NBA Disappearing Acts: Tyreke Evans and 10 Sophomores Who Have Yet To Dazzle
The holidays are approaching, the Heat are starting to roll and the Mavericks are surprisingly on top in the West, but how are the players around the league feeling at this moment in time?
There are those that we have expected to play well: Kobe, LeBron, Dirk, Rose, etc. but for some, the expectations have not been lived up to, at least not yet.
Sadly, every year around this time, we the fans can usually depict the players that have improved and those that have somewhat fallen off the wagon. Most of those players that have fallen off that wagon are usually among the old veterans or, more often than not, last year's rookies.
In this article, I will be listing 10 sophomores that are currently experiencing the sometimes harsh and negative effects of being a second-year player in this league.
Hope you enjoy!
No. 10: James Harden
1 of 10
As a second-year player, James Harden has played exceptional. He is currently averaging 9.1 (PPG), 3.2 (RPG), and 1.8 (APG).
These stats are virtually identical from last season, but for someone who amazed some in last year's playoff series against the Lakers, same isn't exactly cutting it.
It's hard enough for a second-year player when there is a new rookie class that everyone pays attenton to, so with the fact that Harden has been playing the same, people have somewhat began to look past his decent numbers.
No. 9: DeJuan Blair
2 of 10
Just last season, DeJuan Blair was the "no ACL sensation" out of Pittsburgh. He was grabbing boards and roughing up NBA veterans, but what has he been doing lately?
Well, he has been doing exactly what he had started last year, which was hustling to loose balls, rebounding the ball, and making easy buckets down low.
In this day-and-age, if a player can't prove that he can improve year in and year out, teams will look to replace them with younger, faster, and more talented players.
I'm not saying that Blair isn't doing well, but I am saying that he doesn't seem as dazzling as last year.
No. 8: Hasheem Thabeet
3 of 10
When one thinks of NBA busts, Hasheem Thabeet has to come to mind. If you said Greg Oden, well that's another story.
Thabeet was the highest draft pick in history to be sent to the D-League. It's almost a small miracle that he is still in the league, but to assure those that doubt me, Thabeet had zero (PTS), zero (REBS), zero (ASTS), and one (PF) in four minutes against the Utah Jazz in his most recent NBA game.
If there is such a player that has completely vanished from the NBA scene, it has to be Thabeet.
No. 7: Sundiata Gaines
4 of 10
Just last season, a player by the name of Sundiata Gaines hit a game-winner to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Gaines was on the rise and it seemed as though the Jazz had found a diamond in the rough. Sadly, Gaines didn't prove himself enough to the Jazz and now he has virtually been forgotten by most NBA fans.
He is currently playing for the Timberwolves and is averaging 3.0 (PPG), 0.9 (APG), and 0.9 (RPG). For someone who was making ESPN's headlines just last season, playing three more minutes a game isn't anything special.
No. 6: DeMar DeRozan
5 of 10
Pictures are really worth 1,000 words, especially a picture with then-rookie DeMar DeRozan flying across the paint in that Raptors' uniform.
Where is he now, though? Well DeRozan is currently averaging 12.3 (PPG), 1.8 (APG), and 3.4 (RPG) for his Raptors.
Now if you take a look at his stats last season, DeRozan has made a noticeable improvement in the stat books. The problem is that people have still forgotten about the dunking sensation that was DeRozan last year.
No. 5: Ty Lawson
6 of 10
It feels like it was just yesterday when Lawson was leading his Tar Heels in the NCAA tournament and he was the hottest point guard in college basketball.
During his rookie season, Lawson played surprisingly well, averaging 8.3 (PPG), 3.1 (APG), and 1.9 (RPG). Lawson is currently averaging: 9.4 (PPG), 4.0 (APG), and 2.0 (RPG).
His stats have gone up and his minutes have too, but before refreshing my memory, the name Lawson hadn't come to mind.
No. 4: Omri Casspi
7 of 10
Coming in as the first Israeli player in NBA history, Omri Casspi was somewhat of a commodity to the Sacramento Kings.
Casspi averaged 10.3 (PPG), 1.2 (APG), and 4.5 (RPG) last season. Right now, Casspi is averaging 9.9 (PPG), 4.0 (RPG), and 0.9 (APG).
As you can see, Casspi's stats have gone down due to minimized minutes and the simple fact that Casspi hasn't been playing as well as last year.
Last season Casspi was competing in the H.O.R.S.E. Competition against Rajon Rondo and Kevin Durant. Charles Barkley was jokingly regretting being stuck with Casspi as his partner, but now Casspi's fighting for a place in the NBA.
No. 3: Jordan Hill
8 of 10
Jordan Hill, out of the University of Arizona, was the eighth overall pick in the 2009-2010 NBA Draft. He was considered a highly talented big man that had the potential to become the next Amar'e. Well that hasn't happened even to the slightest.
Hill averaged 6.4 (PPG), 0.6 (APG), and 5.0 (RPG) last season for the Rockets. He is currently averaging 6.5 (PPG), 0.2 (APG), and 4.0 (RPG).
The stats have virtually stayed the same and he hasn't shown many signs of his true potential, and for those reasons, Hill has continued to be overlooked when looking at second-year players.
No. 2: Darren Collison
9 of 10
It's hard to believe that it has already been a couple years since Collison played for the UCLA Bruins. He came into the league as a bright, young guard that was a great back-up to Chris Paul.
Now he is starting for the Indiana Pacers and even though his stats have somewhat improved, winning and being noticed hasn't been as easy.
Last season, Collison averaged 12.4 (PPG), 5.7 (APG), and 2.5 (RPG). This season, Collison is currently averaging 13.5 (PPG), 4.2 (APG), and 2.8 (RPG).
Playing for a bad team isn't easy and when the league is being ran by point guards, being noticed has to be hard for young Darren Collison.
No. 1: Tyreke Evans
10 of 10
Reigning Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans has fallen off the map. With the help of an early season injury and a recent shooting slump, Evans hasn't looked too hot in the early part of this season.
Last season, Evans averaged 20.1 (PPG), 5.8 (APG), and 5.3 (RPG). Evans is currently averaging 16.4 (PPG), 5.2 (APG), and 4.5 (RPG).
Anyone can blame their performance on injuries and on a bad shooting percentage, but Evans looks to be experiencing a little more than an ankle injury and a shooting slump.
