10. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander
The OKC Thunder finished 14th in the Western Conference standings. They had one of the worst runs in the 2020-21 NBA regular season. They have struggled offensively, and have relied completely on the consistency of Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. Despite their poor campaign, Shai Alexander continued his brilliant performance. He carried the whole team through the season. He averaged 23.7 points per game and a field goal percentage of .508. Making him one of the most prominent scorers during the 2020-21 regular season.
9. RJ Barrett
A shooting guard and small forward, he was selected third overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks after one year with the Duke Blue Devils program. With the Canadian national under-19 team, Barrett was named MVP at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup after leading his team to a gold medal. In the season 20-21, He is the only player who featured in all 72 regular-season games for the New York Knicks. With enormous talent and his skills, and great understanding of the game, Barrett finished the campaign as the second-leading scorer behind Julius Randle for the Knicks.
8. Mikal Bridges
One of the talented youngsters who played for Phoenix Suns. In 2018, Bridges was selected with the tenth overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 NBA draft. In season 2021, Bridges helped the Phoenix Suns advance to the 2021 NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals. On January 9, 2021, Bridges recorded a new career-high of 34 points in a 125–117 win over the Indiana Pacers. He also helped the Suns start their season with a 7–3 record, their best 10-game start to a season since 2009. Bridges started all 72 games for the Suns this season, averaging 13.5 points with a field goal percentage of 0.543, improving his shooting from distance efficiency than the last 2 seasons.
7. Jerami Grant
On November 22, 2020, Grant signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Detroit Pistons through a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets. During the 2020-21 NBA season, with the Detroit Pistons, Grant has been having a breakout season, emerging as a star player in the NBA. On February 17, 2021, Grant scored a career-high 43 points in a 105–102 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Feb 17, 2021. He finished the regular season averaging 22.3 points per game.
6. De’Aaron Fox
On November 25, 2020, Fox signed a contract extension with the Kings. And had a breakout season this year. The Sacramento Kings finished the 2020-21 NBA regular season 12th in the Western Conference. Although they didn’t have a very good campaign, with the worst defensive rating in the league. He led the team in points (25.2), assists (7.2), and steals (1.5). Fox was named Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career averaging 31 Points & nearly 9 assists while winning all 4 games in the first week of February and Fox scored a career-high 44 points on 16-of-22 from the field in a 141–119 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
5. Terry Rozier
Rozier came to the Charlotte Hornets, as part of a sign-and-trade deal involving Kemba Walker. In one of the matches of season 20-21, Rozier put up a career-high 42 points, along with three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block, in a 121–114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This has been his best season so far in the NBA. Rozier averaged 20.4 points and shot 45% from the field.
4. Jaylen Brown
During the 2016 NBA draft, he was selected by the Celtics with the third overall pick. As a professional, he has split his time between shooting guard and small forward. On Dec 30, Brown scored a career-high 42 points along with five rebounds and four assists in a 126–107 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. His career-best season ended in not the best manner as had to undergo wrist surgery and missed the NBA playoffs, which caused a big loss to the team. Brown was the second-leading scorer for the Boston Celtics behind Jayson Tatum during the regular season. He averaged 24.7 points while shooting 48.4% from the field.
3. Michael Porter Jr.
Michael was selected 14th overall by the Nuggets in the 2018 NBA draft. He was sidelined with a back injury for the entire 2018-19 campaign and didn’t play the whole season. And after returning from the suspension of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Porter Jr. led the Nuggets to their first victory in the Orlando bubble, scoring a then career-high 37 points en route to a 121–113 overtime win over Oklahoma City Thunder. He also scored a career-high 39 points in a 129–116 win over the Houston Rockets. He finished the season with an average of 19 points and is keeping his team in contention for the championship.
2.Julius Randle
Julius Randle was a first-time NBA All-star. He was awarded the NBA Most Improved Player award in his second season with the Knicks in 2020–21. Randle tied his season-high 44 points, while also recording 10 rebounds and 7 assists, to lead the Knicks to a 117–109 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. He finished the regular season with a double-double, averaging 24.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
1. Zion Williamson
Williamson was selected by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He was in the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020. He was the 4th youngest NBA player to be selected to an All-Star game. Williamson scored a new career-high 36 points in a 143–130 defeat against the Dallas Mavericks; he finished the game on 14/15 shooting, making him the youngest player in NBA history with 30 points on 90 percent shooting. Williamson finished the regular season with an average of 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. In the process, he surpassed Shaquille O’Neal’s 2001-02 record of 20.1 points in the paint.
