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5 NBA Players Enjoying Breakout Seasons in 2019-20

By Steven Kubitza

New Orleans Pelicans' Brandon Ingram is breaking out since his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans Pelicans' Brandon Ingram is breaking out since his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

The 2019-20 NBA season is two months old and there are already countless storylines to follow. Many deal with the usual stars, but there are some breakout players early on in the season that deserve more attention from NBA fans. These five stand out above the rest of league for jumping out to a hot start and being pleasant surprises.

5. Jaylen Brown

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown / Omar Rawlings/Getty Images

Jaylen Brown has been one of the Celtics' best offensive players in 2019, and he just put up a career-high 34 points against the Cavaliers. That's the fourth 30-point game of the year for the 23-year-old, and he's averaging career best's across the board. Helping the Celtics climb into the No. 2 seed in the East, Brown is truly emerging as a franchise cornerstone in his fourth year in the league.

4. Malcolm Brogdon

Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon
Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon / Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Malcolm Brogdon has been vital to the Pacers' success in 2019-20. After inking a four-year deal with the team in the offseason, he's showcasing his worth as a starting point guard and leading the team to the fifth seed in the East thus far. He's averaging a career-high 18.3 points, 7.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game and is emerging as a future star in Indiana after spending three years with the Bucks.

3. Brandon Ingram

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram / Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Ingram is having a career year in his new home. He is averaging 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for the Pelicans. He has failed to reach double digits in points only once and has eclipsed the 30-point mark seven times. The former No. 2 overall pick has emerged as an All-Star caliber player, and while the Pelicans are struggling to compete in the West, he's certainly helping to make up for the loss of Anthony Davis.

2. Spencer Dinwiddie

Spencer Dinwiddie has become a star in Brooklyn.
Spencer Dinwiddie has become a star in Brooklyn. / Matteo Marchi/Getty Images

Dinwiddie has filled the void of the missing Kyrie Irving by emerging as a star in Brooklyn. He is scoring nearly 23 points per game in over 30 minutes a night. The former G-Leaguer leads the Nets in both points and assists after receiving a nice contract extension last season. Irving's extended absence would hurt much more if Dinwiddie were not around to carry the load for Brooklyn.

1. Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo is a key piece in Miami's success.
Bam Adebayo is a key piece in Miami's success. / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Adebayo is only in his third season and is already looking like a star in Miami. He is averaging a double-double this season and also dishes out an average of over four assists per game, an excellent tally for a big man. He is averaging career-highs in points, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, and minutes, and is second on the Heat in PER, only trailing Jimmy Butler.