What is the definition of a breakout?
Perhaps a breakout occurs when a player elevates into stardom, becoming a household name and a perennial All-Star. Or perhaps a breakout is at the other end of the spectrum, a player moving from obscurity on the fringes of the league to a rotation player. Most "breakouts" likely come somewhere in-between, with players taking a step forward bold enough to be noticed.
Feel free to substitute "Most Improved" for "Breakout" in this discussion; they are largely synonymous for our purposes when used in the philosophical sense. The voting for Most Improved will fall along other lines, with popularity, playing time and points scored playing outsized factors. For our discussion here, we are looking at which players are taking a step forward in a truer sense, becoming better, fully realized versions of the players they are capable of being.
That means no recognition for Josh Giddey, who will have the ball in his hands on account of a larger role on a new team; that may result in the room to grow into a better player, or it may just mean more counting stats. Victor Wembanyama is the current odds-on favorite to win Most Improved, but that's merely a recognition of how good he already was by the end of last season.
Which players are ready to break out?
Let's look at five players ready to take the next step in their careers, scattered around the league and not featuring a single player expected to get any "All-Star" votes; these are players going from role players to key starters, or starters to fringe stars. Each of them has the potential to change the trajectory of their teams depending on how high they can climb.
Looking at the Toronto Raptors, Scottie Barnes has the potential to be in the running for "Most Improved" and could take another step forward, but he was really good last season and his growth this year could be more marginal (and about public perception catching up to him). Immanuel Quickley will hopefully take a step forward, but he may also simply be adjusting to a larger role as a starter.
There is one Raptors player on our list for today, however, and we will start out West and make our way to Toronto to wrap up our list of five breakout players in the NBA for next season.