Nemanja Bjelica provided the Minnesota Timberwolves with a solid presence off the bench during the 2016-17 season up until his injury.
The Minnesota Timberwolves needed as much production from Nemanja Bjelica as they could possibly get. The Wolves struggled to get quality bench production all season long. Bjelica showed flashes of being an excellent rotational player during stretches of the season. Because of that, he became one of the top contributors off the bench for the Wolves.
Already 28 years old, this was only Bjelica’s second season in the NBA. He spent both of those seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is consistent statistically and has added some bench elements to the game during his first two seasons for the Wolves.
This season Bjelica played in 65 games, earning one start during that stretch. He would have played in more games, but his year was cut short due to a season-ending foot injury.
2016-17 Stats
Nemanja Bjelica rated as the seventh-best player on the team this season. He finished right behind starting power forward Gorgui Dieng. His stats were not bad for a rotational bench player.
Below are Bjelica’s stats from this season.
| Season | Age | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 28 | 65 | 1 | 18.3 | .424 | .316 | .531 | .738 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 6.2 |
| Career | 125 | 1 | 18.1 | .442 | .344 | .543 | .733 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 5.7 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/8/2017.
Before his foot injury, Bjelica helped the team score and rebound the ball. He finished the season seventh in points per game and fifth in rebounds. Both were areas that he improved over his rookie campaign. This season he averaged 1.1 more points per game and 0.3 more rebounds than last year.
Bjelica is one of the more efficient scorers on the team. His two-point field goal percentage was third-best on the team at 53 percent. That would have been good for second-best, but his injury replacement Omri Casspi bumped him down the list by shooting 58 percent during the 13 games he played for the Wolves.
Role for Nemanja Bjelica heading into next season
After the Zach LaVine injury, Nemanja Bjelica became the second player off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is a big body that can stretch the floor and grab rebounds.
With that being said, Bjelica is better utilized as the fourth or fifth option off the bench. That looks likely to happen next season with Zach LaVine returning from his injury. Additionally, the Wolves will look to add a new starter and role player through the draft or free agency that will bump Gorgui Dieng to the bench. That series of events will bump Bjelica into a more appropriate role.
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In conclusion, Nemanja Bjelica gave the Wolves decent bench production this season. He is one of the best options on a weak bench. His injury cut his season short but that will not affect his status going forward. Next season the Minnesota Timberwolves will be in a great position if Bjelica is coming off the bench later than he was asked to during this season.