Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
Position: Point Guard
Age: 20
Drafted: Round 1, Pick 7
Slash Line: .360/.304/.649
Season Averages: 30.4 MPG, 12.3 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.9 3PM
Emmanuel Mudiay’s first few months in the NBA were absolutely brutal. They demolished his field goal percentage, created the reputation of a player who doesn’t belong, and damaged the faith that once existed in Mudiay’s potential.
After months of struggling to adjust to the pace of the NBA, Mudiay is beginning to prove why he was viewed as a player with star potential.
Just double-checking: Everyone caught Emmanuel Mudiay becoming the first Nuggets rookie since Melo in April 2004 with a 30-point game. Yes?
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 14, 2016
That game embodies the newfound aggressiveness and efficiency of the previously tentative Mudiay.
In the eight games since March 1, Mudiay is averaging 19.4 points and 6.0 assists on a slash line of .456/.417/.696. Since his first career 20-point game on January 28, he’s averaging 14.1 points, 6.0 assists, and just 2.8 turnovers on a slash line of .405/.352/.643.
The sample size is small, but Mudiay has calmed down and begun to flourish under head coach Michael Malone. There are clearly flaws worth addressing, but his increased scoring output, improved efficiency as a jump-shooter, and responsibility in limiting turnovers is very promising.
Mudiay has begun to develop into the star-caliber point guard that many projected him to be.
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