NBA notable notes

  • Paul Pierce, Chris Webber, Chris Bosh, and Ben Wallace will be enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

2020-21 NBA Rookies 

  • LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets) – A lot of hype surrounded the rookie guard coming into the season and he was able to live up to it. Ball flashed his skills and brought in energy the Charlotte Hornets have searched for years. A wrist injury derailed his season but that is not keeping experts away from considering him the Rookie of the Year. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 15.7 PPG / 5.9 RPG / 6.1 APG 
    • Season Milestones:
      • January, February, & March Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month 
      • The Youngest player in NBA history with a Triple Double
      • Finishes season leading all Rookies in assists.
    • Highlight games:
      • 2/5/21 – 34 points (season high) / 8 assists / 4 rebounds / 2 steals / 1 block
      • 1/9/21 – 22 points / 11 assists / 12 rebounds (youngest player in NBA history with triple double) 
      • 3/1/21- 30 points / 8 assists / 6 rebounds / 4 steaks / 1 block
  • Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) – The number one overall pick became a scoring machine especially in the second half of the season in which he averaged 23.8 points a game. Edwards scoring, especially multiple 40 points games, and playing all 72 games cannot go ignored and have many around the league that believe Edwards should be the Rookie of the Year.  
    • 2020-21 Stats: 19.3 PPG / 2.9 APG / 4.7 RPG 
    • Season Milestones:
      • March, April, and May Western Conference Rookie of the Month.
      • Finishes the season leading all rookies in points. 
      • 171 made 3 pointers ranks 4th all-time in NBA history for a rookie (shorten season*) 
      • Second teenage ever with multiple 40-point games joining LeBron James. 
    • Highlight games:
      • 3/18/21- 42 points / 7 rebounds / 3 assists / 2 steals (3rd youngest player in NBA history to score 40 plus points) 
      • 5/5/21- 42 points / 6 rebounds / 7 assists
      • 3/14/21- 34 points / 4 rebounds / 2 assists / 1 steal 

 

  • James Wiseman (Golden State Warriors) – The second overall pick had an up and down season due to Covid protocols or injuries which could have slowed his progress throughout the season. With a full offseason and veteran leadership in the organization, look for Wiseman to come back next season ready to play a big role on a good team. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 11.5 PPG / 5.8 RPG / 51.9 FG% 
    • Highlight games: 
      • 1/27/21- 25 points / 6 rebounds / 2 blocks
      • 1/20/21- 20 points / 6 rebounds / 4 assists
      • 1/14/21- 18 points / 5 rebounds / 2 assists / 1 steal / 2 blocks 
  • Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento Kings)– Haliburton made an early case for himself for Rookie of the Year consideration with back-to-back rookie of month awards at the beginning of the season. Along with De’Aaron Fox, the duo is certainly one of the best young backcourts in the league and will look to get even better for the years to come. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 13.0 PPG / 5.3 APG / 40.9 3P%
    • Season Milestones:
      • January and February Western Conference Rookie of the Month 
    • Highlight games:  
      • 3/22/21- 28 points / 2 assists / 11 of 15 field goals
      • 4/30/21- 23 points / 10 assists / 4 rebounds 
      • 2/23/21- 23 points / 9 assists / 5 rebounds / 3 steals / 1 block
  • Saddiq Bey (Detroit Pistons) – The three-and D guard has been one the best rookies all season but with the Pistons not playing well all season many may not know the type of season he has had. Bey has put historic 3-point numbers in his rookie season as shown below. As the Pistons continue to rebuild, Bey should be at the core of the pieces they build around. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 12.2 PPG / 4.5 RPG / 38.0 3P% 
    • Season Milestones:
      • Most games (13) with 5 plus made 3 pointers in a game in NBA History. 
      • Most 3 points made by a rookie in franchise history. 
      • 175 made 3 pointers ranks 3rd all-time in NBA history for a rookie. (shorten season*) 
    • Highlight games:
      • 2/12/21- 30 points / 12 rebounds / 7 of 7 from 3-point line 
      • 3/17/21- 28 points / 12 rebounds / 2 assists / 2 steals 
      • 1/6/21- 20 points / 10 rebounds / 3 assists / 1 steal

 

