The NBA draft can only determine the initial starting point of the player, not the final height of the player. Every season, the NBA will have a lot of failed drafts to stage a counterattack, break people's stereotypes, and prove their value, and this season is no exception. Halfway through the 2021-22 regular season, the following 12 finishers were stunningly selected. Next, their names may echo in our ears from time to time.
It should be noted in advance that some of the missed drafts this season have handed over good data, but there is no significant improvement compared to before, and even the performance has declined, so it is not within the scope of this article. (Sorted by player's average score per game this season)
1. Fred VanVleet
Season stats: 22 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.7 steals, 44.1 percent overall shooting, 40.9 percent three-point range
The most outstanding representative of this season's losing draft is Van Vliet. After Lowry left the team, VanVleet took his gun, became the Raptors' backcourt commander, and played a career-best performance, leading the Raptors to 9th place in the East Side with 20 wins and 19 losses, and was expected to be selected as an All-Star for the first time this year. In addition, he is also the leading scorer in this season's draft. Before today's game, Pistons coach Casey also said that VanVleet is a clone of Lowry, he has made a huge leap forward, and has always been a winner.
2. Lou-Dot
Season stats: 16.6 points, 4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 40.2% overall shooting, 31.9% three-point shooting
In the first round of the 2020 West End, Dort made a name for himself with a suffocating defensive performance against Arizona University Governor Harden. In addition to The Three-Point Shooting Percentage this season, Dortmund's other statistics have almost all set career highs. Although the offensive efficiency is not high, for Dort, who has always been based on defense and is not skilled in offensive skills, it is not bad to be able to achieve offensive performance one step a year.
3. Seth Curry
Season stats: 16.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 51.5% total shooting, 41.2% three-point shooting
Although not as impressive as his brother, Seth's performance this season has also climbed to a higher peak, and now it seems to be more stable than his brother. In addition to his three-point shooting percentage, Seth set career highs for a number of stats this season, including a three-point average (5.4 shots per game). The 76ers, who have been waiting for Ben Simmons this season, have become Embiid's right and left hand and the team's first musket. Seth's main position has never been as secure as this season's.
4. Maxell Strus
Season stats: 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 46.9 percent overall shooting, 42 percent three-point range
The Heat are a lost draft paradise, which is also reflected in this list, and 1/3 of the 12 people are from the Heat. Strus, from DePaul University, averaged 20.1 points per game in the season before leaving the NCAA, shooting 36.3 percent from three-point range. So far this season, he has scored in double figures in 16 games and 20+ in five games, the most notable of which was a 32-pointer against the Magic on December 18 last year. Similar to Hilo's body shape and technical characteristics, he is also regarded as another Hiro. The Heat have been devastated by the pandemic and injuries this season, but the performance of a large number of missed drafts has been gratifying.
5. Garrison Matthews
Season stats: 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 41 percent total shooting, 36.4 percent three-point range
A player with a two-way contract can squeeze out the first starter with a formal contract, and this kind of thing really happened in the Rockets. After signing a two-way contract with the Rockets, Matthews not only turned positive, but was also promoted as a starter, and the Rockets said goodbye to House. In addition, the Rockets had a seven-game winning streak in mid-season, caused by the Rockets dismantling wood and Thetness's twin towers and putting Matthews in the starting line, and Matthews also scored in double figures in nine consecutive games during this period. So far this season, Matthews has scored 20+ in three games, and 2 have scored a personal high of 23 points this season.
6. Correb Martin
Season stats: 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 50.5 percent overall shooting, 36.8 percent three-point range
There are many brothers in today's NBA, and the Martin brothers are one of them. In his early years, Correb followed in the footsteps of his twin brother, Cody Martin, to the Hornets. But after joining the Heat this season, Correb really rose to prominence, and he also set a career high in a number of statistics this season. His best game of the season was on December 9, 2021, when he scored a team-high 28 points on 6-of-8 three-point shooting, leading the Heat to a victory over their nemesis, the Bucks.
7. Gabi Vincent
Season stats: 8.8 points, 2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 44.1% overall shooting, 38.4% three-point shooting
This season is Vincent's third season for the Heat, and in the past three years, he has been on a step every year, and all the technical statistics this season have set a career high, playing a career-best performance. Once, he was the fastest improving player in the development league. Later, he made it to the Finals with the Heat (without playing). So far this season, Vincent has scored 20+ in 3 games. On December 18, he and Strus scored 60 points together and were ridiculed as a "bankrupt version of the Splash Brothers".
8. Alex Caruso
Season stats: 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 44.8% overall shooting, 36.4% three-point shooting
If you do it again, I wonder what choices the Lakers executives will make? In recent years, the Lakers have made inexplicable decisions almost every offseason, leaving Tucker to send away "Bald Mamba" in 2021. Caruso left the Lakers because the offer was too low, and the Lakers' move also puzzled a number of NBA executives. Once, Caruso became the darling of Lakers fans with his hard work and defense. This season, Caruso was mentioned as the first mover, and it is also a career high in a number of data, which has made a great contribution to the rise of the Bulls this season. Every time Caruso and Tucker are compared, it always makes Lakers fans sigh.
9. Gary Payton II
Season stats: 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 64.7 percent overall shooting, 41.4 percent three-point range
As the son of an NBA celebrity, Payton wanted to gain a foothold in the NBA but struggled. Until this season, Payton seems to have ushered in a career turnaround. His genetic father's defensive and hard work was well received, and he also played his career best on the offensive end. Klay Thompson has said that he can watch Payton's defensive highlights all night, Curry is impressed by Payton's athleticism, and the Warriors have discussed early contract extensions with Payton. The Warriors have repeatedly proven their team's ability to develop players, and Payton is the latest.
10. Austin-Reeves
Season stats: 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1 assist, shooting 53.1% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range.
When Reeves occupied the 14th place for the Lakers and replaced James Ennis, many people were surprised. And Reeves, known as the "country Kobe", has also fulfilled his lifelong wish. Rumored to have joined idol Kobe Bryant's team, Reeves refused to be selected by other teams in the second round, voluntarily became a loser, and finally signed a two-way contract with the Lakers, and also "regularized" at the end of September. This season, Reeves left behind a three-point shootout of the Lone Ranger, and coach Vogel praised him for being both offensive and defensive. Now, Reeves is also surprised lakers fans with defense and key balls.
11. Amir Kofi
Season stats: 6.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 43.9% total shooting, 37.8% three-point shooting
During high school and college, Coffey was named Mr. Basketball of Minnesota, was named to the Best Third Team in the Big Ten Division, and was a four-star high school student. But in 2019 he still lost the election, and then signed a two-way contract with the Clippers. This season is a breakthrough year for Kofi. He has played only 2 starts in 62 games in the first 2 seasons, and has started 8 of the 30 games this season, especially in the last 4 consecutive starts, and many statistics have set a new career high. Speaking of Coffey, coach Tyrone Lew said it best: "He's a player who will never hurt the team when he comes on the pitch. ”
12. Omer-Utessevern
Season stats: 5.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 47.9% total shooting
The 23-year-old Turkish centre forward, from Georgetown University, was named the best third team in the ACC division. Prior to that, he played in professional leagues for Turkish league giants Fenerbahce. After losing the election, he signed with the Thunder first, was laid off and then went to the Heat, and signed a formal contract of more than 3 million yuan for 2 years in August. So far this season, he's averaged 6.5 rebounds per game in second-place in all drafts, seventh in offensive rebounds and third in defensive rebounds. His best game of the season was his 22 points and 16 rebounds against the Kings on Jan. 3. (Supine Braces/Hairy)