NBA: Second-Year Players Showing Signs of Progress

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Nov 26, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Bennett (24) celebrates a dunk during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Target Center. The Bucks defeated the Timberwolves 103-86. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Anthony Bennett, Minnesota Timberwolves

Drafted: First Round, No. 1

Position: Power Forward

Age: 21

2014-15 Slash Line: .480/.000/.630

2014-15 Season Averages: 14.46 PER, 17.7 MPG, 7.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.6 SPG

If you’re measuring Anthony Bennett’s impact strictly by where he was taken in the 2013 NBA Draft, your evaluation will be conflicted. Bennett hasn’t played up to the standard of a No. 1 overall draft pick.

That doesn’t mean he hasn’t made progress.

Thus far, Bennett is averaging 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game. He’s shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 63.0 percent from the free throw line, which rounds out a dramatic improvement from his rookie season.

In 2013-14, Bennett averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes on a mark of 35.6 percent from the floor.

The only significant statistical increases are in scoring and scoring efficiency, but Bennett has been a better player in almost every phase. He’s far more comfortable on the court than a year ago and is in much better physical shape, as well.

He’ll need to average more than seven and four to silence the critics, but the progress is encouraging. He’s averaging 10.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 block in his only two starts, and has scored in double-figures in seven of his nine games with at least 20 minutes played.

There’s still work to be done, but the 21-year-old has unquestionably improved from a season ago.

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