Hoops Habit
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Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 24

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 18, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Utah Jazz power forward Derrick Favors (15) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 89-69. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Utah Jazz power forward Derrick Favors (15) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 89-69. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Cory Joseph (6) tries to get the attention of Jonas Valanciunas (not pictured) against the Portland Trail Blazers at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Trail Blazers 117-115. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Cory Joseph

Cory Joseph’s value as the backup point guard of the Toronto Raptors extends far beyond what the stat sheet reads on a night-to-night basis. Though he only averages 8.7 points and 3.1 assists in 25.7 minutes per game, and though he’s only shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and 27.7 percent from downtown, CoJo’s two-way value has been intrinsic to the best season in franchise history.

CoJo is one of those prototypical Spurs products whose value can’t be confined to numbers in the stat column. The pressure defense he provides off the bench is part of the reason the Raptors have improved their defensive efficiency by nearly six points per 100 possessions compared to last year.

CoJo has struggled with his shot lately, but he’s still a stabilizing presence off the bench who can ground the second unit until Kyle Lowry is ready to check back in. As his game-winner against the Washington Wizards in November proved, Joseph is capable of logging crunch-time minutes and making big plays as needed.

Next: No. 7