Unlike a forgettable rookie contingent, a host of tremendous second-year NBA players easily forms a worthwhile top 10.
In fact, this comprehensively impressive group extends well into double-digit figures.
Nine of the opening 12 picks and 20 of the first 30 selections all deserve consideration.
And the fact that a case can be made for the Atlanta Hawks’ No. 43 overall draft pick Mike Scott conveys the pervasive talent within last year’s class.
Spoiler alert—Scott just missed the cut. But the likes of Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard certainly did not.
On that note, let’s highlight the NBA’s top-10 sophomore players in 2013-2014.
10. Harrison Barnes (No. 7 Overall), Small Forward, Golden State Warriors
(26 GP, 15 GS, 32.1 MIN) 12.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, .442 FG%, .410 3P%, .699 FT%, 11.21 PER, 1.5 WS
Harrison Barnes is a versatile scorer from the small forward position.
He can drive and score from just outside the paint, while also shooting at a top-10 percentage from three-point range (among league SF).
The 6’8’’, 210-pounder contributes well enough on the glass and on the defensive end of the floor. He really provides the Warriors with a great presence on the wing.
What makes Barnes even more valuable is his dual proficiency. He can both start at the three and serve as a leading sixth-man off the bench
Barnes’ 1.5 win shares actually rank eight-best on this list. But a below-average 11.21 player efficiency rating keeps him at No. 10.
Yet, with a stat line of 16.1 PTS, 6.4 REB, 1.3 AST, 13.8 PER, 1.0 WS as a rookie in Golden State’s 12-game playoff run last year, Barnes’ future is exceedingly bright.
9. Dion Waiters (No. 4 Overall), Shooting Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
(23 GP, 9 GS, 29.0 MIN) 15.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, .441 FG%, .400 3P%, .687 FT%, 14.18 PER, 0.5 WS
Despite some initial turmoil, Dion Waiters has proven a good fit with the Cavaliers.
He gives Cleveland a reliable scoring weapon off the bench and overall sharpshooter on the outside for point guard Kyrie Irving.
Waiters ranks top-20 in rebounds, assists and steals from the shooting guard position. He qualifies in the top 15 for points and three-point percentage.
The second-year player has eight games with 20-plus points and another nine with either five-plus rebounds or assists.
Waiters showed that he is more than a second-tier option as well, with a streak of nine consecutive starts at the beginning of this season.
8. Miles Plumlee (No. 26 Overall by Indiana Pacers), Center, Phoenix Suns
(28 GP, 28 GS, 27.9 MIN) 9.7 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.8 BPG, .510 FG%, .452 FT%, 15.70 PER, 1.6 WS
Oh, how the mighty have risen.
The formidable 6’11’’, 255-pound Miles Plumlee resurrected his young career in short order.
Following a regrettable year one as a backup in Indiana, Plumlee has started all 28 games for the Suns. He leads them with 9.1 rebounds and 1.75 blocks per game (No. 9 in the NBA).
This offensive-minded but defensively lacking Phoenix team loves their new center’s strength, athleticism, basketball smarts and tough demeanor inside the paint.
How could it not when Plumlee’s overall value is worth 1.6 wins through the early goings?
It’s fair to say that few analysts foresaw either Plumlee’s 41 double-doubles or the Suns’ resounding success in 2013-2014.
7. Bradley Beal (No. 3 Overall), Shooting Guard, Washington Wizards
(17 GP, 17 GS, 37.4 MIN) 19.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, .409 FG%, .459 3P%, .844 FT%, 13.66 PER, 0.6 WS
This next entry definitely falls in the section of “just what the doctor ordered.”
Bradley Beal solidifies Washington’s backcourt as one of the most explosive in all of basketball.
He and point guard John Wall form a dynamic one-two punch indeed.
Beal, in particular, ranks No. 6 in the NBA with a 45.9 shooting percentage from three. He rates in the top eight as well for scoring and rebounds among two-guards.
He sits just below teammate Wall with 19.2 points scored per contest.
The Wizards recently suffered a four-game losing streak with Beal off the floor. Since his return, they have posted a 3-1 record and have held down their No. 6 playoff seed in the East.
The value of this rising shooting guard is self-explanatory.
6. Terrence Jones (No. 18 Overall), Power Forward, Houston Rockets
(28 GP, 23 GS, 25.5 MIN) 10.3 PTS, 6.5 REB, 1.2 APG, 1.3 BPG, .502 FG%, .320 3P%, .574 FT%, 17.20 PER, 2.1 WS
The 6’9’’ former one-and-done at Kentucky has steadily improved in his sophomore year in the NBA.
Terrence Jones bolsters Houston’s front line alongside Dwight Howard. He ranks second on the Rockets with 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
The power forward can also stretch the floor somewhat with his 32.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc. His 10.3 PPG are modest but effective at a 50.2 clip.
Jones’ overall versatility continues to evolve. Look no further than his seven double-doubles and superior player efficiency rating and win shares since his rookie campaign.
Being worth multiple wins has both Jones and the Rockets feeling encouraged in a strong Western Conference that’s filled with title contenders.
5. Jared Sullinger (No. 21 Overall), Power Forward, Boston Celtics
(27 GP, 17 GS, 26.7 MIN) 14.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.6 BPG, .474 FG%, .306 3P%, .761 FT%, 18.87 PER, 2.1 WS
One of the surprising NBA teams this season also features an upstart-turned-star player.
