Slow-starting careers don't always end up badly

Think about this: Of the nine players awarded MVPs this decade, three did not average more than 10 points a game as rookies.

Dirk Nowitzki (drafted in 1998), Steve Nash ('96) and Kobe Bryant ('96), those three low-scoring rookies who would grow to be MVPs, have since become three of the biggest names in the NBA. Yet there was a time when circumstances, unrealized potential and other factors had us wondering if they'd ever become stable contributors, let alone MVPs.

How did those three become MVPs? For Bryant it was the combination of playing time, a feverish drive for success and a trade that cleared a positional logjam (L.A. trading Eddie Jones to Charlotte).

A change of scenery helped Nash in 1998, when he went from Suns backup to starter for the Mavs. Ironically, of course, he eventually went on to win his back-to-back MVPs with the Suns. Nowitzki struggled to adapt to the speed and power of NBA players in his rookie season and often looked lost. Yet the following season, he more than doubled his scoring average, gradually became a team leader and is now in the upper echelon of the NBA.

Those three players embody what Five on the Rise is all about.

Let's make this clear: The Five on the Rise isn't a future MVP search. We're looking at non-rookie players who seemingly come out of nowhere to make solid contributions to their teams each week.

Think players who go from the bench to the award podium in a season (a la Gilbert Arenas). NBA D-League players who successfully transition to the NBA (Ramon Sessions, Chris Andersen, etc.) make our cut. So do players who needed more minutes or new scenery (Monta Ellis, Al Jefferson, Mehmet Okur) to realize their potential. Even the occasional veteran -- Chauncey Billups in Minnesota and Detroit, anyone? -- is eligible for Five on the Rise.

While scoring prowess and individual stats count, we'll consider how those stats fit into the whole picture, too. Simply put: Piling up stats doesn't guarantee a spot.

This column is all about looking at little-known or all-but-forgotten players who have turned the spotlight on themselves with their play. Each week, I'll put together a "starting five" of those who rose to the occasion in the past week.

At the end of the season, I'll pick the five highest risers. Like any good introductory column of this ilk, here are my picks for the five we might see standing here at the end of the season.

NBA.com's Five on the Rise are just one man's opinion and are released every Thursday during the season. If you've got an issue with the names on this list, or have a question or comment for Jeff Case, send him an e-mail

PG. Randy Foye, Washington Wizards

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
1	30.0	19.0	3.0	1.0	2.0	0.0	.571	.333	1.00

Last Week's Rank - N/A
After struggling through positional pileups and injuries in his first two seasons in Minnesota, Foye carved out a decent season for himself in 2008-09 with the Wolves. His play caught the eye of Washington enough to deal the No. 5 pick to Minnesota for Foye (and Mike Miller). Given Gilbert Arenas' injury history -- in case you missed it, Gil has missed 149 of 161 possible games over the last two seasons -- Foye easily could step into the void should Arenas go down with an injury again. Even if Arenas stays healthy all season, Foye could become a backcourt mate with Arenas or come off the bench, too. Coach Flip Saunders experimented with both in the preseason and, while Foye's scoring was higher as a starter (15.3 ppg) compared to a reserve (10.8 ppg), the Wizards were 3-2 with Foye as a reserve (compared to 1-2 when he started). Don't forget, too, that Saunders has done this trick before: A young guard named Chauncey Billups once saw his career reach new heights when he subbed in for an injury-riddled Terrell Brandon in 2001-02.

SG. Courtney Lee, New Jersey Nets

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
1	38.0	5.0	3.0	2.0	1.0	0.0	.182	.000	1.00

Last Week's Rank - N/A
Lee was none too happy when he went from a budding contender in sunny Orlando to a rebuilding squad in chilly New Jersey as part of the summer trade that sent Vince Carter to the Magic. But Carter's depature clears the way for a go-to scorer on the Nets and Lee has a good opportunity to distinguish himself from the pack to take the job. Lee averaged 16.2 ppg and 2.0 spg in the preseason, numbers virtually identical to the guys he's trying to pull away from: Chris Douglas-Roberts (18.0, 2.1) and rookie Terrence Williams (11.3, 2.7). Call it a hunch, but we think Lee's experience of playing major minutes on a Finals team should give him the nod over Douglas-Roberts and Williams.

C. Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
1	30.0	28.0	5.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	.733	.667	1.00

Last Week's Rank - N/A
For three seasons, the Raptors have been trying to get the most out of Bargnani while not taking away from All-Star Chris Bosh's role as the offense's focal point. The former No. 1 pick of the 2006 draft dealt with consistency issues his first two seasons and often struggled to put up solid scoring games regularly. In fact, his longest streak of double-figure scoring during his first two seasons was only seven games. Last season, Bargnani seemed to put things together. He had streaks of 10 and 12 games in which he scored at least 10 points while recording career bests in 3-pointers made (119), field-goal percentage (45.0) and 3-point field-goal percentage (40.9). Despite the fact the Raptors were out of the playoff race fairly early last season, Bargnani didn't waste the season. Aside from a career-best scoring mark (15.4 ppg), the big Italian seemed to mesh better with Bosh on the court. The duo flashed signs of becoming a formidable inside-outside combo. The Raptors showed confidence in Bargnani's ability by rewarding him with a five-year, $50 million extension and calling him part of the Raptors' future. Now it's up to Bargnani to become consistent, continue playing off Bosh and be more of a defensive force to truly make Toronto a contender.

SF. Hakim Warrick, Milwaukee Bucks

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--

Last Week's Rank - N/A
Although he may see more time at power forward (or small forward, or even center) in Milwaukee, Warrick seems primed for a big season wherever he is played. The past three seasons, Warrick has shown the ability to be a consistent double-double threat when he's given 30-35 minutes a night. For Warrick to hold down the starting gig in Milwaukee, he'll have to impress coach Scott Skiles with his defense first -- which has never been Warrick's forte. Given that penciled-in starting small forward Joe Alexander is already out 8-12 weeks (hamstring) and center Andrew Bogut missed 43 games with a back injury last season, Warrick could be looking at a prime opportunity to show off his skills.

PF. Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
1	30.0	11.0	9.0	2.0	0.0	2.0	.750	.000	.625

Last Week's Rank - N/A
It's hard to scoff at Thompson's stats last season (11.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 17 double-doubles), but being on an awful Kings team didn't earn him much national recognition (he got only seven All-Rookie team votes). Thompson seems determined to keep upping his production and recogntion, though, as he put together a decent Summer League (19.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 45.9 FG pct.) and an even-better preseason (13.9 ppg, 9.0 rpg). He went off for 20 points and 20 rebounds against the Warriors in the preseason, something the Kings' brass hopes is a sign of things to come. With a frontline short on rebounders and a team that was among the league's worst at both rebounding and defense, there's no reason to think Thompson can't emerge even more this season.