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Not many people heard about D.J. Augustin’s abysmal second season.

The soft-spoken Bobcats point guard hasn’t made a lot of national news down in Charlotte, so average NBA fans didn’t notice his scoring average drop from 11.8 PPG as a rookie to 6.3 PPG in 2009-2010. Augustin’s 38.6% mark from the field wasn’t splashed along the pages of The New York Post. Sports Illustrated wasn’t writing about his 11% dip at the free throw line. America’s knowledge of Augustin was limited to two things: He was a lottery pick and he can’t wrestle the starting job from Raymond Felton.

But Augustin was given a mulligan last summer when the Bobcats let Felton walk, and he’s spent the past 81 games reaffirming the franchise’s decision.  

"I didn’t know if he was going to be here or not," Augustin told HOOPSWORLD. "I just made sure I worked on my game in the summer to get better, be ready for the obstacle I had in front of me.

"[I'm] just getting an opportunity to play more," he continued. "Just being out there on the floor, being more comfortable and having my coaches and my teammates trusting me. It gave me confidence to play better and that’s what I’ve been doing this year."

Augustin has fallen under the radar once again, but now fans are blind to his dramatic improvements. He’s made 81 starts this season and averaged 33.6 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 6.1 APG and has pushed his free throw percentage up to a career-high 90.4% (fourth in the NBA). He ranks eighth among point guards in turnover rate (percentage of possessions that end in a turnover) and even hit a game-winning jumper in New Jersey on Monday to snap Charlotte’s six-game losing streak.

The Bobcats may have come up short in their pursuit for the eighth playoff seed in the East, but Augustin has transformed into the team’s point guard of the present and future.

Most importantly, Augustin gained the confidence to share his voice.

"People may think he’s a quiet guy, but that’s a front, man," Nets forward Damion James, a friend and collegiate teammate of Augustin’s, told HOOPSWORLD. "He’s a really funny dude."

"When I’m around people who I’m comfortable with, I’m a different person," Augustin said. "It’s just how I’ve always been. I’m quiet at first, but once you get to know me, it’s pretty good."

But Augustin wasn’t raising his voice to tell a few jokes. Rather, he was vocally directing the Bobcats offense, and that meant telling veterans where they needed to be.

"I’ve been doing it all year," Augustin said. "That’s one of the things that changed for me since last year. I’ve been able to tell people what to do on the floor—the older guys like Stephen Jackson."

Augustin maintained control of the offense throughout the coaching transition from Larry Brown to Paul Silas. It didn’t matter what the scheme was, he’s been proficient enough to steer the ship under any circumstances.

"I know where everybody needs to be on the floor," Augustin said. "[Silas] trusts me to run things and get points on the board. So that’s what he’s been telling me to do."

A lot has changed for Augustin in the past year. He was a quietly disappointing backup on a mediocre playoff team in 2009-2010, but now Augustin is the primary playmaker for a squad that nearly missed the postseason. As dubious as that sounds, it’s a tradeoff Augustin is happy to take for now.

"I was down a little bit, but you got to stay concentrated and stay working," he said. "That’s what I tried to do. Just family, my mom, my dad, old coaches. They all just told me to stay with it and just have faith.

"We’ve had a lot of change this year—a few key trades and a coaching change," Augustin continued. "So it’s been different, but I think going into next year, things are going to get better. I think we’re on the upswing."

{AUTHOR_BOX}LeBron Passes Kobe

NBAstore.com’s sale figures are in and HEAT forward LeBron James has passed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in terms of jerseys sold, The Los Angeles Times is reporting.

Bryant had spent the past two years as the top man.

Boston was the most popular team, however, with five players in the top 15. Rajon Rondo is the top Celtic and ranks third overall in jersey sales.

Knicks stars Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony finished fourth and eighth respectively.

Calipari Pushes Pair to NBA

John Calipari told two of his Kentucky Wildcats players, Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight, to throw their names in the NBA Draft, according to an Associated Press report. However, the veteran coach cited the league’s clouded labor situation to suggest that the pair could withdraw if it looks like a lockout is looming. Calipari doesn’t think either player should hire an agent.

What to Watch

The Celtics and Knicks will wrap up the regular season by giving fans a sneak peak at the first-round of the Eastern Conference. Boston has lost two straight and is just 5-5 over the last 10 while New York comes in without Amar’e Stoudemire but having won seven of the last 10.

It’s hard to tell how much to read into tonight’s game. The Knicks are without their full deck while the Celtics are struggling to make it to the postseason in one piece. Each of Boston’s centers (Shaquille O’Neal, Jermaine O’Neal and Nenad Krstic) is battling injury troubles and the other starters need rest, so coach Doc Rivers is going to use a starting lineup of Krstic, Carlos Arroyo, Glen Davis, Jeff Green and Von Wafer.

Meanwhile Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni’s starting lineup is still a bit of a mystery although Renaldo Balkman and Bill Walker are expected to see plenty of playing time.

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