NBA: 5 players taking a ‘leap’ in their game at the quarter-mark of the season
Exploring five players (and a few honorable mentions) that are taking a ‘leap’ in their game at the quarter mark of the NBA season
As we pass the quarter-way point in the season, the NBA has, for the most part, met its expectations. James Harden is leading the league in scoring, Giannis is dominating the East, and the New York Knicks continue to find a new bottom.
There are also some unexpected developments: Golden State is looking forward to the NBA Draft Lottery, Phoenix is in the playoff-picture (kind of), and several players are playing much better than anyone anticipated. Among the players making “the leap,” some are more surprising than others.
Honorable Mentions: They were already good
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
While Luka is the best player discussed, he doesn’t get the nod because he was already viewed as an emerging star and the future of the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic is coming off of a historic rookie season where he won rookie of the year and with the numbers of an established veteran. “Luka Legend” finished the season averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, six assists, and won Rookie of the Year.
Thus far this season, he’s been considerably better, piling up averages of 30.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 9.2 assists. Furthermore, Luka boasts a +17 net rating and leads the league in BPM (13.9) and VORP (3.0).
Lastly, Basketball Reference’s MVP Award Tracker considers Luka a top-three candidate, not too bad for a 20-year-old. Be sure to send condolences to Kings fans; they’re in for a rough decade.
https://twitter.com/BR_NBA/status/1203425447700287489?s=20
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Since the departure of Hassan Whiteside, Bam Adebayo has taken over as the starting center for the Miami Heat. This change is long overdue, as Adebayo has showcased the required skill set to be a starter and a legitimate rim protector since his rookie season.
This season, Adebayo is posting a career-high in BPM, WS/48, TS%, and has managed to maintain or exceed past averages even with an increased role.
Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers
Malcolm Brogdon made a name for himself as Giannis’ sidekick in Milwaukee, where he provided the necessary skill set for the role. His playmaking and skilled shooting allowed him to play either as a shooter alongside Giannis or as a backup point guard. Brogdon exemplified this by being the only member of the elite 50/40/90 club member last season.
However, injury concerns, especially to his foot, were enough to convince the Bucks front office not to offer a lucrative contract.
But since moving on, he has proved to be more than a sidekick with the Pacers. Brogdon is leading the team in points, assists, BPM, and WS/48. Also, his 36.1 percent assist rate places him in the top five percent of all guards in the NBA. It will be interesting to see how Indiana adjusts when Victor Oladipo returns from his injury.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Dating back to his days at Oklahoma, Trae Young has shown that he’s an immensely talented player. The combination of his limitless shooting range and skilled playmaking makes him a prototypical point guard for the modern NBA. While the talent was always there, he fell victim to the learning curve during his rookie year.
Young has demonstrated the development that many would expect from a top-five pick. Thus far, “Ice Trae” has drastically improved his shooting and playmaking, he’s averaging nearly 30 points per game, and his assist percentage (40.0%) ranks in the top one percent. As a result, he improved his offensive box plus/minus from 1.8 to 7.5, and the Hawks’ offense scores 18.8 more points per 100 possessions when he’s on the court, per Basketball-Reference.
Young still has work to do defensively, but he’s quickly becoming one of the best offensive players in the league.