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They might not be household names just yet, but these 10 players are ready to make an impact during the 2000-01 season. Click on any smaller image to enlarge.

Ten to Watch

Austin Croshere The 6-9 Pacers forward struggled to break into a veteran lineup during his first two seasons in Indiana, playing in just 53 games while battling injuries. But the California native improved in 1999-2000, averaging 10.3 points off the bench. He was even more impressive during Indiana's playoff run, which ended against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The forward averaged 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds, finally exhibiting the talent that prompted the Pacers to draft him 12th overall in the 1997 NBA Draft. The Pacers rewarded Croshere by signing him to a seven-year, $51 million deal. New head coach Isiah Thomas has assured him a starting role next to Jalen Rose and veteran Reggie Miller.

Larry Hughes Hughes got the break he needed last season when he was traded from Philadelphia to Golden State on Feb. 16. Without Allen Iverson in the same backcourt, Hughes was able to exhibit his offensive skills, and the 6-5 guard flourished. Hughes averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.08 steals while averaging 20.4 minutes in 50 games -- but only five starts -- for the 76ers. In his time with the Warriors, he started in all 32 games and averaged 22.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.91 steals in 40.8 minutes per game as Golden State's main option on offense. Hughes, who scored in double digits in 31 of his 32 games as a Warrior, closed the season with a flurry as well, averaging 29.3 points per game during the last six games, including a career-high 44-point effort against Denver on April 9.

Rashard Lewis Thanks to additional playing time during the 1999-2000 season, Lewis made enormous strides in his second year as a pro. At just 21, the Sonics' second-round draft choice in 1998 played in all 82 games, averaging 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds. As a rookie straight out of high school in Texas, the 6-10 forward had played in just 20 games and averaged only 7.3 minutes, 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds. Lewis had a strong finish last season (14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds over his last 12 games), and in Seattle's first-round playoff series against Utah, he averaged 15.4 points -- second on the team behind Gary Payton (25.9 ppg). Sonics management was impressed enough to give him a three-year, $13 million contract during the offseason.

Shawn Marion The Suns' Marion made an immediate impact in the NBA, posting the first of seven double-doubles (14 points, 14 rebounds) in his NBA debut at Denver on opening night. The 6-7 forward averaged 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds as a rookie, despite missing 31 games because of a knee injury. Marion started 38 games, averaging 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds 1.4 assists, 1.04 blocks and 0.75 steals while playing 24.7 minutes per game. The 22-year-old ranked first in free-throw percentage, third in rebounding and seventh in scoring among rookies.

Kenyon Martin Martin enters the season less than a year after breaking his right leg and incurring major ankle ligament damage, which ended his senior season at Cincinnati. Can the NBA's No. 1 draft pick make an impact in his rookie season? The Nets are banking on it. In addition to his offensive prowess, the hard-nosed rookie gives the underachieving Nets an inside presence they've been missing since Jayson Williams left the club. Martin, who averaged 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.45 blocks last season, swept national college player-of-the-year honors. He followed that up by working hard this offseason at a big-man's camp in Hawaii against players like Austin Croshere, Sean Elliott and Shawn Bradley.

Andre Miller After leaving the University of Utah as the school's all-time leader in steals (with 254) and second in career assists (721), Miller joined the Cavaliers as the eighth overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft. The point guard enjoyed a solid, if unexpected, rookie season in 1999-2000, averaging 11.2 ppg and 5.8 assists, second among all first-year players. Miller, who ranked sixth among rookie scorers, played in all 82 games, improving as the season progressed on a mediocre Cleveland squad. With the loss of Shawn Kemp, Miller will be looked to for more offensive production.

Lamar Odom Despite playing only one year at the University of Rhode Island, Odom didn't miss a beat in his rookie season. The 6-10 forward averaged 16.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists to finish second in the Rookie of the Year balloting behind co-winners Elton Brand and Steve Francis. Odom, who was the fourth overall pick in the 1999 draft, also had three triple-doubles. Maurice Taylor and Derek Anderson, the Clippers' top two scorers last season, left during the offseason via free agency, so Odom should have even more opportunities to shine on offense this year. With the addition of forwards Corey Maggette and Darius Miles, he should also benefit from having players around him who have similar run-and-gun games.

Maurice Taylor After rumors that the free-agent forward was signing with Orlando, Seattle and New York, Taylor joined Houston instead this offseason. The Rockets, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992, finished 34-48 last season. Taylor, 23, will join promising youngsters Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley in a rebuilding program. Taylor, who averaged 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, was the Clippers' 1997 first-round pick out of Michigan and was named to the NBA's All-Rookie second team. A change of atmosphere, not to mention the presence of coach Rudy Tomjanovich, should prove helpful to this budding star.

Tim Thomas The 23-year-old forward is coming off the best season of his three-year career, during which he averaged 11.8 points per game and 4.2 rebounds for the up-and-coming Bucks. Thomas emerged as one of the top sixth men in the NBA, while steadily improving his game as the year progressed. The season culminated with the 6-foot-10 forward scoring 15.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg in a five-game series with the Pacers. After testing the free-agent market this offseason -- at one point, Thomas nearly signed with the Chicago Bulls -- he opted to stay with Milwaukee, signing a six-year, $66 million deal with the club. With the new deal, Bucks head coach George Karl has assured Thomas more playing time.

Bonzi Wells Gawen Deangelo "Bonzi" Wells became the Mid-American Conference's all-time leader in career points while at Ball State. Those numbers, however, did not immediately translate into pro success, as Wells scored just 31 points in seven games during his rookie season in 1998-99. The 23-year-old wasn't much better in 1999-2000, averaging only 8.8. points per game during the regular season. It wasn't until Game 2 of the conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz that Wells excelled, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter. From then on he was a force, with his strongest game coming in a playoff career-high, 20-point performance against the Lakers in Game 7 of the Conference Finals.

Photographs (top to bottom) by Bob Rosato, John W. McDonough, John Biever, Manny Millan, John Biever, Bob Rosato, John Biever, Manny Millan, John W. McDonough (2)

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