Page 27 - Sports Illustrated for Kids Magazine (December 2019)

NEXT BIG THINGS

So who is poised for a breakout this year? These four youngsters
play crucial roles for teams with playoff aspirations.

JOSH RICHARDSON

76ERS SHOOTING GUARD
Replacing JJ Redick’s outside
shooting is of paramount
importance for the Sixers, but
Richardson has a bigger role than
that. Coach Brett Brown called him
the team’s “mortar.”

CARIS LEVERT

NETS SMALL FORWARD
A two-way playmaker nicknamed
Baby Durant in college, Levert
was Brooklyn’s best player in its
postseason series with Philly. If he
improves from three, look out.

DERRICK WHITE
´
Denver needs that. Jokic and
forward Paul Millsap are much more SPURS POINT GUARD
unassuming by nature. It’s often Murray Sure, San Antonio’s backcourt
who supplies the Nuggets their nerve, is crowded, so White’s numbers
for better or worse. might not dazzle. But he
MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY IMAGES (RICHARDSON); ROB TRINGALI (LEVERT); GREG NELSON (WHITE);
showed flashes in the playoffs
NBA defenses are far too good for a
(a 36-point game) and played
contending team to never take chances.
his way onto Team USA.
There will always come a time for
players to do more than they should.
To step beyond themselves. Murray is
suited for that, because of the way his
game fits any moment. BAM ADEBAYO
“You don’t want to be the selfish point HEAT CENTER
KENT SMITH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (ADEBAYO) makes plays, and see the ball move stretch. He’ll see more time with
Adebayo averaged 11.6 points and
guard,” Murray says. “You want to be
9.2 rebounds in 22 starts down the
the guy that gets everybody open, that
Hassan Whiteside gone. His size and
before it goes in. That’s kind of our
speed make him a threat against
team. That’s how we play. But I could
any lineup.
be a much better scorer. I’ve got a lot
of stuff that I haven’t been able to

show yet.”
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