Kemba Walker’s effectiveness over the years, but now with a fresh start in Madison Square Garden, his favorite arena, the former All-Star point guard could be on track to have a massive bounce-back season.
Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett seemed to be the only two offensive threats on the Knicks last season, but now, Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier join this team that was the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference last year. Given his scoring abilities and having Derrick Rose as his back-up, Walker definitely has a shot to surprise many.
#53 Tobias Harris – PF/SF – Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.9 STL, 0.8 BLK, 51.2 FG%, 39.4 3P%
One of the more underrated scorers in the league, Tobias Harris could be thrown into a much larger role with the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Nobody knows what is going to happen with Ben Simmons and if the 76ers will in fact trade him at some point in the next month, but nonetheless, the Sixers are going to need more scoring production and Harris is their second-best scorer next to Joel Embiid.
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If Simmons is gone and Harris can continue to improve in Doc Rivers’ system, then we could very well see him make the first All-Star appearance of his career. The 76ers want to remain a championship contender with or without Simmons and Tobias Harris will play a big role in their potential success.
#52 Mike Conley Jr. – PG – Utah Jazz
2020-21 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 3.5 REB, 6.0 APG, 1.4 STL, 44.4 FG%, 41.2 3P%, 85.2 FT%
Almost 34-years-old, Mike Conley seems to be nearing the end of his career, but he is still playing at a relatively high-level in Salt Lake City. Conley proved to be an excellent point guard in Utah’s system next to Donovan Mitchell in their backcourt and this team really did struggle offensively without him on the court.
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Mike Conley played a huge role in the Jazz capturing the best record in the NBA last season and if they are going to have any shot of winning a title, Conley will have to remain healthy. His scoring definitely helps the Jazz, but Conley is the best facilitator and playmaker Utah has, which takes an enormous amount of pressure off of Donovan Mitchell to do everything for this team.
#51 Malcolm Brogdon – PG – Indiana Pacers
2020-21 Stats: 21.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.9 APG, 0.9 STL, 45.3 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 86.4 FT%
Next to Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon is the second-best player on the Pacers’ roster and he came up just short of making his first All-Star appearance last season. Indiana is expecting to make the playoffs this year after having a really bad year last season and Brogdon is going to have to play a big part in this.
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For the Pacers to be successful, they not only have to remain healthy, but Malcolm Brogdon will have to continue improving on both ends of the floor. Rick Carlisle always seems to get the most out of his primary ball-handlers, which is why Brogdon is definitely a guy to watch in terms of being a first-time All-Star during the 2021-22 season.
