The most surprising player from each NBA team this season

Houston Rockets: Montrezl Harrell

Montrezl Harrell is another former college star who has begun to prove his worth in the pros. The former Louisville Cardinal big man was a consistent double-double machine for coach Rick Pitino; a man amongst boys at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds. He entered the draft after his junior year and was selected by the Rockets in the second round.

It wasn’t clear exactly whether or not Harrell would fit in the NBA. He possesses the skills and body of an NBA power forward from the eighties — he can rebound, finish, and maul with the best of them. His height is disputed: at one point in time he measured at 6-foot-6 without shoes. With a center’s skill set and a small forward’s body, it wasn’t surprising when he was sparingly used as a rookie last season.

There was no guarantee that Montrezl Harrell would even make the Rockets this season. But not only has he made the team, he has started 14 games while Clint Capela has been injured. The things that Harrell can do stand out when he takes the court. He runs the court relentlessly and rebounds hard. Harrell has shown the ability to be a reliable shooter and uses his 7-foot-3 wingspan to guard taller players. An explosive athlete, he’s been able to average 9.5 points per game this year mostly finishing assists from James Harden. Montrezl Harrell is a limited player, but it looks like he will be a good role player for years to come.