NBA: 5 undervalued rookies who have already proven they belong

Precious Achiuwa, Miami Heat (20th pick)

17.4 MPG, 8.3/5.3/1.0, 61.2% eFG%

We like to think that all players succeed or fail based on their own merit, but situation and team fit are often just as important as a player’s skill set and attitude. Precious Achiuwa‘s size (or lack thereof) and limited offensive arsenal made me question his potential as a prospect, but once the Miami Heat selected him with the 20th pick those doubts immediately went away. It was a perfect fit before he even had his first practice.

“Heat Culture” has become an over-used buzz word since the NBA Bubble in Orlando, but Achiuwa was the most obvious “Heat Culture” player in the draft. He’s a hard-working defender who has the athleticism to guard multiple positions and puts up quality rebounding numbers (11.0 per 36 minutes) despite being undersized for his position at 6’8″. He’s also ego-less on the offensive end, getting his points off of offensive rebounds and rim-runs rather than needing a play drawn up for him.

The raw box score stats don’t jump off the page, but his style of play combined with Miami’s scheme and track record of elite player development have Achiuwa well on his way to being a valuable rotation player on a really good team.

And not for nothing, if you’re doing a coolest names draft of NBA players he’s probably the first overall pick.