NBA: Jeremy Lin, 15 Players Living Up To 2015 Contracts

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 /

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Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) dribbles the ball in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Pacers 129-126. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Will Barton

Raise your hand if you predicted that Will Barton would be a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate before the 2015-16 NBA season started! No one? Well, at least the Denver Nuggets were smart and/or lucky enough to lock him down for three years, and at an extremely manageable price of $10.6 million too.

Averaging 15.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season, Barton has started in only one of his 45 appearances for the Nuggets. He’s shooting a respectable 44.1 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three-point range, all while bringing a Corey Brewer-esque energy off the bench to revitalize the Nuggets and whatever dozens of fans actually show up to the games these days.

Barton is posting career highs in scoring, rebounds, assists, minutes and three-point percentage this season, making him one of the most unlikely pleasant surprises in the NBA. At only 25 years old, there’s no reason to question his place with this developing Nuggets team moving forward.

Next: No. 11