NBA: 5 Players That Have Impressed so far This Season

After starting only 21 games in his first two seasons, averaging 21 minutes per game and spending some time in the G-League with the Golden State Warriors, 22-year-old Jordan Poole has exploded this season, where he has been able to put himself on the level where he is fully one of the main reasons they are a Championship contender this season.

In his first-ever playoffs, Poole is averaging 21.9 points per game along with 5.3 assists, shooting a very impressive 54% from the field and 43% from three-point range, which has seen people clammer for him to play over 5x all-star and three-time champion, Klay Thompson, showing just how impressive he is performing not just right now, but the season as a whole.

Despite being the reigning MVP and the likely MVP this season, it can’t be understated how impressive this season has been for Jokic, dragging a Denver Nuggets team without his two best teammates, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter jr to the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

Despite having a very below-average supporting cast, Jokic managed to put up 27.1 points (6th in the league), 13.8 rebounds (2nd in the League), 7.9 assists (8th in the league) and 1.5 steals (11th in the League), becoming the first player to put up a 2000 point, 1000 rebound and 500 assist season ever, all while having the higher player efficiency rating ever.

Coming into his 15th season at 35 years old, a lot of people were questioning the Boston Celtics for giving away a first-round pick to reacquire Horford after only playing 28 games last season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it looks like the Celtics won’t be regretting this trade any time soon.

Horford has been an integral part to the Boston Celtics having the joint best defensive rating this season and ending up as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

Even in the playoffs so far, Horford has been amazing, having to guard the likes of Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo and doing an amazing job, whilst contributing offensively, averaging over 50% from both the field and three-pointers, with his best game coming recently in a crucial game four against the Milwaukee Bucks where his 30 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter stopped his team going down 3-1 in the series.

Maxey was the 21st pick in the 2020 draft, and last year he had a limited role with the Philadelphia 76ers, but with the situation changing this season, he was given more chances this season, going from starting only 8 games last season to starting 74 this season, whilst averaging 20 more minutes per game.

Usually, when a young player is given a bigger role, their stats go up, but their efficiency takes a hit, but this didn’t happen with Maxey, as he more than doubled his scoring from 8 points per game to 17.5 points, but his efficiency also improved, with his three-point shooting the major note going from a poor 30% to now a very good 42%.

Even in the playoffs, Maxey is performing great, being the 76ers' second-highest scorer, above former MVP and 10x all-star James Harden, making the loss of Ben Simmons for the 76ers fans seem not very important with the 21-year-old now a breakout star and potential multiple time all-star.

After spending most of last year in his rookie season coming off the bench in a limited role for the Memphis Grizzlies, Bane has exploded this season, starting every game he has played.

He has doubled his points average from 9 points a game to 18, whilst keeping up his great efficiency from three-point range, being the league's second-best three-point shooter this season, shooting 43.6% from three-point range, helping his team defy the odds and become the second seed in the Western Conference.

In the playoffs, Bane has become even more efficient from three-point range, shooting 46.4% from three in his ten appearances so far, including back to back games in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves where he made seven and eight three-pointers which helped his team progress through to the conference semifinals.