Of course, growing pains are typicalamong young hoopers. Rookies tend to hit a wall at some point in the season and then regress, mainlybecause their bodies aren’t used to the physical burden of an entire82-game NBA season.

That’s why several players need a year before taking a leap forward. They need to bulk up, get a hold of anew offensive and defensive schemes, and watch hours of film before bringing out the best of their game. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three young players ready to break out in their second season.

NBA News: 3 Players Ready To Break Out In Their Second Year

3. Joshua Primo

With the San Antonio Spurs looking to tank in 2022-23, Joshua Primo should get as many offensive touches as he can handle. Doug McDermott is a prime trade candidate, so he should have no trouble logging big minutes at the small forward spot.

Primo is a great shooter with the potential to be a 50/40/90 scorer at the NBA level. He may not be an explosive athlete, but he is a good-enough defender, slasher, and shooter to thrive in Gregg Popovich’s old-school system.

2. Alperen Sengun

Alperen Sengun will start at center for the Houston Rockets after spending one season backing up Christian Wood. And even on limited minutes, the Turkish big man showed glimpses of greatness as a low-post scoring threat and playmaker.

The Rockets won’t win many games next season, but they’ll still be must-watch television. Jabari Smith will counter Sengun’s defensive flaws, and he should be a nightly threat to score 20+ with 10+ rebounds. He’s a flashy passer that’ll make them quite fun.

1. Jonathan Kuminga

The Golden State Warriors lost three key defenders in Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, and Juan Toscano-Anderson. On the flip side, that means Jonathan Kuminga will get a massive boost in minutes, and he’s already shown the potential of being an elite two-way player.

Kuminga is a gifted athlete and switchable defender who can guard multiple positions. He can score from all three levels and should get plenty of wide-open looks in Steve Kerr’s motion offense. The Warriors want to keep the dynasty alive, and Kuminga will play a vital role in that.

That’s why just a handful of first-year players make the rounds in their debut season. Others need a while longer to develop or be in a more favorable position, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have superstar potential as well.

Last season, some rookies showed glimpses of great potential, but either hit a wall, didn’t get enough minutes, or their team was stacked at their position. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 5 second-year players likely to break out next season.

NBA 2022-23: 5 Second-Year Players Ready To Break Out

5. Bones Hyland

Nah’Shon ‘Bones’ Hyland slowly worked his way into the Denver Nuggets’ rotation last season. He brought an instant spark of energy off the bench, showed a streaky scoring ability, and often made the right read as a playmaker.

His game was promising enough for the Nuggets to let both Facundo Campazzo and Monte Morris go in the offseason. He’s now expected to log heavy minutes as the de factoPG, even when Jamal Murray is back on the court. He could put up 15+ points and 7+ assists a night.

4. Moses Moody

Moses Moody didn’t get much run as a rookie. But his ability to play at both guard spots and even some small forward will come in quite handily for Steve Kerr as he looks to adapt his new lineups with Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, and Nemanja Bjelica all gone.

Moody’s never-ending drive will keep their rivals on their toes. He’s athletic, fast, and shot 43% from the floor on limited minutes as a rookie. He can score from all three levels, create for others, and bulked up throughout the season, so expect him to be even more aggressive.

3. Joshua Primo

The San Antonio Spurs will likely trade Doug McDermott and roll with Devin Vassell at the two, leaving Joshua Primo as thestarting small forward for next season. He’s one of the best shooters in his class and will most definitely make the most of those extra touches.

Primo showed elite defensive prowess during his time in college, and his length and lateral quickness help him cover a lot of ground. He should be one of the focal points of Gregg Popovich’s offense on a not-so-good Spurs team next season.

2. Jonathan Kuminga

Jonathan Kuminga has superstar potential. His NBA-ready body helped him get multiple stops on defense and drive to the lane with ease. He can score from all three levelsand is a much better ball handler than people give him credit for.

Kuminga is the Golden State Warriors’ only hope to be as good as they were last season. They lost three of their best defenders in the offseason and will need him to log heavy minutes at both forward spots to make up for that.

1. Alperen Sengun

Alperen Sengun showed his smooth touch around the rim in the second half of last season. And now that Christian Wood was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, he’ll have virtually no competition for minutes at both the four and the five next season.

Sengun has elite handles and playmaking skills for a big man and even some range. He’s a walking double-double and great in help defense as a shot-blocker, albeit he often gets beat in the pick-and-roll. He could average 20-10 for the young Houston Rockets.