This is the first of a weekly series I hope to start where I will list five NBA players who I believe should be considered “must-see” in the upcoming week. Please note that there is no order to the list that I have created, because I believe all of the mentioned players will be great to watch for a variety of reasons. Let’s get started…
Kyrie Irving
Through three games, Kyrie Irving is averaging a whopping 37.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Unfortunately, the Nets are 1-2 to start the season, but Irving will have a chance to shine against the Pacers, who seem to be struggling so far. Irving gets a prime time matchup against Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets in Brooklyn on Friday. Hopefully, we can see more of these sweet moves this week.
Karl-Anthony Towns
KAT has been on an absolute tear to open the season and, through three games, looks like he could find himself in the running for MVP later in the year. Towns is averaging 32.2 points, 13.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. The Timberwolves are also off to a 3-0 start. KAT will be tested on Wednesday in a matchup with another elite center, Joel Embiid.
Justice Winslow
An early candidate to win the Most Improved Player award, Winslow has the Heat firing on all cylinders. Miami is off to a 2-1 start and averaging 120 points per game. Winslow is seeing the most minutes, by far, of his career, at 40 per game (highest ever was 34.7 in 2016-17) and he has made the most of his time on the court. If the season ended now, Winslow would blow previous career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-point percentage out of the water. He currently is averaging 19 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while converting 42.9% of his three-point attempts.
Mike Conley
Many viewed Mike Conley signing with the Utah Jazz as one of the most underrated offseason moves over the free agency period. Unfortunately, Conley has dramatically failed to live up to expectations. Despite coming off of a career-high year in points per game, Conley is shooting just 23.7% from the field (17.6% from three) and he looks lost on the court. Obviously, playing for a new team after spending 12 years with Memphis Grizzlies will bring growing pains, but Conley needs to shape up against the Suns on Monday night if the Jazz intend to beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. For now, Utah fans are doing everything they can to give him time to adjust.
Trae Young
The scoring leader in the NBA is simply lighting the league on fire. Trae Young through three games is scoring 38.5 points per game and shooting 58.7% from the field (55% from three-point range). The undefeated Atlanta Hawks square off against the undefeated 76ers tonight and host the Miami Heat on Tuesday. If Young can continue to play the way he is, he will be in serious All-Star selection conversation in just his second year in the NBA.
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