NBA Week 3 Rewind: Stephen Curry, Warriors can’t be stopped
By Tom West
Weekly NBA Rookie Watch
With a few rookies being thrown into a major role on their respective teams, here’s a look at how three of the top prospects are proving themselves early on.
Kristaps Porzingis has well and truly turned his put-back dunks into the signature element of his game and NBA arrival so far. His aggressiveness is clear, and he continues to fly in over opposing big men when everyone seems to forget they actually need to box him out. And when they don’t, he makes them pay. But there’s more to Porzingis’ first 11 games than some highlight plays.
He’s 4th among rookies in scoring (11.4 points per game), 2nd in rebounds (8.4), 3rd in blocks (1) and even 7th in steals (0.9). The stroke from distance has been evident already with his 40.9 percent mark from 16+ feet out, although it’s his aggressiveness inside to fly after offensive rebounds with reckless abandon that’s taken everyone by surprise. His three point shot and overall shooting efficiency have been a bit off, but that will come with time.
Porzingis is silencing the boos of the Knicks fans from draft night already, and he’s only just getting started.
Jahlil Okafor is reaping the benefits of playing for the NBA’s worst team. With the Philadelphia 76ers’s talent pool being as shallow as possible and no real offensive weapons, Okafor is stepping up in a role that allows him to be their consistent go-to guy down low. His footwork in the post is beyond his years, and the way he can pivot and manoeuvre his way around opponents lets him create great chances on the block. He plays with real patience too, and doesn’t normally force up too many poorly selected shots.
Okafor leads all rookies with 19.2 points per game and is 2nd in blocks with 1.8. To illustrate his efficiency, he’s shooting 47.4 percent and a solid 37.9 from 10-16 feet out — both of which are highly impressive marks for a 19 year old in such a big role. 3-of-18 shooting nights against tough frontcourts like the Thunder’s Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams show he’s still a rook, but Okafor has the perfect amount of touches and minutes to develop quickly.
Karl-Anthony Towns is right there with Okafor as the most well developed rookie so far, and has been playing beyond his years as well for the Timberwolves. His strong interior presence was expected to help from day one, but the extent at which it has is remarkable. He’s averaging 15.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and has six games with at least 3 blocks already to average 2.2 per contest.
What’s just as impressive about Towns’ play is the range he’s shown, too. He’s attempting 26.8 percent of his shots from 16+ feet out, and he’s making them at a 47.1 percent rate. That’s just unfair considering what he can do in the post with his turnaround jumper as well.
Over the last week, he’s had several more big performances, including a 19 point, 13 rebound, 3 block night against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
The Timberwolves have come out of the gates as a top 10 team in offensive efficiency, and Towns’ threat down low is a big reason why. It’s safe to say he’s someone that 20 year old basketball players everywhere envy.
Next: Under-the-radar Players to Watch Next Week