NFL
By: Monte Perez
The NBA season continues to be a marathon, not a sprint. There are so many games in a season, It is impossible to watch them all. Players continue to rest because of load management and nagging injuries. Below is a cheat sheet, if you will, on NBA players under the radar.
5) Josh Giddey ( Oklahoma City Thunder):
Everyone across the country is talking about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rightly so. He is having an MVP-like season. But, Giddey has been great for the Thunder. He is a 6-8, 220lbs shooting guard. He is averaging 15.3 points, 8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per night. He is shooting 47% from the floor and 72% from the free-throw line. This is a young player learning on the job and his production will continue to grow as he matures and learns the NBA game.
4) Franz Wagner ( Orlando Magic):
Paolo Banchero will win rookie of the year. He is the next superstar in the NBA but, the Orlando Magic have talent around him. Wagner is a 6-10, 220lbs small forward who is having a very productive season. He is averaging 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. He shoots 48% from the floor and 87.4% from the free-throw line. With Banchero and Wagner, the Magic have a great, young 1-2 punch. They remind me of a young Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
3) Alperen Sengun ( Houston Rockets):
Who? Does anyone outside of Houston know who Sengun is? He is 6-11, 245 lbs, and only 20 years old. He has contributed nicely to the Rockets and is averaging 14 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3 assists. He is shooting 55% from the floor and 80% from the free-throw line. The Rockets are in rebuilding mode so he should get plenty of playing time and be able to play through his mistakes and learn the game every night.
2) Evan Mobley ( Cleveland Cavaliers):
The 6-11, 220blbs power forward is really starting to develop his game. He is only 21 years old but he is one of the most consistent players on the Cavaliers. Mobley is averaging 14.3 points. 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He has soft hands and is a very skilled big man. The Cavaliers are built around Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland but, Mobley can be a legitimate 20-point and 10 rebounds per-night player.
1) Lauri Markkanen ( Utah Jazz):
Last season, Markkanen averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assists per game for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This season with the Utah Jazz he is averaging 23.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 assists per contest, and is averaging 37 minutes per night. The Jazz should battle for a playoff sport or play in game. After Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert exited Utah, No one saw this team doing anything. They are exceeding all expectations and that is because of Markkanen. He is only 25 years old and I would not be surprised if he spends the rest of his career in Utah.
