Lost in the Miami Heat’s red-hot start to the season is the impressive play of Goran Dragic as a super sixth man. He’s been a game-changer this season
Just after the Miami Heat earned a commitment from Jimmy Butler when free agency opened this past offseason, the team was reportedly trying to unload Goran Dragic‘s expiring contract in order to make salary cap room to ink Butler.
But after a deal to move Dragic to the Dallas Mavericks fell through – for one reason or another – it left both the team and Dragic in an awkward situation. It didn’t get any easier when the team named Justise Winslow the starting point guard on opening night.
However, through the first 10 games of the season, Dragic has taken the professional route after nearly being traded and then losing his starting spot. Dragic has embraced being the team’s sixth man and, at the very least, has entered the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year race.
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Through the first 10 games, in which the Heat have gotten off to a 7-3 start, Dragic is averaging 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range.
He’s currently ranked fifth in the NBA in bench scoring but is arguably have the most positive impact on his team. While Lou Williams is certainly the favorite to win the award, as he leads the best bench in the league with the LA Clippers, you could make the argument that Dragic has been one of the most impactful bench players this season.
Here are the league leaders in bench scoring this season:
- Lou Williams: 22 PPG
- Montrezl Harrell: 20 PPG
- Devonte Graham: 18 PPG
- Spencer Dinwiddie: 17 PPG
- Goran Dragic: 17 PPG
Without Dragic, I’m not sure where the Heat would be right now. With Justise Winslow bouncing in and out of the lineup, due to multiple ailments, so far this season, and with Jimmy Butler missing the first three games of the season, Dragic has been a calming force on the team this season.
He’s been a rock when the Heat has needed a steady scoring threat off the bench and has been everything you’d want from a locker room leader. He’s gelled nicely with Jimmy Butler and, for the first time in probably over a year, looks healthy again.
Plus, at this point in his career, a super sixth man role is probably best for Dragic. He might not be able to put together many 30-plus efficient minute games at this point in his career, but an efficient 20-25 minutes is just as valuable for a Heat team that has numerous emerging young players and a legit star in Butler.
As often has been the case throughout his career, Dragic has been overlooked thus far as a possible Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Though, if you’ve been keeping an eye on the Heat’s early-season success, there’s no question that Dragic deserves some love.
When he had every right pout about not being named the starting point guard to start the season – something that one of his teammates has done this season – Dragic decided to keep his head down and continue to work hard and control the things that he can control.
It has resulted in being the team’s second-leading scorer and vaulted his name into the early race for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. If the Heat continues to be successful and surprise the masses, there’s no question that one of the big reasons why will be the emergence of Goran Dragic as a dangerous bench weapon.