Seven Pleasant Surprises from the NBA

We're not going to talk about the superstars, today. We've seen Karl Anthony Towns, Luka Doncic and Pascal Siakam evolve into top tier stars. We've seen Giannis & Dame Lillard elevate their already remarkable games again with some monster lines. We've seen a resurgence from a spritely LeBron James.

But these are not what we're looking at here. This is all about the little guy becoming a rotation piece; the bench player becoming an integral part of the team; the good going to great.

Let's start with everyone's favourite (New Zealand-born) Aussie....

Aron Baynes

Baynes was a quietly important part of what passed for the Celtics' machine last season. His newly uncorked outside shooting became an outlet for Kyrie Irving's drives, and gave coach Brad Stevens close enough to a like-for-like Al Horford backup. It was somewhat of a surprise when Baynes was traded on draft night for cap relief. His destination seemed to throw away any hope of main stream attention for Baynes, as well.

A 25 game suspension to DeAndre Ayton one game into the season has given 'Banger' a chance to make a difference on a surprising Phoenix Suns team – and the big fella has grabbed his opportunity with both mitts.

So far, Baynes is averaging a career high 16 points per game – about 10 points better than his previous high water mark – and canning two triples per contest at a ridiculous 47.1% clip.

As always, he's providing solid defence and setting jarring screens, good for top 15 in the league in screen assists but it's the shooting, unsustainable as it probably is, that has propelled the bearded one into the spotlight.

Turning 33 in less than a month, Baynes is a chance to be the oldest Most Improved winner in NBA history.

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Dwight Howard

The three time Defensive Player of the year and eight time All-Star has had a pretty rough time of it over the past few seasons. Between injuries, repeated trades and feuds with teammates, Dwight was at one point looking closer to an NBL contract to an NBA one.

He's seemingly never embraced the idea that his once all-world athleticism has diminished with age and the rigours of a long career. Now into his 16th season, and second stint with the Lakers, the penny has finally dropped. Dwight Howard is a role player.

Given he's playing 20 minutes a night, the raw numbers don't jump off the page, put his per 36 stats are juicy. His 13.1 boards are right inline with his peak at the start of the decade. His rejection numbers are huge: 3.2 blocks per 36 will be a career high, if he can maintain it.

The defensive work is welcome for a team that otherwise has to play a slightly undersized and banged up Anthony Davis, or JaVale McGee, who does stuff like this.

Isaiah Thomas

It's lovely to see Isaiah Thomas on an NBA floor playing meaningful minutes again.

That, right there, could be the whole story.

For those that are not aware, Thomas was the final pick in the 2011 draft. At 5'9” he was an outside shot to play an NBA game, let alone make a career in the league. But Thomas worked his way into the Kings starting lineup, played well for the Suns and eventually ended up in Boston, where he was an All Star in 2016 and 2017. The little man was ready for his big payday before a hip injury ended his playoffs and started a steep downward spiral.

He was traded to Cleveland as part of the Kyrie Irving deal, but his hip limited him to 15 hobbled games and was traded again mid season to the Lakers, with similar unflattering on court performances.

Instead of a presumed max contract, Thomas played in Denver last season for the veterans minimum and even then was limited by injury to just 12 games.

This season in Washington is likely his final NBA chance.

That's why it's great to see the Little Man playing well. In 23 minutes a night, Thomas is averaging 13.2 points, shooting 36.4% from deep. He's been effective getting to his spots on the floor, showing a burst that whilst isn't peak IT, is better than he has had since his final days in Boston.

Thomas turns 31 this season. Age and injuries mean he is on the downhill, but he's still such a joy to watch. Let's hope we get a few more good seasons out of that tiny package.

Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon's had to prove people wrong from the get-go in his NBA career.

An All-American Collegiate, he fell to the second round as an 'old' rookie (23) and amid some injury concerns.

He won the 2017 Rookie of the Year, but that was considered a fluke as presumed favourites Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid were both injured.

He thrived in Milwaukee's 4-out system, but was seen as a product of that system. Of being a ship lifted by the rising tide that is Giannis Antetokounmpo.

So his four year, $85 million contract with Indiana was viewed with a healthy amount of scepticism by the NBA community. Yet, Brogdon has again proved all of us wrong.

So far this season, without injured star Victor Oladipo, Brogdon is pouring in 20.8 points and dishing 8.9 assists (good for second in the league) whilst leading the Pacers to a 6-4 record.

As expected his shooting numbers have dipped without Giannis (50.6% effective field goal percentage, down from 57.5% last season) but the raw stats as well as the eye test say that Brogdon is a genuine high end lead guard.

A true leader on and off the court, Brogdon has given the Pacers a genuine second star.

Tristan Thompson

A shining light in the moribund existence of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is long time starting centre Tristan Thompson. The nine year veteran is averaging 16.4 points, 11.3 boards and 1.6 blocks – all career highs.

The Canadian has always been a solid defender and high energy rim runner, but actual competent NBA level scoring moves always seemed beyond him. He has certainly been aided by the return to health of Kevin Love. Their double act has been the sole bright spot for the Cavs.

Thompson even found time to knock down the first 3 pointer of his career! 

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The dreaded Sophomore Slump has claimed too many victims, across too many sports, to list here.

Gilgeous-Alexander probably had more of an excuse than most to fall prey: moving to a new city and team; switching positions from the point to the off guard; playing in a presumed rebuilding atmosphere rather than contending.

However SGA, another of this exciting generation of Canadian ballers, has turned the slump on its head, thriving as the main man in OKC.

At present, he's averaging 21 points and shooting over 40% from deep. But the devil in the detail comes when comparing this season to his rookie numbers with the Clippers.

Per: Basketball Reference

Despite the increased usage, SGA has increased his production across the board, save for slight drop in steals and free throw percentage.

The most impressive part of his continued rise is that he's playing a different position. SGA is playing alongside surefire Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, so he's moved across the the 2-guard position, which takes in a completely different set of disciplines, and adapted seamlessly.

Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't possess elite athleticism, but at 6'5” he's got decent size to play off the ball and has a Harden like ability to decelerate. He has the patience and shiftiness of a 10 year vet when driving, finishing through and around players that should be able to keep the 2^nd year guard in front of them.

Throw in his excellent defensive instincts and the Thunder have their star.

Kendrick Nunn

The rookie who came from the clouds, Nunn has been an early season revelation for Miami, starting every game, leading the team in scoring whilst Jimmy Butler was sidelined and as of publication averaging 16.6 points on the season.

Whilst he has slowed down with Butler taking away some of his touches, Nunn has still found ways to be an effective release valve for his star as one of the cadre of red hot Miami spot up shooters.

The rookie's story has been told by now: undrafted in 2018; on the Warriors G-League squad last season (couldn't they do with him now) and brought in by Miami on a training camp contract. He impressed the Heat power brokers enough to land a minimum deal and has thoroughly outperformed that so far.

The Heat are loaded with solid defenders and spot up shooters, but Nunn's ability to do those things and create off the dribble is what makes him so important to coach Spoelstra.

Whilst Butler was out, the lefty's ability to break down the defense and score or kick the ball out to a shooter kept the offense ticking over. Now, he's one of those shooters catching Butler's passes, with the added bonus of being able to attack a scrambling defense.

Nunn is highly unlikely to be a star in the NBA, but a career as a solid role player beckons.

Not bad for an undrafted kid.

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