Andrew Nembhard was the the breakout player of the NBA playoffs during Indiana’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
9.2 PPG on 49.8 FG%/35.7 3PT%/80.4 FT%, 4.1 APG, 2.1 RPG
One of the NBA’s best kept secrets is now out after Nembhard’s stellar performance throughout the NBA playoffs. He showed his potential as a two-way guard to go along with the clutch gene he possesses. During Indiana’s postseason run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Nembhard averaged 14.9 PPG on 56.0 FG%/48.3 3PT% to go along with 5.5 APG and 3.3 RPG. I expect a rather large extension offer to be given to him sooner than later by the Pacers.
Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
19.4 PPG (45th in the NBA) on 59.4 FG%/37.9 3PT%, 13.7 RPG (1st in the NBA), 8.2 APG (6th in the NBA)
This is the second season in a row that Sabonis has been named to the All-NBA Third Team. He’s the first former Gonzaga player to earn back-to-back All-NBA honors since John Stockton was named from 1988 to 1997.
Sabonis was 1 of 3 players (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) to receive votes for both NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. This is back-to-back Top 10 finishes in MVP voting for the former Zag.
He was also named the NBA rebounding leader for the second season in a row. Sabonis also had the most double-doubles in the NBA at 77 and the most triple-doubles at 26 while not missing any regular season game in the 2023-2024 season.
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
16.5 PPG (3rd among rookies) on 53.0 FG%/37.0 3PT%/79.3 FT%, 7.9 RPG (2nd amongst rookies), 2.4 APG, 2.3 BPG (2nd amongst rookies)
Holmgren may have finished behind Victor Webanyama for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award but he’s a future face of this league. He played in all 82 games after missing the entirety of the 2022-2023 season. Holmgren also finished with 22 double-doubles.
The Oklahoma City star did just fall in the Western Conference semifinals to the Dallas Mavericks but he’s only 22 years old with a young franchise looking to win multiple championships. He continues to work on his craft in the offseason with Kevin Durant. If he continues to put on more muscle, the sky is the limit for Holmgren.
Kevin Durant x Chet Holmgren x Bol Bol putting in work.
(via @overtime, @dashletics)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 8, 2024
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
12.6 PPG on 47.1 FG%/39.7 3PT%, 3.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.4 SPG (tied for 13th in the NBA)
Jalen Suggs has always been a stud on the defensive end dating back to his high school days. In Year 3 with Orlando, Suggs had the 12th best defensive rating at 110.4 and was tied for 12th in steals-to-turnover ratio at 0.80.
The former Gonzaga standout recorded at least one steal 57 times and two or more steals 31 times, including a career-high six steals against Atlanta on November 9th. Suggs also had at least one blocked shot 35 times and two or more blocks 11 times, including a career-high three blocked shots in Miami on January 12th.
He received 1 third place vote for Defensive Player of the Year and also finished eighth in the Most Improved Player race. Suggs proved he’s one of the best young defenders this league has to offer.
Corey Kispert, Washington Wizards
13.4 PPG on 48.6 FG%/38.3 3PT%, 2.8 RPG, 2.0 APG
Kispert is one of the more efficient deep threats you come across in the NBA and is going to be sought after a ton this offseason. He’s an attractive acquisition for any contender or playoff team with a need for shooting help as well as finishing around the rim (a part of his game that has vastly improved over the years). I would be very surprised to see Kispert in Washington D.C. next season.
Kelly Olynyk, Toronto Raptors
9.8 PPG on 55.5 FG%/38.7 3PT%/83.3 FT%, 5.3 RPG, 4.4 APG
Olynyk is back in his home country of Canada after getting traded from the Jazz to the Raptors before the NBA trade deadline. He’s going to end up representing Canada in the Paris Olympics this summer as well so life is currently good for the NBA journeyman.
Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers
13.6 PPG on 53.7 FG%/42.2 3PT%, 4.3 RPG, 1.2 APG
Hachimura had the third largest highest 3PT% in a season for the Lakers since 2010 at 42.2 3PT% this past season. I feel as if whoever the future coach in Los Angeles is going to be needs to utilize his younger core even more. Hachimura isn’t close to hitting his ceiling just quite yet at the age of 26.
Zach Collins, San Antonio Spurs
11.2 PPG on 48.4 FG%/32.0 3PT%, 5.4 RPG, 2.8 APG
After his recent pay day with the Spurs, Collins acted as a sort of a guide or teacher for Victor Wembanyama through his rookie season. And he did a fantastic job helping the international star adjust to the American game.
Collins had to deal with a ton of injuries early on his career but is back healthy and put together his best season in his professional career.
Julian Strawther, Denver Nuggets
4.5 PPG on 36.9 FG%/29.7 3PT%, 1.2 RPG
It was an up-and-down rookie season for the former Zag but he grew through the entire experience. He’s started to carve a small but vital role off the bench for the 2022-2023 NBA champions. The potential is there for him to move up to a starting spot in the league down the road.
Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies
11.3 PPG on 55.9 FG%, 5.3 RPG, 1.0 BPG
After sitting out for the first 76 games of the season due to an Achilles injury, Clarke made his return to the court for the final six games. Even though the games were meaningless for the Grizzlies, Clarke was looking like his old self once again.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho
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