The NBA is stacked with great basketball players. Unfortunately, there are only limited minutes that can be distributed to a full roster. Because of this, a lot of promising players fail to get little to no opportunity to showcase their wares. In this post, we're focusing on NBA players who need more minutes in the upcoming season.

Although this is the case, some players proved last season that they deserve to stay on the court at the very least. Last season multiple teams dealt not only with the injury bug, but they also had to endure critical absences due to covid protocols. While these were unfortunate happenings, these absences also opened up opportunities for players who rarely see the court. For this piece, let’s take a look at five players who deserve more consistent minutes next season.

NBA Players Who Need More Minutes

Thanasis Antetokounmpo

MPG: 9.7

While his brother is the MVP that led the Bucks to a championship, Thanasis Antetokounmpo has also played a key role. Although Thanasis doesn’t seem like a heavy contributor on the stat-sheet, he does provide hustle and energy for the Bucks.

With the Bucks re-signing the older Antetokounmpo for their title defense, Thanasis should get a bigger role for the Bucks. Last season, the NBA champion averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per outing. Thanasis also had a career-game earlier this year, where he registered 23 points, which was spiked by four of five shooting from beyond the arc. He also grabbed 10 rebounds.

One of Thanasis’ achievements also last season was that he led the league in loose balls recovered per 36 minutes with 2.1 per outing. This only proves his knack for 50-50 balls, which will be key for the Bucks’ chances to repeat.

Furthermore with the Bucks losing PJ Tucker, elevating Thanasis to a bigger role might reduce the blow. While Thanasis probably won’t provide the defensive level similar to what Tucker gave, he has the tools to get there. As an energy guy who can put in the effort and hustle, Thanasis just needs consistent minutes to evolve into a steady wing that can make an impact on both ends of the floor.

Tyrese Maxey

MPG: 15.3

One of the most hardworking rookies to join the Sixers, there’s no doubt that Tyrese Maxey deserves more consistent playing time. While there are still facets of his game that needs more improvement, Maxey has shown his potential last season, especially with his ability to drive to the basket. Last season, he averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 rebounds per game.

In his first career-start, Maxey stepped up his game for the short-handed Sixers, who only had seven active players while missing Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The 21st pick dropped a career-high 39 points against the Nuggets.

Although the Sixers are currently in a crisis, as the team suffered another early playoff exit and is dealing with a disgruntled Ben Simmons, they do have a promising player in Maxey. Despite being in the off-season, Maxey has been spending hours in the gym working to improve his game.

In addition to this, he also had a spectacular showing in the Summer League which makes a stronger case for him to play more minutes in the regular season. For the summer showpiece, Maxey averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.

With Ben Simmons not returning to Philly, it could be wise instead to give a bigger role to Maxey. While there will be more pressure on the shoulders of their sophomore, a young and improving Maxey can supply their needs on the offensive end as they prepare for life after Simmons.

Anfernee Simons

MPG: 17.3

The Blazers are placed under pressure to give Lillard the help he needs to win a championship. While Lillard has expressed his desire to win a championship in Portland, his championship window is slowly closing. One of the best ways for the Blazers to keep Lillard in Portland is to give an increased role for Simons.

With a great touch from the perimeter and solid athleticism, Simons is capable of being the team’s designated sixth man. In his three years in the league, Simons has showed a steady improvement in his game. While last season saw his production taking a small dip, he did shoot the ball better from beyond the arc at a career-high 42.6% clip. Simons also had a spectacular game last season against the Pacers. He dropped a season-high 27 points, where he made nine of his 10 shots from rainbow country.

Although Simons won’t be the star player that Lillard might be looking to run with, he does provide the scoring spark off the bench, which is a critical piece for championship teams. Furthermore with Chauncey Billups taking over the head coaching position, the sky’s the limit for how much Simons will further improve.

At the very least, Simons has shown he deserves to play consistent minutes off the bench. And should he thrive in a bigger role, this will allow Lillard and McCollum to have longer rest times which are critical for a deep postseason run.

Mo Bamba

MPG: 15.8

Drafted with the sixth overall pick, people had high expectations for Mo Bamba. However with the Magic keeping him glued to the bench for three seasons, it’s a big reason why his NBA stint has been underwhelming. In addition to this, injuries have also hindered Bamba from becoming a fixture in Orlando’s lineups.

But last season, Bamba didn’t completely fail to impress. Furthermore, he only proved that he deserves more minutes on the floor. His best game last season came against the Pistons. Bamba registered  a dominant 22 points and 15 rebounds per game.

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For the most part of last season, Bamba only saw action during garbage minutes. But despite his limited action, his glimpses should provide enough reason for him to see more action on the floor. Especially with Orlando moving on from Nikola Vucevic, taking a chance on the sixth overall pick isn’t all too bad for a franchise that is still in rebuilding mode.

The future is looking bright in Orlando with Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jalen Suggs. And if Bamba can find his place in the team, bigger things could be in store for this young squad. However, this will only happen if Bamba can play more minutes on the floor so he can acclimate more to the NBA style of play.

Bol Bol

MPG: 5.0

The Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, especially with Nikola Jokic manifesting his MVP form. Although they are a legitimate Western Contender, there are still some things they can do to evolve into a championship team.

Aside from addressing the absence of Jamaal Murray due to injury, the Nuggets have to find a way o utilize one of their prospects in Bol Bol. As a skilled 7’2 big man, Bol Bol has a lot of potential yet to be realized.

We saw him first ball out in the 2020 bubble in a scrimmage, as Bol Bol displayed his polished arsenal. And last season, we saw him continue to show us glimpses of what he can do. His best game came in a blow-out win over Atlanta. Bol Bol tallied eight points, spiked by two threes.

Bol Bol has shown unlimited potential, which proves that he is capable of keeping in step with the best players in the world. And with the Nuggets losing big men like Paul Millsap and Javale McGee in free-agency, it’s a no-brainer to elevate Bol Bol as part of the regular rotation. To make his case stronger, Bol Bol posted great numbers in the recently concluded Summer League. He posted 21.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per outing.