With all the young talent in the NBA today, it can be difficult to keep up with the top young players in the league, which is why we decided to compile a list of the top five third-year NBA players in 2013-14. Many players were considered for our list, but only five could be selected and all of them have truly stepped up since entering the league just a few years ago.
Top 5 Third-Year NBA Players in 2014
5. Klay Thompson
Image courtesy of nikk_la/Flickr.
Season Stats:
- Games Played: 39/39
- Minutes Per Game: 37.8
- Points Per Game: 19.2
- Rebounds Per Game: 3.3
- Assists Per Game: 2.6
- Steals Per Game: 1
No other third-year NBA player can shoot as well as this young man, especially from beyond the ark. Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson has certainly proved he can shoot the rock through his first few seasons in the NBA, maintaining a solid shooting average each season. His stellar accuracy has been a major part in not only his growth in the NBA, but his role on the Warriors as well.
Thompson has been a key piece to the Warriors’ efficient offensive puzzle, shooting over 40 percent from the field and three-point range and becoming a perfect third scoring option behind stud Stephen Curry and workhorse David Lee. He was especially valuable to the Warriors when Andre Iguodala went down with an injury, but with Iguodala back healthy, Thompson will have more space to do what he does best.
4. Nikola Vucevic
Image courtesy of RMTip21/Flickr.
Season Stats:
- Games Played: 28/28
- Minutes Per Game: 32.2
- Points Per Game: 13
- Rebounds Per Game: 11
- Assists Per Game: 1.9
- Steals Per Game: 1.1
Nikola Vucevic has proven himself to be one of the best rebounders in the NBA. The stud big man playing for the Orlando Magic is a double-double machine, averaging 13.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game over the past two seasons. Vucevic is a quality replacement for Dwight Howard. The lack of wins for the Magic is due more to their rebuilding mode, but they have a lot of young talent, including their first-round draft pick Victor Oladipo.
3. Kemba Walker
Image courtesy Keith Allison/Flickr.
Season Stats:
- Games Played: 38/38
- Minutes Per Game: 35.6
- Points Per Game: 18.6
- Rebounds Per Game: 4.3
- Assists Per Game: 4.8
- Steals Per Game: 1.4
Coming in at No. 3 is Kemba Walker, boasting numbers very close to 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. His solid numbers have increased each year since being drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats. With a team in rebuilding mode, Walker has more than proven his worth in the NBA and looks to bring the Bobcats to the playoffs in the future. He is an all-around point guard with abilities on both ends of the floor, fighting for rebounds, steals and loose balls while staying efficient on the offensive end.
2. Kawhi Leonard
Image courtesy of SD Dirk/Flickr.
Season Stats:
- Games Played: 36/36
- Minutes Per Game: 28.9
- Points Per Game: 11.9
- Rebounds Per Game: 6.2
- Assists Per Game: 1.6
- Steals Per Game: 1.7
Kawhi Leonard lands the No. 2 spot after putting on a phenomenal show in the playoffs for the San Antonio Spurs last season. His defensive awareness and abilities are among the league’s best, despite his numbers not being as high as everyone would like. As the best defender on the Spurs, Leonard defends the best offensive player on opposing teams, from 6’8″ Lebron James to 6’3″ Stephen Curry. He averaged an impressive double-double during the finals last year, boasting over 14 points and 11 rebounds per game while defending Lebron James nearly the entire series. Leonard’s scoring is a little low this season, but he is defending as always and shooting over 50 percent from the field, no small feat for a small forward.
1. Kyrie Irving
Image courtesy of Erik Daniel Drost/Flickr.
Season Stats:
- Games Played: 34/34
- Minutes Per Game: 35.1
- Points Per Game: 21.7
- Rebounds Per Game: 3
- Assists Per Game: 6.1
- Steals Per Game: 1.2
Kyrie Irving is showing the league that not only is he a well-balanced point guard, he’s also a solid three-point threat. Though he is still a young player with a lot to learn, it is hard not to love his game and look forward to his upcoming stardom in the NBA. It will be a lot of fun watching Kyrie Irving grow into a star NBA player and possible MVP candidate in the next few years.
Featured image courtesy of Josh Hallett/Flickr.
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