Jared Sullinger has exceeded his totals in all statistical categories from last year for the second-place Boston Celtics. His 14.1 points are second only to Jeff Green, while his 7.1 rebounds and 18.87 player efficiency rating represent team-highs.
Head coach Brad Stevens brought Sullinger off the bench for the first 12 games of the season. He averaged just 11.8 points and 5.7 rebounds over that span (he sat out for two).
Since that time, Sullinger has posted higher averages of 15.5 points and 7.9 boards as a starter. He also has all five of his double-doubles and five of his six 20-point games.
This 6’9’’ power forward ranks above the one that came just before him because of his slightly better marks across the board.
Sullinger’s superior PER seals the deal.
4. John Henson (No. 14 Overall), Power Forward, Milwaukee Bucks
(28 GP, 14 GS, 28.6 MIN) 12.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.3 BPG, .527 FG%, .622 FT%, 20.44 PER, 2.3 WS
Let the reign of power forwards continue.
We’ll just need to excuse his team’s lack of playoff qualifications and league-wide relevancy.
John Henson serves as the one source of refreshing vitality on the dismal and league-worst Milwaukee Bucks. He leads his 23-loss team in rebounds and is the only significant contributor with an above-average player efficiency rating.
His 52.7 field-goal percentage ranks sixth highest among power forwards and his 2.25 blocks are fifth best in the entire league.
The second-year man out of North Carolina is an improved scorer, rebounder, defender and even distributor with 1.7 assists per game.
Bucks fans can only hope for more of the same in an otherwise awful 2013-2014 campaign.
3. Andre Drummond (No. 9 Overall), Center, Detroit Pistons
(31 GP, 31 GS, 32.7 MIN) 13.1 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.6 BPG, 1.5 SPG, .613 FG%, .358 FT%, 22.24 PER, 3.8 WS
Please make your acquaintance with the main attraction of the Pistons’ three-tower front line.
The 6’10’’, 270-pound Andre Drummond has earned the respect of his peers with tremendous all-around play from the center position.
He boasts a top-10 standing in blocks, sits fourth in rebounds, ranks third with 22 double-doubles and is unmatched with a 61.3 field goal percentage (among players with 200-plus attempts).
Drummond completely locks down the paint for Detroit. He has registered a double-double in two-thirds of its games, with only six outings bringing neither double-digit rebounds nor points.
The Pistons’ franchise centerpiece also rocks a plus-20.00 player efficiency rating and 3.8 win shares.
Drummond falls to No. 3 on this list due in part to his poor free-throw shooting.
2. Damian Lillard (No. 6 Overall), Point Guard, Portland Trailblazers
(29 GP, 29 GS, 36.2 MIN) 21.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, .410 FG%, .426 3P%, .889 FT%, 19.98 PER, 4.1 WS
The second-leading scorer on the team with the second-best record in the NBA finds himself slotted at No. 2 in these second-year rankings.
(We’ll take it easy next time on the “second…” qualifiers.)
Point guard Damian Lillard is the fuel that drives the Portland Trailblazers.
Lillard’s floor management, crafty work inside the paint and deadly shooting from beyond the arc facilitate his teammates’ complementary totals.
He helps makes possible LaMarcus Aldridge’s career-high 23.4 PTS and 11.0 REB, Nicolas Batum’s career-making 14.2 PTS, 6.4 REB and 5.2 AST and Wesley Matthews’ career-best 16.3 PTS, 4.3 REB, 49.4 FG percentage and 43.6 percent from three.
Even hardnosed center Robin Lopez is bringing down a personal-best 8.6 rebounds with Lillard orchestrating things on the hardwood.
The pertinent idea here is that Lillard makes everyone around him better. He need not rank in the top 10 in assists, rebounds or steals to have a profound impact on Portland’s balanced production and 24-6 standing.
Lillard’s intangible leadership attributes, combined with lights-out shot-making from the floor-general position—fourth in three-point accuracy, third in total points and second in free-throw percentage—help make the Trailblazers a viable threat in the NBA.
With 4.1 win shares currently attached to his name, Lillard will experience little difficulty ascending these rankings before season’s end.
1. Anthony Davis (No. 1 Overall), Power Forward, New Orleans Pelicans
(20 GP, 19 GS, 33.9 MIN) 19.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 3.2 BPG, 1.6 SPG, .505 FG%, .803 FT%, 27.13 PER, 3.3 WS
The No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft did not miss out on qualifying for the top spot in this sophomore-laden top-10.
His current production levels would surely honor those from any prospect drafted first overall.
Anthony Davis has indeed materialized into a comprehensive basketball force.
Among league-wide power forwards, Davis ranks ninth in free-throw percentage, sixth in boards, fifth in points and second in steals. He is also the leading rebounder and second-most productive scorer for his New Orleans Pelicans.
Davis’ 27.13 player efficiency rating is the highest on this list, while his 3.2 blocks per game are tops in the Association.
“The Brow’s” 3.3 win shares are emblematic of his accomplished play on both ends of the floor.
Not only did Davis block and rebound his way into the upper echelons, he also has proven an effective scorer and fluid offensive contributor. He really did quiet the naysayers who doubted his ability to consistently make an impact with his wiry 6’10’’, 220-pound frame (myself included).
For those reasons and much more, basketball fans actively tune in to see what this remarkable player can do on a nightly basis.
Here’s to more Pelicans games being televised from here on out.
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