Heading into the season, there were a number of players looking to build off of strong seasons from the year before and exceed expectations this season. Some have been able to, but there are some players who have disappointed, no matter how you spin it. Here are the four most disappointing players in the NBA so far.
4) Brandin Podziemski
Podziemski had a strong rookie season last year that saw him make first team All-Rookie. Golden State refused to move him in the offseason for Lauri Markkanen as well because of their belief in Podziemski.
Podziemski was expected to break out this season, but he has been underwhelming. His points per game are down (9.2 to 8.2) and so is his field goal percentage (45.4 to 40.2) and three-point percentage (38.5 to 29.0).
Podziemski is also below league-average shooting at the rim (55.6 percent) and above the break threes (23.2 percent).He has been ineffective on a Warriors team that is falling in the West. There are still over 50 games left in the season, but Podziemski is running out of time to figure it out.
3) D’Angelo Russell
Another guy that is having an inefficient season, Russell was expected to flourish under new head coach JJ Redick and has not delivered.
Russell is averaging a career low in points (12.5) and three-point percentage (33.5 percent). He has come off the bench for the last 16 games, but he has been inconsistent in that role as well. Russell thrives off of his jump shooting but is only making 37 percent of them this season.
Russell was supposed to be a great supporting piece for LeBron James and Anthony Davis and take offensive pressure off of them, but instead has gotten himself benched and is the subject of trade rumors once again.
2) Jaylen Brown
Brown was coming off of a Finals MVP, an All-NBA snub, and an Olympic snub, so the expectation was that he would explode, but that hasn’t happened. Brown’s PPG is up from a year ago (23.0 to 23.8), as are his assists (3.6 to 4.7), but his efficiency is down.
He is shooting a career-low from the field (44.4 percent) and three-point percentage (32.2 percent) and is making only 37 percent of his jump shots and 29 percent of his above-the-break. Brown was expected to play at an All-NBA level this year for Boston and has not thus far. He has to be better, especially with Boston eyeing another championship.
1) Paul George
The max contract George signed in the offseason is looking worse by the day as we head into the new year. The forward has looked a step slower this season after playing at a near All-NBA level last year.
George is on pace to have his worst season since his second year in the league. He is averaging only 16 PPG on 40.6 percent shooting and 31 percent from three, which would be his worst mark since his rookie season. His struggles were put on full display against the Celtics on Christmas Day, where he shot four-of-15 from the field and missed all seven of his threes.
He is shooting 37 percent on jump shots, 34 percent on above-the-break threes, and has a career-worst true shooting percentage of 51.5 percent. George has battled knee issues to start the season, but even when he has played, he has been disappointing.