Bleacher Report lists Aleksej Pokusevski as breakout candidate for 2022-23 season

Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley named the top 10 NBA players who could break out during the 2022-23 regular season.

Breakouts occur for players due to a combination of age, experience, development and comfort level. It usually occurs with players heading into their second or third season in the league because the rookie season is spent getting acclimated to the NBA schedule.

Due to this, the list is filled with relatively young players. The Oklahoma City Thunder have one surprising entry on the list: Aleksej Pokusevski at No. 10.

The 20-year-old is entering his third season, which is about the time a breakout happens if one occurs. Here’s what Buckley had to say about Pokusevski:

No. 10: Aleksej Pokusevski

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“This is either audacious or absurd, as Aleksej Pokusevski has both a mountain of upside and a glaring lack of polish. That combination has so far manifested in a 37.6 career field-goal percentage for the 7-footer.

Clearly, that potential is prioritized here, thanks in no small part to some brief flashes of improvement last season. While the sample size is admittedly minuscule, it’s hard not to get giddy about the way he handled his eight outings of 30-plus minutes, during which he averaged 13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks.

‘If you looked at certain points of Poku’s season last year, you would have been like, geez, this is rough,’ Thunder general manager Sam Presti told reporters. ‘And then there would be other nights where he’d be — by the end of the year, he’s really improved.’

If Pokusevski ever puts it all together, he could be special. There aren’t a lot of 7-footers who are as comfortable on the perimeter as he is.

Predicting a breakout requires a certain level of boldness, since his game and frame could both use more work, but his talent and opportunity — with Chet Holmgren (foot) sidelined for the season and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (MCL sprain) already on the shelf — just might make it happen.”