Here it goes: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of the Charlotte Hornets will be an All-Star in 2016. You heard it here first.
Kidd-Gilchrist’s career has been a mixed bag of emotions since entering the league in 2012. He was considered to be a good pick at second overall, but many Charlotte (then)Bobcat fans felt cheated having to settle for the Kentucky star after missing out on an even bigger Kentucky star.
To really understand this, we have to go back to the 2011-12 season. For those of you that actually watched that season, I’m sorry for bringing it back up (and kudos to you).
This was the season shortened by a lockout — which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Charlotteans.
The first game was played on Dec.26, and was actually a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. That would be the end of the excitement for Kemba Walker‘s and Bismack Biyombo‘s rookie campaign.
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The Bobcats would go on to win only six more times in in 65 tries, finishing with a record of 7-59 and the record for the worst winning percentage in an NBA season.
At the same time, Anthony Davis and his fellow Kentucky Wildcats were tearing through the college basketball world en rout to the school’s eighth NCAA title.
Anthony Davis, a.k.a. The Brow, was the clear star of the draft class, which led to the lottery becaming the “Anthony Davis Sweepstakes.”
For a team like the Bobcats, Davis would have been about as good a silver lining to a seven-win season as you could get. But alas, the lottery gods were not in favor of the Bobcats (or is there a conspiracy on our hands?) and New Orleans was awarded Anthony Davis.
The Charlotte Bobcats were forced to settle with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great player. but he’s no Anthony Davis … or is he?
From the moment MKG stepped on the court, he was an elite defender. It’s his offensive game — particularly his jump shot — that has held him back.
That’s beginning to change.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has worked tirelessly during the offseason with the great Mark Price in an effort to improve his awful, awful form, and it’s starting to pay dividends.
You can just look at his form in-game and see a vast improvement without even peaking at the statistics, but we won’t stop there.
Kidd-Gilchrist’s shooting percentage on pull-up shots has increased three percent from last season. It may not sound like much, but the his frequency at which he takes pull-up shots has increased by three percent as well, which begins to add up.
His increased effectiveness and frequency on pull-up shots opens up a world of opportunity for him and his teammates.
Defenders can no longer leave MKG unaccounted for on the offensive end to double-team, which frees up the basket for a down-low player like Al Jefferson and a dribble-drive guy like Kemba Walker or Lance Stephenson.
Kidd-Gilchrist’s shot frees up the lane for him to drive as well. He is already above-average at scoring by the basket, particularly in traffic. With increased room after beating the defender off the dribble, his inside scoring will see an increase as well.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is an elite defender and one of the premiere hustle players in the NBA. With an additional offseason to fine-tune his shooting form, MKG is going to have a breakout season.
Last season, it was Kawhi Leonard. This season, it’s Jimmy Butler. Next season, it will be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
You’re hearing it here first: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be an All-Star in 2016.