The unfortunate truth in the world of professional sports is that there is hardly any tolerance for underperforming players. Just as two-time champion Ray Allen has said about the NBA: “It’s always about what have you done for me lately.” In such a cutthroat system there is no place for slackers.
This is a huge problem for young players entering the league. The expectations, the pressure and the competition take their toll.
This season has given us an incredible competition for the “Rookie of the Year” award. However, it has also been a rough start for the careers of several young players. Absorbed by the duel between Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell, the fans have shunned young players who did not live up to expectations set at the NBA Draft or Summer League.
This particular shift of attention could either be the perfect opportunity for improvement or could essentially turn into “Strike One” for the careers of these underperformers. And even though major media is currently ignoring them – the NBA community shouldn’t.
Thon Maker – Milwaukee Bucks
The only second-year player on the list is also the only one who has an endorsement from Kevin Garnett. Yes, the 2004 MVP and 2008 champion has stated that Thon Maker can one day be the MVP of the league.
Unfortunately, Maker’s second year in the league has hardly been the breakthrough the entire Milwaukee fan base has been waiting for.
When he was drafted in 2016, the seven-feet tall-center was projected to develop into the second coming of Anthony Davis – lengthy, agile and with a great vertical. The shooting, the post moves etc. were supposed to come with time.
In his first season, Thon Maker went under the radar with an average playtime of 10 minutes accompanied by negligible stats. So, while fellow teammate Michael Brogdon won the ROTY, the Sudanese basketballer was given a pass for his performance. After all, it took Giannis Antetokounmpo some time to become the superstar he is. Why not wait out on Maker?
Well, it’s Maker’s second year on the team and this time he averaged 16 minutes in the regular season and 20 in the playoffs due to the absence of Greg Monroe. Unfortunately, the stats didn’t really change that much – five points, three boards and less than one assist and block for the season. In the playoff series versus Boston, Maker has played a lot better with a dramatically increased block percentage.
However – offensively it has been more of the same. And that goes for the entire year. His hyped up athleticism and ball handling from his predraft period are not really utilized by the big man, as his scoring is mainly of pick-and-rolls, alley-ops and sporadic three pointers.
Unlike Giannis, Maker does not post up, does not initiate fast-breaks and rarely dribbles more than five seconds. Given that he now has some more experience, one could imagine it’s about time he develops into the “Antetokounmpo at the 5 spot.”
His transformation is also very dependent on the Bucks and the rotation the team implements next season. If his minutes remain under 20 the chances of Maker becoming Kevin Garnett 2.0 would be reduced to the point he would rather turn into Manute Bol 2.0.
Markelle Fultz – Philadelphia 76ers
Being the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft has to be the toughest way to enter the league. Especially in recent times, when expectations, hype and criticism have reached NFL levels.
In the light of all this, Markelle Fultz has had a disastrous entry himself. His rookie campaign was marred by a questionable injury that led to a loss of skills. He sat out all but 14 games in the regular season and recorded a grand total of 23 minutes in the playoffs (at the time of this writing).
That is bad news for a young player, considered the final piece that would Complete the Process. As of now, Markelle Fultz is pretty much out of Brett Brown’s rotation. Even though the former Washington Huskies player has shown he has regained his ability to play, he has also become too big of a liability.
This is especially so in the playoffs, when mistakes can cost the team way more than some points. This is the main reason for all the DNPs we can see Fultz’s his game log. And he is probably okay with it.
However, his situation is not easy to cover up. The NBA community has been relentless in calling him a bust or just another victim of The Process. Even the great Julius Erving suggested that Boston's Jayson Tatum should have been drafted first overall. Masked as a comparison, that statement was a big slap in the face of Markelle Fultz. We are yet if he will get the chance to prove the doubters wrong.
Frank Ntilikina – New York Knicks
Drafted by the New York Knicks 8th overall, point guard Frank Ntilikina entered the NBA without any big expectations from the fans. He was a foreigner with two years of experience in France and that was all.
It was hard to imagine why would he be a top 10 pick when players like Malik Monk, Kyle Kuzma, Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo were still available for New York. Maybe the success Porzingis has had in the NBA was the main reason for the Knicks to choose yet another non-domestic talent.
Throughout the season, Ntilikina was rather inconsistent coming off the bench, averaging 22 minutes of playtime with just six points and three assists. His highest scoring games were the season’s last two, in which he scored 17 and 16 points. Apart from his average offense, he hasn’t compensated defensively — as he finished with negative numbers for his defensive plus / minus.
In that regard, it’s ex-coach Jeff Hornacek fault for not giving Ntilikina more minutes. Hornacek also tried to implement a shooting-oriented system which was not something Ntilikina was comfortable with. Fortunately, the Knicks hired Dave Fizdale as new head coach, so a change is on the horizon. Maybe a newly introduced environment and approach will help the guard bounce back.
Josh Jackson – Phoenix Suns
Jackson’s rookie campaign has been the best one in comparison with the other ones on the list. The first half of his season was rather bad due to his limited minutes and inability to fit. However, in the second half of the season, Jackson saw an increase in minutes that resulted in an immediate increase in points and boards made.
And even tough Josh drew comparison to LeBron James based on his outstanding athleticism, he couldn’t really stand out and lead the Suns offensively. But so far so good – not everybody is supposed to be a sensation in their rookie season, right?
Nevertheless, Josh Jackson has been an underperformer because he has failed to establish himself as a leader of a very young Phoenix team. He has been physical and vocal but in the wrong way. His 35 thousand dollars fine for “gun gestures” and his comments about two time MVP Stephen Curry made Jackson look more like a hotheaded millennial than an aspiring athlete.
Meanwhile, the Suns were in an awful midseason turmoil, as Eric Bledsoe virtually packed his bags and left. The team’s main scorer Devin Booker was also sidelined a couple of times due to injuries.
What the Suns needed from Jackson was maturity and leadership quality. Although he is a great teammate, he hardly elevated his role to the one of a team leader. And just like that, Phoenix said goodbye to yet another forgettable season.
Next season in Phoenix will bring another top tier player from the draft and a new coach will take the reins. Hopefully, this will help Josh Jackson return as a better player.
Luke Kennard – Detroit Pistons
If you check the averages of Luke Kennard, you may think we are talking about a relatively weak player. But he isn’t. Prior to the season’s beginning, the former Duke player was voted the best shooter among rookies. He also came into the NBA after a great two-year period with Duke – especially his second year, when he averaged nearly 20 points and 43% from the three point line.
That’s probably the reason why Detroit chose him over Donovan Mitchell (a very regrettable choice from today’s perspective).
Once in the league, Kennard couldn’t establish himself as the shooter he was expected to be. He averaged almost three attempts from beyond the arch and ended up with averages of just eight points and two boards for 20 minutes of play.
Recently “mutually parting with team” head coach” Stan Van Gundy had praised Kennard on many occasions, but never gave him the starting spot. Instead, he chose Reggie Bullock over and over again. Even when Avery Bradly and Tobias Harris were traded, Kennard couldn’t get the minutes boost he needed. Only in the last 18 games of the season his playtime saw some increase.
To sum up, Luke Kennard was supposed to be a younger J.J. Redick, but scoring wise he just didn’t show up. Averaging 2.7 attempts from beyond the arch, the shooting guard couldn’t utilize his biggest strength. And while Donovan Mitchell, who was picked just after him is putting on an outstanding rookie season, Luke appears to have lost his way upon entry in the NBA.
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