Rookie Team of the Week: Oladipo Rising

Oladipo’s strong play this week put him at the front of the ROY race.

Victor Oladipo made his return to the starting lineup with no shortage of substance or style, dropping 30 points, dishing 14 assists, grabbing 9 boards, and collecting 2 steals in a 129-121 comeback win. Sure, it was against the Knicks, and the game went to 2OT, but Oladipo became the youngest player since the 1985-86 season to record 30 and 14, edging Iverson by 22 days and LeBron James by over 2 years. That he only had 11 points on 3-10 shooting through 3 quarters of play makes this feat even more impressive. Even if he doesn’t catch Michael Carter-Williams in any per-game averages, Oladipo has surpassed MCW in the race for ROY as far as I’m concerned, as the Magic are threatening to play themselves out of a top-5 pick, while MCW and the 76ers may not win another game all year. MCW’s inability to shoot from the outside is becoming a more and more glaring weakness as time passes, and it’s evident that he currently lacks the confidence to shoot and make defense’s pay for disrespecting his jumper and giving him ample space to fire from the perimeter.

Nate Wolters was forced to leave Saturday’s game vs. Indiana with a mildly sprained ankle, but before that he was balling out for the Bucks. On Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic, Wolters contributed 15 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in a rare Milwaukee win, 104-100. While the stat-line was undoubtedly impressive, it would have been for naught without his late-game heroics. Wolters hit the key three-pointer to put Milwaukee up by 2, and then on the following possession locked up Arron Afflalo, got his hands in the cookie jar, and forced what would end up being the game-sealing turnover. Milwaukee is definitely hampered by injuries, but if Wolters is able to return right away and continue his recent surge, the Bucks (10-45) may actually have a chance of catching the Sixers (15-41).

Trey Burke had perhaps his best week in the NBA thus far, averaging 17 points, 7.7 assists, 4 rebounds and a steal in 33 minutes per night for the Jazz vs. Brooklyn, Portland, and Minnesota while most impressively shooting 45% from the field and committing only one turnover per game. Burke has had some good games this year, but this week marked the first time he had put together multiple solid performances in a row and is surely moving up on many people’s rookie ladders. Coming into the league Burke was slept on a little bit because he was not seen as fast enough to keep up with the speed of most NBA point guards, but Burke is showing that he has the tools and drive to succeed at the NBA level as a starting point guard if he continues to improve his game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo joins teammate Nate Wolters on this week’s Rookie Team of the Week, having had a consistent and productive week for the Bucks. The “Greek Freak” averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks, but is a far better player in real life than fantasy, and the statistics don’t accurately tell the story for the steadily improving young two-way balling rookie. While Bucks fans don’t have much reason to tune in this season, Antetokounmpo and Wolters represent the highlights of Milwaukee’s year along with the emergence of sophomore John Henson, and assuming they get a top-5 pick in the draft next year, they’ll have no shortage of young, intriguing talent.

Tony Snell, who was also our UnSung Player of the Week, filled in nicely for the Chicago Bulls when Jimmy Butler was forced to leave the game vs. Denver, scoring 20 points on 7-14 from the field and adding 2 steals in 37 minutes in a 117-89 home blowout win. While the Bulls are certainly looking like a playoff team, Jimmy Butler hasn’t progressed as much as expected, Carlos Boozer is going to be amnestied in the summer, and the Bulls aren’t exactly oozing with young talent, so Snell is one of the brighter stories for the Bulls this year. He needs to improve his consistency with his shooting stroke, but his athletic ability, defensive energy, and potential to become a legitimate NBA player are impossible to ignore.

6^th man

Kevin Grow, a Bensalem high school senior, signed a 2-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers this week after hitting four  three pointers in a game vs. Neshaminy a few days prior. Grow, who suffers from Down Syndrome, was given the full NBA experience, dining with the team, and being introduced before the Sixer’s game against the Cavaliers. In what has been a long rebuilding year for Philadelphia, Grow’s signing provided a positive experience the team will not forget.