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NBA: 10 Players Exceeding Expectations Early In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 2, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 26, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Goran Dragic

With Dwyane Wade out of the picture, the lone consolation of such a downer summer for the Miami Heat was the ball being back in Goran Dragic‘s hands for the first time since his breakout season in 2013-14.

That year, he earned Third Team All-NBA honors and won the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year Award behind 20.3 points and 5.9 assists per game on .505/.408/.760 shooting splits. So far in 2016-17, he’s looked a lot more like the Dragon of old.

Four games is a small sample size, but Dragic is averaging a team-best 20.0 points, 7.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game on .483/.524/.722 shooting splits. Most expected Dragic to have a resurgent season now that he could dictate the tempo again, but the 30-year-old point guard has one-upped those standards, playing as well as he ever has.

If he can keep this up and help lead the Heat back to the playoffs despite a serious lack of firepower outside of Hassan Whiteside, he’ll vastly exceed expectations as a “washed” point guard who already peaked.