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Luka Doncic, Brandon Ingram headline NBA Most Improved Player Ladder

By Phil Watson

NBA Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic Minnesota Timberwolves Andrew Wiggins. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBA Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic Minnesota Timberwolves Andrew Wiggins. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA Charlotte Hornets Devonte' Graham
NBA Charlotte Hornets Devonte’ Graham. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

. . Devonte' Graham. 4. player. 170.

It’s probably safe to say that few people following the Charlotte Hornets were expecting second-year guard Devonte’ Graham to emerge as one of the club’s top scoring options.

A second-round pick in 2018, Graham played in just 46 games as a rookie. In just 24 games this season, he has already topped last season’s minutes total. Graham logged 676 minutes in 2018-19 and already has played 807 this season.

He began the season coming off the bench, but Graham made his 14th start of the season Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets and is averaging 19.1 points, 7.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per game on shooting splits of .412/.421/.820.

Those numbers are light years higher than last season’s 4.7 points and 2.6 assists in 14.7 minutes a night on a shooting line of .343/.281/.761.

The difference becomes more clear per 36 minutes, as Graham is at 20.5 points, 8.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds this season after projecting out to 11.6 points, 6.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals as a rookie while also playing 13 games with Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

It’s probably also safe to say Graham won’t be playing any return engagements in Greensboro this season.