NBA Fans Buzz About Breakouts
Fans are buzzing about standout performances including Mohamed Diawara earning a Knicks playoff rotation spot, Bones Hyland's career turnaround with the Timberwolves, and Neemias Queta's best game yet. Other highlights include Jonathan Kuminga impressing in Atlanta, the 76ers' controversial Jared McCain trade, and Cade Cunningham's All-NBA level play. The Hornets continue shining with Brandon Miller emerging as a star.
The trade sending Jared McCain to the Thunder for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-rounders was met with frustration by some 76ers fans. McCain, who won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November 2024 before a meniscus tear, has flourished in Oklahoma City, averaging 11.9 points on 45% three-point shooting in nine games. Jonathan Kuminga's transition to Atlanta has been seamless, with the forward becoming the first player in Hawks history to score at least 25 points in under 30 minutes in his debut. His +39 plus-minus through his first two games was the highest for a new Hawk since at least the 1997-98 season, sparking "Thank you Warriors" chants from Atlanta fans. Cade Cunningham's All-NBA case is supported by his season averages of 25.4 points and a league-leading 9.8 assists per contest. The 2021 first overall pick's playmaking is further highlighted by an assist percentage of 42.03%, meaning he assists on over two-fifths of his teammates' field goals while on the court. Second-year wing Brandon Miller has emerged as Charlotte's top scorer, recently posting a nine-game streak with at least 20 points. During that stretch, the 2023 second-overall pick averaged 24.6 points and 3.6 made three-pointers per game. New York's Mohamed Diawara, a 19-year-old rookie, recently re-secured his spot in the playoff rotation after it was threatened by the signing of veteran Jeremy Sochan. The 51st pick in the 2025 draft is shooting 39.8% from three-point range, and in a recent win over the Bucks, he led all players with a +25 plus-minus rating in 23 minutes. Bones Hyland's career with the Timberwolves has been marked by inconsistency, but he showed his potential in a recent 117-108 victory over his former team, the Denver Nuggets. Hyland scored an efficient 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting in just 16 minutes off the bench, a significant turnaround after five consecutive games in single digits. Following the offseason departures of Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford, Neemias Queta was named the Boston Celtics' starting center. [cite
