In only a few ticks, the NBA 2020-2021 will open for its pre-season kickoff. Crazy shuffles have happened, and several rosters might look perfect, while some are just weird.
All eyes are on the NBA, and the comebacks and possible emergence of some players will be the most anticipated moment to see.
Here's a list of NBA players you should be looking out for in the upcoming NBA 2020-2021 season set to kick off on December 22.
1. John Wall
Houston Rockets' offseason was a shocker to the fans. The team lost nine players in the process of rebuilding. With superstar guard James Harden left alone, the trade rumors kept popping around him.
Former co-star point guard Russell Westbrook was traded by the Rockets for Washington Wizards' John Wall. The five-time All-Star had not played since December 2018, when he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. Wall was the third All-Star point guard that the Rockets acquired for the past years.
Harden's madness was driven by the fan's hype in the previous days. At any time, a trade will happen, opening more opportunities for Wall to be the new leader of the Texas team.
Many fans are still confused about Wall's potential. Will he return playing healthier this season? What has appeared to be a dilemma is the point guard role that Harden already enjoys to play.
Will Wall return to the top 10 best point guards in the league, despite Harden taking this position? No one knows what will happen, but they could build great chemistry to be the best backcourts in the NBA just by observing the two.
For Wall to step up, he has to reshape his game and adapt Mike D'Antoni's playbook. Wall's talent is limitless, and there are still more to come as he enters his first game of the kickoff against the Chicago Bulls.
2. Kevin Durant
Another player who has just returned from injury is Kevin Durant. Durant suffered a torn Achilles tendon on the Golden State Warriors' finals game against the Toronto Raptors. Since then, he was locked in a recovery facility, but several reports stated that he has been training well since his surgery.
The Brooklyn Nets were underdogs last season but came out unexpected following their successful playoff entrance. With Durant now on the young Nets squad, the team will look forward to utilizing his potential and versatility.
His teammate, Jeff Green, believes that he could be a 5-in-1 player due to his speed, size, shooting ability, and defensive capabilities. Together with returning player Kyrie Irving, who was plagued by a shoulder injury last season, Durant could stick to a power forward position or a point-forward depending on new coach Steve Nash.
Nash's playbook is an all-offensive style, and Durant's monstrosity will be put under the two-time MVP's experiment.
3. Bogdan Bognadovic
Atlanta Hawks acquired wingman Bogdan Bogdanovic when the Milwaukee Bucks have already laid their eyes on him. Bogdanovic's performance was lights out from the arc, shooting 37.2 percent last season.
A great shooter on the drive and a corner specialist, Bogdan is someone to watch out for next season.
Trae Young, the young guard, is expected to boost the Hawk's power now with Bogdan's support. Bogdan can be manageable at some match-ups, but his small contribution in playmaking is what the Hawks need next to his shooting. With Bogdan now on the young team, it will rain more threes in Atlanta than before.
4. Michael Porter Jr.
The Denver Nuggets did not notice that they mined gold in Michael Porter Jr. Porter is a 6-foot-10 forward, a much bigger size than the other forwards.
The kid from Missouri has now turned into a graceful midrange shooter who relies on a quick-release shot. His height is just perfect for off-screen plays, and an impending defender could not easily find a way to stop him. Porter Jr.'s potential is still unfolding. A one-dribble pull-up master, Porter's ability to lure his defenders for a mismatch is his amazing talent. He could offer a more convincing contribution for the Nuggets this upcoming NBA season.
5. Paul George
Paul George is one of the most intriguing players in the upcoming season. Coming from a disappointing loss against the Denver Nuggets, the Los AngelesClippers should continue to improve their playmaking, shooting, and perimeter-defense. Pandemic P had all the talent, the size, and the much-needed shooting for the team. He could defend well as well.
George had bad blood with former coach Doc Rivers. He complained that his role was not fully used, but his stats opposed that. He questioned his position and how he mingled with his teammates.
He only averaged 0.75 points per isolation possession during his 2019-2020 run. He needs assessment here. If the Clippers find some possible changes for his role, George's versatility will be put to good use with star forward Kawhi Leonard.
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