  • Cole Anthony (Orlando Magic) – When he was healthy, Anthony was a spark for the Orlando Magic in a disappointing season for them. He also showed off his clutch gene with a couple of big plays at the end of games. The Magic will look to rebuild around Anthony along with other young core players. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 12.9 PPG / 4.7 RPG / 4.1 APG 
    • Season Milestones:
      • 2 Game Winning Buzzer beaters 
    • Highlight games:
      • 5/16/21- 37 points / 8 rebounds / 2 assists
      • 5/1/21- 26 points / 8 rebounds / 6 assists / 3 steals 
      • 1/25/21 – 21 points / 5 rebounds / 3 assists 
  • Immanuel Quickley (New York Knicks)– One of the steals of the draft, the Knicks were fortunate to draft Quickley at the 25th overall spot. The rookie guard provided a spark off the bench averaging 11.4 points a game despite only averaging 19.4 minutes a game which is 23rd among rookies. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 11.4 PPG / 2.0 APG / 2.1 RPG
    • Highlight Games:
      • 1/24/21- 31 points / 4 assists / 3 rebounds 
      • 3/2/21- 26 points / 4 assists / 4 rebounds 
      • 1/29/21- 25 points / 3 assists / 5 rebounds 
  • Jae’Sean Tate (Houston Rockets) – One of the best rookie stories this year, Tate made a name for himself after going undrafted and playing overseas for a couple of years. He has been work horse all over the court and ranks top 5 among rookies in minutes played, rebounds, blocks, and steals and almost in points and assists in which ranks 6th for both. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 11.3 PPG / 5.3 RPG / 1.2 SPG
    • Highlight Games:
      • 3/16/21- 25 points / 6 rebounds / 6 assists / 1 steal / 1 block
      • 3/26/21- 22 points / 6 rebounds / 5 assists / 2 steals
      • 4/16/21- 21 points / 5 rebounds / 5 assists / 2 steals

  

  • Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies) – Another rookie who could be considered a steal, Bane has shot great from the 3-point line. He led all rookies in 3-point percentage and ranked 13th in the NBA overall. 
    • 2020-21 Stats: 9.2 PPG / 3.1 APG / 43.2 3P%
    • Season Milestones: 
      • Ranks 7th in NBA History for 3 points % for a rookie.
    • Highlight Games:
      • 5/3/21- 22 points / 8 rebounds / 2 assists / 3 steals
      • 5/5/21- 22 points / 4 rebounds / 3 assists 
      • 3/10/21- 20 points / 4 rebounds / 1 assists / 1 steal
  • Best of the Rest
    • Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers) – When called upon to come off the bench, Maxey has stayed ready and contributed where he can for the top seeded 76ers. He has shown the ability to score and was on full display in a 39-point performance. 
    • Isaiah Stewart (Detroit Pistons)- The rookie center’s rebounding and blocking were the best among all rookies which could land on the 1st or 2nd All-Rookie Team. 
    • Patrick Williams (Chicago Bulls) – Still a project on the offensive side of the ball, Williams has been one of the best defensive rookies in this year’s class. 
    • Kenyon Martin Jr (Houston Rockets) – Inactive for most of the 1st half of the season, the 2nd round pick played fantastically to end the season averaging 18.1 points in May. 
    • Theo Maledon/ Aleksej Pokusevski (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Both international rookies made played well throughout the season for very young rebuilding Thunder team and could be core pieces moving forward. 
    • Malachi Flynn (Toronto Raptors) – Sitting on the bench and not getting much playing time in the beginning of the season, Flynn worked his up the rotation and into the starting line-up to end the season. Flynn also was honored as the April Rookie of the Month. 
    • Facundo Campazzo (Denver Nuggets) – Playing overseas in Spain for European giant Real Madrid, Campazzo joined the NBA this season and instantly made an impact. Since Jamal Murray went down with an injury, the Argentinian international was inserted into the starting lineup and will look to help the Nuggets in the playoffs. Look for rookie cards of his in future releases including National Treasures, Donruss Elite, Select and more!
  • sports cards & memorabilia store, BUYING & SELLING The Backstop, Toms River, NJ
  • Leaders

Player PPG Player APG

Anthony Edwards 19.3 LaMelo Ball 6.1

LaMelo Ball 15.7 Tyrese Haliburton 5.3

Tyrese Haliburton 13.0 Facundo Campazzo 3.6

Saddiq Bey 12.2 Theo Maledon 3.5

Immanuel Quickley 11.8 Anthony Edwards 2.9

 

Player RPG Player FG %

Isaiah Stewart 6.7 Jae’Sean Tate 50.6%

LaMelo Ball 5.9 Tyrese Haliburton 47.2%

Jae’Sean Tate 5.3 LaMelo Ball 43.6%

Deni Avdija 4.9 Anthony Edwards 41.7%

Anthony Edwards 4.7 Saddiq Bey 40.4%

 

Player 3 -point % Player Minutes

Desmond Bane 43.2% Isaac Okoro 32.4

Payton Pritchard 41.1% Anthony Edwards 32.1

Tyrese Haliburton 40.9% Tyrese Haliburton 30.1

Patrick Williams 39.1% Jae’Sean Tate 29.2

Immanuel Quickley 38.9% LaMelo Ball 28.8