Memphis Grizzlies: 3 reasons Kyle Anderson contract is a good move

3. More than meets the eye as a potential scorer

With Kawhi Leonard appearing in just nine games for the Spurs last season, Anderson was given a bit more playing time than he had the previous three NBA seasons. He made the most it, posting career highs in points (7.9 per game) rebounds (5.4 per outing) and assists (2.7 per contest).

Anderson also shot an efficient 52.7 percent from the field. I know what you may be thinking. On the surface, you may be tempted to question how can a guy who averaged eight points per outing be labeled as a potential scoring threat, right?

Well, one counterargument to that sentiment is the fact that Anderson didn’t have a ton of plays designed for him under Gregg Popovich. According to Basketball-Reference, Anderson had the lowest usage rate among all Spurs players who played more than 15 games. Bearing that in mind, it is conceivable that Anderson could be a double-digit scorer if given a more featured role within an offense.

Also, there were a couple of instances during the season in which Anderson showcased some scoring potential. In an outing against the Denver Nuggets in late January, he scored 18 points (on 9-of-12 shooting), handed out five assists, collected four rebounds and recorded two blocks.

Another one of Anderson’s solid outings took place in a road game against the Warriors. In that contest, Slow Mo finished the evening with an impressive stat line of 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

In other words, don’t let the modest scoring average fool you, because Anderson has shown the ability to be a capable scorer when the opportunity presents itself.