Nerlens Noel’s inaugural campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers began as one that was all about development and progression for the future. The box-top rim protector kicked off his stint in the NBA as just that; a tenacious shot blocker with tremendous defensive instincts and enough athleticism to survive on the glass until his narrow frame filled out.
As for Noel’s offensive repertoire: much was left to be desired with a completely broken shooting form and a scarce variety of low-post moves to rely upon to help reinforce his inability to bully his way around the paint.
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But Noel has continued to prove why he may be worth all that was given up in order to obtain him in the 2013 NBA Draft, and if his post-All-Star break performance is of any indication as to what’s to come, Noel is on his way to a very bright future in Philadelphia.
To understand where Noel is at now, we must understand how much he’s progressed since his debut as a Sixer. In Noel’s first 10 games, his contributions, as expected, were very minimal.
Upon trying to find his way in the NBA along side the reigning Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams, Noel averaged only 6.6 points after shooting 29-for-70 from the field, along with six rebounds and 1.3 blocks. The free throw line was a cause for concern, as well, where Noel cashed in on a mere 6-of-20 attempts, which is a horrid 30 percent.
During this stretch, it was a cause for celebration anytime Noel was able to convert anything outside of a dunk, and staying healthy was just as much of a concern as his offensive limitations.
Over the course of his next 20 games, Noel started to show signs of improved confidence and comfort on both sides of the ball. His averages over this stretch jumped to 8.2 points and 7.8 boards per game, along with a slight increase in shot blocking with 1.45 per.
But the biggest leap for Noel during this 20-game period was his massive spike in free throw shooting, where he converted on 28-of-46, which doubled his previous 10-game average of 30 percent to 60 percent.
At this point, Noel was starting to find moderate success as a jump shooter, and was doing good just to find ways to get the ball in the rim, which led to two particularly impressive outings of 17 points and 12 rebounds against the New York Knicks, along with a career-high 19 points and eight boards in a loss to the Boston Celtics.
The next 20 games before the All-Star break would then serve as a springboard to the recent increased efforts Noel has displayed after returning from the break as the main man in Philly, seeing as Carter-Williams was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade deadline deal.
Over this period, the same trend would continue. As Noel’s confidence grows, his sporadic scoring spurts, where he would start cracking double figures in scoring more consistently, Noel’s 20-game averages jumped up to 9.1 points, 2.15 blocks, 51 percent shooting from the field and 62 percent from the charity stripe.
But the All-Star break served as a point in Noel’s young career where he would be faced with an opportunity to become a leader for the young Sixers on the court, even as a rookie. With MCW now out of town – which left Noel as the most recognizable talent in Philly – Noel has seen yet another uptick in his efforts and has averaged new career highs in nearly every major statistical category.
For the first time in his career, Noel is averaging double-digit scoring over any stretch, as he’s put up 12.7 per game in his last seven. His activity on the glass has provided a spike in Noel’s rebounding numbers, which are up to 8.4 per game, while his activity on the defensive end has never been more impactful with 3.3 rejections per game.
Who did this to you? @NerlensNoel3. https://t.co/YBr4tjONXN
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 3, 2015
But what’s been most impressive about Noel over this stretch has been his consistency on the offensive end. Although his shooting percentage from the field is 49 percent, which is just short of his previous 2-game stretch feat of 51 percent, Noel has started knocking down free throws quite impressively, hitting 77.5 percent since the All-Star Break.
Cashing in on the free points, along with a noticeable increase in Noel’s willingness to score, in comparison to how passive he previously played, he’s now scored in double figures in all-but-one game. Included in this stretch is two double doubles, in addition to a near triple double that Noel just missed with 12 points, nine boards and nine blocks.
The culmination of all of this is a rookie power forward that has placed himself right along Andrew Wiggins in the discussion of rising stars with true star potential. Noel is playing with a sense of confidence that gives the feeling that he knows the Sixers are his team, for now.
The hesitation that grew evident on nearly every offensive touch has now been replaced with Noel having comfort and control over the majority of his offensive possessions. Additionally, Noel’s recent knack for rejecting any and everything around the rim has become a huge boost for a guy who feeds off playing with intensity and energy.
Philadelphia has 22 games remaining on this season’s slate, with 11 of those being against teams that are on the outside of the playoff hunt looking in.
After taking his most recent step forward and becoming an undeniable force – for the Sixers, at least – on both sides of the court, this final stretch of the season could serve as yet another opportunity to close the season on a note that should guarantee his place on this team is safe until next season.