All-Star Weekend has passed, and teams are preparing for the grueling last stretch of the NBA regular season.
Some are gearing up for the playoffs with a championship in mind, while others are waving the white “Flagg,” hoping the lottery balls will bless them with Duke freshman Cooper Flagg.
Every season brings a different player who finds their NBA footing in the second half, and 2025 will be no different. Here are five players that pose a threat to break out in the remaining 27-or-so games of the season.
1. Scoot Henderson – Portland Trail Blazers
It has been a shaky start to a career for last season’s third overall pick, but Scoot Henderson has already greatly improved from his rookie season.
Anyway, it is very common to see a rookie guard struggling, especially with a weak roster around him (remember rookie Darius Garland?). Portland fans should be excited about what is to come with Henderson.
Since the calendar year has turned over, Henderson has performed greatly. He is averaging 13.4 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 42% from three. He has been critical during Portland’s sudden improvement in late January and February.
However, he left the second-to-last game before the break due to a right ankle sprain, knocking him out of the Rising Stars Game. He is listed as a game-time decision on ESPN.
Expect to see more confidence shine through Henderson when he returns from injury. Scoot will have more time to shine and break out for Portland as the Trail Blazers begin to sit down veterans to improve their draft position.
2. Isaiah Collier – Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz surrendered on their season a long time ago, but that does not mean they cannot have a player breakout. The 29th pick of the most recent draft, Isaiah Collier, can do just that.
Collier was inactive in the Jazz’s first seven games of the season behind Jordan Clarkson, the now-injured Taylor Hendricks, and higher draft pick Cody Williams, but that has now changed. Collier has started in 15 of his last 17 games.
In this span of games, Collier has averaged 12.6 points and 8.8 assists, shooting 47.3%. He has taken over the point guard position in Utah and is running away with it.
Collier is a gifted passer and showed in his lone season at USC that he can also be a solid scorer. He can easily become one of the best passers in this league, and the second half will show exactly why.
Collier needs to improve his three-point shooting for his scoring to burst open. He is currently shooting 23.1% from deep. At USC, he shot 33.8% from beyond the arc, so with a few tweaks, he could reach those heights once again.
As the Jazz continue to rest more veterans and let the young prospects shine for the remainder of the year, Collier will stand out.
3. Ben Simmons – Los Angeles Clippers
Okay, this one is more of a “resurgence” than a breakout, but Ben Simmons can break out of his shell in Los Angeles.
Simmons’s three years in Brooklyn were very disappointing. Due to multiple injury issues, he only appeared in 90 games.
In the games he did play, he was nothing like his former All-Star self. He averaged 6.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, with only 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game.
Now, this is not saying Simmons will reach the heights he was at before his injuries when he was second in DPOY voting and an All-NBA third-teamer, but the change of scenery will greatly help him. Joining a team exceeding expectations in the midst of a playoff push can help anyone’s confidence.
In his first game with the Clippers, Simmons scored 12 points, along with seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a block. Yes, it was against the Jazz, but this is still a great sign for future success.
If he stays healthy, expect to see more of the same from Simmons in LA.
https://twitter.com/IQfor3/status/1890262695288709431
4. Moussa Diabate – Charlotte Hornets
No one knows what will happen between the Hornets and Mark Williams after the trade deadline fiasco that was the rescinded trade between the Hornets and Lakers. One thing that is certain is that Moussa Diabate is good.
Now shelled behind both Jusuf Nurkic and Williams, it may seem difficult for Diabate to get consistent minutes. He more than deserves run.
In the 18 games Diabate has played more than 20 minutes this season, he is averaging 6.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. A dominant force on the glass.
Diabate deserves minutes, and if he does, he will definitely “break out” and improve on this production in the second half.
5. Max Christie – Dallas Mavericks
The Luka Doncic trade sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, especially throughout the entire state of Texas. Max Christie can try to save the current vibes in Dallas with his play.
Christie flashed success in Los Angeles, but nothing has compared to the stretch of games he has had since entering Dallas’ lineup. He is averaging 17.3 points and 5.2 rebounds with 48.6/45.5/82.6 splits in six games.
Starting in each of the Mavericks’ final two games before the break, expect him to continue to get big minutes.
Mavs fans need a light in the darkness of the trade, and Christie can be just that.
HM: Aaron Wiggins – OKC Thunder
Aaron Wiggins was playing stellar in his last few games before the break. He is currently averaging 20.0 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 45.3% from three and 54.4% overall in February.
He can definitely step up for the Western Conference powerhouse Thunder in the remaining games of the regular season and playoffs.
https://twitter.com/ThunderLead/status/1889742433518305759
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