With the NBA season in full swing, it’s not too early to judge how well last year’s college stars are doing in the big league. This discussion would probably begin with Ohio State’s Greg Oden, the number one draft pick, if he were healthy. However, the Portland Trail Blazers’ new big man found out shortly before the season started that he needed micro-fracture surgery on his knee, and he won’t be ready until next year.
Expectations were high for former Texas Longhorn and current Seattle Supersonic Kevin Durant, the second overall draft pick, after he averaged nearly 26 points and 11 rebounds per game in college last season. But he has thus far failed to live up to the hype. While Durant is leading all rookies in points per game with 19.6, he is only averaging 4.3 rebounds per game inexcusable for a 6-9 forward with incredible wingspan. Moreover, he’s only shooting 39 percent from the floor, an embarrassingly paltry percentage. These numbers likely won’t improve until Durant bulks up and the Supersonics’ management gives him a stronger supporting cast. Thankfully for him, though, he can rely on former Hoya Jeff Green for some help in the meantime.
Green is enjoying a productive rookie season. He’s averaging 9.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in only 23 minutes per game, and he recorded his first double-double late last month against New Jersey. Shooting a good-but-not-great 44 percent from the floor, Green certainly has room to improve. Although his interior game has been notable, he has yet to show the outside shooting touch and excellent perimeter ball movement that he displayed as a Hoya.
The Florida Gators’ two stars from last year, Al Horford and Joakim Noah, have had vastly different NBA experiences: while Horford plays often for the Atlanta Hawks, Noah gets very little time for the Chicago Bulls, and their numbers show it. Horford is averaging 8.9 points and an extremely remarkable 10.4 rebounds per game, while Noah only averages 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds. He’s been seeing more action lately, though, so those numbers will likely go up. We should all be excited to see the ponytailed caveman go nuts on the court again.
Some of the season’s most successful rookies have come from unexpected places. Spain’s Juan Carlos Navarro, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, has been arguably the most outstanding rookie so far this season, averaging 11 points in only 22 minutes per game and shooting an impressive 44 percent from three-point range, and un-drafted Jamario Moon has hustled his butt off for the Toronto Raptors (if only that were a stat).
But let’s not forget about that hulking loser from Pittsburgh, Aaron Gray. What’s he up to this year? Getting about as much playing time for the Chicago Bulls as you do. In fact, you probably get more exercise done in one session at Yates than he does in an entire week. I guess that’s what you get for going to Pitt.
