5 NBA Gems You Might Have Missed This Season
Contents
- The NBA season is in Full Swing and there are plenty of storylines to keep up with.
- However, with so much happening, it’s easy to miss some of the great moments and players around the league.
- Here are five NBA gems you might have missed this season:
- 1. Kemba Walker’s return to Charlotte
- 2. The Houston Rockets’ red-hot start
- 3. Nikola Jokic’s triple-double streak
- 4. Donovan Mitchell’s breakout season
- 5. Joel Embiid’s MVP-caliber play
Here are 5 NBA gems you might have missed this season! If you Love Basketball you won’t want to miss these highlights.
The NBA season is in Full Swing and there are plenty of storylines to keep up with.
From the Golden State Warriors’ pursuit of history to the drama surrounding the league’s MVP Race there’s no shortage of stories to follow in the NBA this season But with so much attention focused on the league’s marquee teams and players, some great performances are inevitably going to slip through the cracks.
Here are five players who have flown under the radar this season, but are nonetheless having excellent campaigns:
1. Kemba Walker Charlotte Hornets
Walker is averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game while shooting a personal-best 43.4 percent from three-point range and he’s doing it on a Hornets team that doesn’t have much else going for it. The Hornets are currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but Walker has been a bright spot in what has otherwise been a disappointing season in Charlotte.
2. Rudy Gobert Utah Jazz
Gobert has emerged as one of the best Defensive Players in the league over the past few seasons, and he’s taken his game to another level this year. The 7-foot-1 center is averaging 2.6 blocks per game and his defensive rating of 97.1 is second in the NBA among players who have played at least 25 games this season. He’s also been a force on the glass, pulling down 9.6 rebounds per game
3. Jrue Holiday New Orleans Pelicans
Holiday is putting up career-highs in points (19.0), assists (9.1) and steals (1.7) per game this season, and he’s been crucial to the Pelicans’ success in Anthony Davis’ absence due to injury. New Orleans has struggled since Davis went down with a Knee Injury last month, but Holiday has kept them afloat with his stellar play at both ends of the court.
4. Danilo Gallinari, Los Angeles Clippers
Gallinari is having his best season since 2013-14 when he was last named an All-Star, averaging 19 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from three-point range for a Clippers team that’s been decimated by injuries all season long With Blake Griffin sidelined indefinitely due to knee surgery and Chris Paul out for at least six weeks with a thumb injury, Gallinari will need to keep up his strong play if the Clippers are going to stay afloat in the Western Conference playoff race until their star players return from injury.
5. Victor Oladipo Indiana Pacers
Oladipo is having a breakout year in his first season with Indiana after being traded from Oklahoma City over the summer, posting career-highs in points (22), rebounds (5) and assists (4) per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range for a Pacers team that currently sits atop the Central Division standings thanks largely to Oladipo’s play
However, with so much happening, it’s easy to miss some of the great moments and players around the league.
The National Basketball Association has been on a roll lately. Record-breaking TV ratings, marquee matchups, and an influx of young superstar talent has the league as popular as its ever been. And with the NBA Finals right around the corner, fans are more focused on the sport than ever before.
However, with so much happening, it’s easy to miss some of the great moments and players around the league. So in case you’ve been too busy to keep up with everything, here are five NBA gems you might have missed this season:
1. Donovan Mitchell’s Rise in Utah
2. The New-Look Cleveland Cavaliers
3. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Resurgence
4. Victor Oladipo’s Breakout Season in Indiana
5. The Philadelphia 76ers’ Process Finally Paying Off
Here are five NBA gems you might have missed this season:
With the NBA season well underway, there have been plenty of highlights and impressive performances to keep fans entertained. However, there are always a few players who fly under the radar and don’t get the attention they deserve. Here are five NBA gems you might have missed this season:
1. Montrezl Harrell Los Angeles Clippers
Harrell has been a key player for the Clippers off the bench, averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds per game. He is a force on both ends of the court and has helped the Clippers stay competitive in a tough Western Conference
2. Julius Randle New York Knicks
Randle has been one of the few bright spots for the Knicks this season, averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds per game. He has been consistent all season long and has given Knicks fans something to cheer for in an otherwise disappointing year.
3. Brandon Ingram Los Angeles Lakers
Ingram is starting to come into his own as a go-to scorer for the Lakers. He is averaging 18 points per game and has shown flashes of greatness with his scoring ability and playmaking skills.
4. Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics
Brown is having a breakout season for the Celtics, averaging 20 points and 6 rebounds per game. He has stepped up his game in recent weeks and is starting to establish himself as one of the best young players in the league.
5. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
Siakam was recently named Eastern Conference Player of the Month after averaging 23 points and 7 rebounds per game in January. He has been a key player for the Raptors all season long and is starting to gain national attention as one of the best players in the league.
1. Kemba Walker’s return to Charlotte
1. Kemba Walker’s return to Charlotte
In his first game back in Charlotte since signing with the Boston Celtics Kemba Walker didn’t shy away from his former home fans. He put up a season-high 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting, leading the Celtics to a 112-106 win over the Hornets.
2. The Houston Rockets’ red-hot start
The Houston Rockets have been one of the most dominant teams in the NBA this season. They currently boast a league-best record of 20-4, and their +12.2 average Point Differential is the best in the NBA. The Rockets have been red-hot lately, winning 14 of their last 15 games.
Much of the credit for the Rockets’ success this season goes to their two stars, James Harden and Chris Paul Harden is averaging a league-leading 31.3 points per game and he’s also chipping in 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. Paul, meanwhile, is averaging 19.5 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 41.5 percent from three-point range.
But the Rockets’ success this season goes beyond just Harden and Paul. Other players are stepping up and making key contributions as well. Eric Gordon for example, is averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 37 percent from three-point range; Clint Capela is averaging 11.7 points and 10 rebounds per game; and Trevor Ariza is averaging 12 Points per game while shooting 39 percent from three-point range.
The Rockets are deep, talented, and well-coached team that seems poised to make a deep run in the playoffs this season. If you haven’t been paying attention to them so far, now is the time to start!
3. Nikola Jokic’s triple-double streak
Nikola Jokic is one of the most gifted offensive big men in the NBA, and he’s been on a tear lately. The Nuggets star is currently riding a streak of four straight triple-doubles, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Jokic is averaging 22.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game this season, and he’s been especially dominant over the past few weeks. In his last four games, Jokic is averaging 27.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game. He’s also shooting an impressive 56.4 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range during that stretch.
Not only is Jokic putting up big numbers, but he’s also doing it against some of the best teams in the league. In his last four games, Jokic has triple-doubled against the Warriors, Rockets, Jazz, and Trail Blazers Those are four of the best teams in the Western Conference and Jokic has had no problem putting up huge numbers against them.
It’s been a pleasure to watch Jokic play this season, and it’s clear that he’s one of the best offensive players in the league. If he can keep this up, there’s no doubt that he’ll be in contention for MVP honors at the end of the season.
4. Donovan Mitchell’s breakout season
Donovan Mitchell’s breakout season has been one of the best stories in the NBA this year. The former Louisville Cardinal was drafted 13th overall by the Utah Jazz and many thought he would be a solid role player for a contending team. Donovan had other plans. He quickly became the Jazz’s best player, and led them to the second round of the playoffs. averaging 22.5 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. For a rookie, that’s extremely impressive.
5. Joel Embiid’s MVP-caliber play
Joel Embiid has been putting up MVP-caliber numbers this season, averaging 27.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range. He’s also been one of the best defensive players in the league, anchoring a Sixers defense that ranks third in the NBA in defensive efficiency