Early Season Surprise Players
Every year a handful of players show up extra ready to go, whether it’s the result of competition for minutes, living up to a big fat new contract, a last-ditch effort to remain relevant or just finally figuring things out. A full week into the season, these players have gotten our attention.
1. Boston Celtics – Rajon Rondo – 16.4 assists per game
The number one playmaker in the NBA in his first five games this season with an amazing 82 assists has been Rajon Rondo.
"We expect Rondo night in and night out to get guys involved and he pretty much got everybody involved," explained Paul Pierce after Rondo’s triple double against the Knicks. "He got the popcorn guy involved. He got the announcer involved. He got everybody involved and it was beautiful to watch."
Rondo has started off the season averaging 6.6 more assists per game than last year, and as Rondo goes, so go the Celtics. The 4-1 Celtics are going well.
2. Toronto Raptors – Reggie Evans – 16.3 rebounds per game
The number one rebounder in the NBA after the first three games is the once-forgotten man in Toronto, Reggie Evans. Last year, Evans averaged just 3.8 boards after returning from foot injury that caused him to miss over half the season, but the 30-year-old Evans is a rebounding specialist who has struggled to remain relevant throughout his eight year NBA career.
"I feel like my old self again," explained Evans after the game in Sacramento. "I’ve rebounded all my life. I am getting minutes now. That’s the difference."
Over his career, Evans has collected 20.8 of the available rebounds which, if he had the minutes, would put him fourth all-time in the NBA. This season he started off at a 29.1 percent clip which hasn’t been seen since the best days of Dennis Rodman.
The Raptors are in need of rebounding, and Evans is in a contract year.
3. Utah Jazz – Paul Millsap – 21.3 points and 12.4 rebounds per game
Finally out from under the shadow of Carlos Boozer, power forward Paul Millsap has seen an early season explosion in his numbers by 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds over last year.
"Right now he has become a core player and he is one of our leaders," explained Jazz veteran Andrei Kirilenko.
It looks like there will be no shortage of production at power forward in Utah this season.
4. Denver Nuggets – Shelden Williams – 12.3 rebounds
After four seasons with four different teams and looking like a potential four-point, three-rebound third string reserve, Williams has found a niche on the injury-riddled Nuggets and took over the rebounding void to grab 25 percent of the available boards during his first three games.
Williams led the Nuggets with 16 boards in the team’s win over Utah in the home opener and he has doubled his scoring since last season to 7.3 points per game. Unfortunately for Williams, success may be short-lived as his minutes are expected to vanish once Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen return.
5. Houston Rockets – Luis Scola – 27.3 points and 14.0 rebounds per game
After leading the FIBA World Championships in scoring with 27.1 points per game this summer, Luis Scola has returned to the NBA and shown us that his World Championship performance was no mirage. A 9.1 point and 5.4 rebound increase from last season puts Scola in elite company early on.
In the first three games, Scola has led the Rockets in minutes played at 36 and field goal attempts at 19.3, taking six more shots per game than last season. Plus, he is hitting his shots at a 56.9 percent rate.
Scola has been rewarding the Rockets for that five-year contract extension, now if only the Rockets could put those All-Star type numbers towards a win, Scola might be getting some early NBA All-Star consideration.
6. Indiana Pacers – Roy Hibbert – 18.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game
The lights have finally come on for the Pacers third year center Roy Hibbert. In his second season, Hibbert managed a respectable 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 25.1 minutes, but this year he has started off with big jumps in all three areas.
"I have repeated said that we are going to play through Roy and that’s because he is a unique big man in that he is effective in the post, can spot up and shoot, and he is also a terrific passer," explained Head Coach Jim O’Brien after the Pacers victory over Philadelphia. "That’s a great weapon (to have) and because of his conditioning this summer, he has been able to play 30 minutes plus in each of the first three games, staying out of foul trouble, blocking shots, and challenging shots. (Hibbert’s game) is growing almost on a daily basis."
If Hibbert can keep up this pace, Indiana will be a much tougher than anyone anticipated this season.
7. New York Knicks – Wilson Chandler – 21 points, 10 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 3.0 blocks per game
One of the few survivors of the house cleaning in New York, Wilson Chandler is proving that he was worth keeping around. Leading his team in rebounding and blocked shots over the first three games, Chandler has increased his scoring by 5.7 points, almost doubled his boards and steals, and more than tripled his blocks since last season.
Chandler has come off the bench to average over 33 minutes a game so far this season.
"Wilson Chandler is a hard guy to keep off the floor," explained Head Coach Mike D’Antoni after the Knicks loss to Boston.
With free agency pending in July, a highly motivated Chandler should be on the floor all of this season.
{AUTHOR_BOX}8. Golden State Warriors – Dorell Wright – 19 points per game
After six less than memorable seasons with the Miami HEAT, Dorell Wright has found a spot in the Warriors starting line-up. Playing over 35 minutes a night, Wright has started off shooting 52 percent from the field and 55 percent from three to average 19 points a game, good for third on the high scoring Warriors.
Wright’s less than 20 minutes a night and 6.5 points in Miami must seem like a distant bad memory.
9. Charlotte Bobcats – D.J. Augustin – 17 points and 5.3 assists per game
In his first three games as the Bobcats starting point guard, D.J Augustin has been helping his teammates forget all about Raymond Felton. Last season Augustin came off the bench to provide 6.3 points and 2.4 assists, but this year in 40 minutes per game, the third year player has been putting numbers that rival those of the veteran he replaced.
"I just go out there and play hard and play with confidence," said Augustin after practice. "My teammates support me and when I have that and my coaches confidence, I play well."
Augustin has been taking full advantage of his opportunity to start.
10. Chicago Bulls – Joakim Noah – 14.3 points and 15.3 rebounds per game
This off season, the Chicago Bulls and center Joakim Noah agreed on a multi-year extension to Noah’s contract and Noah has responded by boosting his production by 3.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game.
Noah kicked off the season with an 18 point 19 rebound effort on the road against Oklahoma City and followed that up with a pair of double-doubles at home.
11. The Rookies
No matter what their press clippings, figuring out how rookies are going to perform early in their first season is something of a shot in the dark. But these three have hit the bulls-eye early on.
In his first four games with the Clippers, last year’s first overall pick Blake Griffin has averaged an impressive 16.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in 34.8 minutes a game after missing all of last season due to injury.
This year’s first overall pick John Wall has not disappointed Wizards fans averaging 23.7 points, 10.3 assists, and four steals in 40.7 minutes during his first three games.
The New Jersey Nets summer league bust Derrick Favors hasn’t disappointed anyone once the games started to count. In his first three games, Favors is averaging 10.3 points and 10 rebounds in just 21.3 minutes.
Some other players who have been getting off to a surprisingly good start include the 76ers’ Elton Brand, the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan, and the Lakers’ Lamar Odom. As we progress in to the season, there will be others as well.
Think we missed someone who been surprising you with unexpectedly good play, let us know.
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