NBA: 15 Players Living Up To 2015 Summer Contracts

November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21, right) dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21, right) dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 25, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) reacts to winning 95-92 over the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Reggie Jackson

Believe me, I never thought Reggie Jackson would have a prayer of cracking this list after signing a five-year, $80 million extension that had him being paid as much as John Wall. And yet, for all our summer criticism, the Detroit Pistons‘ starting point guard has been even better than advertised, averaging 19.2 points, 6.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.

His 43.9 percent shooting from the floor and 35 percent shooting from three-point range suggest there’s room for improvement still, but the 25-year-old point guard has taken the Pistons’ offense by the reins in his first full season in the driver’s seat. For those who questioned his merit as a starting 1-guard in this league from his days as sixth man with the Thunder, Jackson has proven them all wrong.

Pick-and-rolls with Andre Drummond are becoming incredibly hard to stop, and the two are just in their first full season together. Jackson is also the lead guard in a starting unit that averages the second-most points per game in the NBA, with the league’s seventh best point differential. That $80 million price tag was terrifying to behold last summer, but Jackson is somehow making it worth Detroit’s while.

Next: No. 6