NBA: Zion Williamson leads the 2020-21 All-Sophomore Teams
2020-21 NBA All-Sophomore: Second Team
Brandon Clarke, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies
Last year Brandon Clarke was one of the best rookies right out of the gate, which made sense given his status as one of the class’s older rookies. As the Memphis Grizzlies have maintained their level of play as a fringe playoff team he has continued to play a dependable role as an offensively efficient defender. He won’t be a superstar, but he is helping his team win inside of his role.
Keldon Johnson, SF, San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are flush with young players and trying to figure out how they all fit together. One place where they seem to have found their man is at small forward, where Keldon Johnson is a versatile defender who increased his scoring chops this year. He struggled more in the second half of the season, but hopefully can rebound next year as he settles into his larger role and the Spurs continue their transformation into their next version.
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Kendrick Nunn, PG, Miami Heat
Tyler Herro would be chosen before Kendrick Nunn in a redraft among second-year players, but Nunn had a slightly better season filling in for the Heat’s many injured point guards (albeit missing some time himself). Nunn increased his shooting efficiency at every level, leading to a jump in true shooting percentage from 53.4 to 59.6, or from several ticks below league average to several ticks above.
Matisse Thybulle, SG, Philadelphia 76ers
Matisse Thybulle played just 20 minutes per game this season on a team stocked with rotation players. He averaged just 3.9 points per game and shot just 42 percent from the field. Yet defensively he might have been the most disruptive player in the league when he was on the court, racking up steals and blocks at an insane level. Despite his low minute totals, he blocked 15 more shots than any other guard, and his block percentage of 4.6 would have tied Richaun Holmes for 11th in the league, ahead of his teammate Joel Embiid, had he met the minutes threshold.
P.J. Washington, PF, Charlotte Hornets
The former Kentucky Wildcat wore a lot of hats as the Charlotte Hornets tried various lineup combinations to maximize their top six players. Whether Washington was paired with another big as a stretch-4 or playing the small-ball five he made an impact, with a top-15 block percentage and an increased outside shot. The Hornets’ core is trending up, and if fully healthy should rise up the standings next year, in part because of Washington’s play.