NBA: DeRozan, 10 Players Exceeding Expectations Early In 2016-17

NBA: 10 Players Exceeding Expectations Early In 2016-17

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 29, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) goes up for a shot between Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos (41) and center DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Gorgui Dieng

Out of all the young talent on the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ promising roster, Gorgui Dieng might be slightly overlooked. After his solid start to the 2016-17 season and being signed to a four-year, $64 million extension, that all should change pretty quickly.

Through the Wolves’ first four games, Dieng is filling his role well. He’s only averaging 11.3 points per game, but he’s controlling the glass (9.3 rebounds per game) and protecting the rim well (1.5 blocks per game). Those numbers would all be higher if not for a two-point, four-rebound performance against the Denver Nuggets Thursday night.

In the first two games of the season, Dieng racked up 27 rebounds, and in Minnesota’s first win of the season, Dieng shot an efficient 8-of-9 from the field for 17 points. The consistency clearly still needs some work, but this fourth year center may finally find his groove under head coach Tom Thibodeau.

On a roster that includes tantalizing young stars like Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and even rookie Kris Dunn, Dieng often goes overlooked. If he can recapture that same rebounding intensity from his first two games of the season, you can be guaranteed people will start paying more attention to Gorgui Dieng.