Hoops Habit
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Philadelphia 76ers Season In Review: Backcourt

By Simon Smith

Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) and guard Nik Stauskas (11) during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) and guard Nik Stauskas (11) during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, SG

Year:  Rookie
2016-17:  69 GP, 17.2 MPG, 6.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 40.2 FG%, 31.1 3P%

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is certainly one of the surprises of the season. Selected 24th overall in the 2016 draft, the product of France started his NBA journey somewhat inauspiciously.

Through the end of December, Luwawu-Cabarrot played in just 20 games, averaging a meager 2.2 points on 33.3 percent shooting in 7.4 minutes per game. This period also included several Did Not Play – Coach’s Decisions and a three-game stint in the D-League.

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Over his next 31 games, Luwawu-Cabarrot made gradual improvement, averaging 5.5 points on 39.1 percent shooting in 16.1 minutes per game, including his first career start.

Following this stretch, due to a combination of injuries and the playoffs being out of reach, Luwawu-Cabarrot started the final 18 games of the season.

Averaging 30.2 minutes per game over those final 18 games, Luwawu-Cabarrot averaged 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, shooting 42.4 percent from the field and an excellent 91.7 percent from the free throw line.

But breaking this down even further, Luwawu-Cabarrot’s final seven games of the season were exceptional, averaging 18.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 35.0 minutes per game.

Luwawu-Cabarrot’s best performance of his rookie campaign came in the penultimate game of the season. Playing 37 minutes, Luwawu-Cabarrot notched 24 points and five rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-5 from behind the three-point line.

The rapid improvement of Luwawu-Cabarrot has clearly been one of a number of positives to be gained from the season.

Grade: B