Entering his 5th NBA season, Derrick Favors hasn’t quite lived up to the hype that surrounded him as he entered the 2010 NBA Draft. The key with Favors was always going to be patience, but how much longer can fans and teams be patient? After an auspicious start to his 2014-15 campaign, will Derrick Favors finally put it all together and transform into a star?
Back in 2010, the New Jersey Nets selected Favors with the 3rd overall pick, two slots ahead of DeMarcus Cousins. Prior to the draft, scouts described him as a tremendous athlete with elite power and quickness. The knock on Favors was always his footwork and comfort in the post; to say the very least, his offensive game (other than dunking) was raw and undefined. In his only season as a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, Favors averaged 12.4 points and 8.4 rebounds to go along with 2.1 blocks on defense.
He began his rookie season with the Nets in the swamp of Jersey, but was shipped at the trade deadline to the mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah as the main piece in a deal that sent “superstar” point guard Deron Williams to the Nets. A midseason trade is almost never beneficial to a rookie’s development, but in this case it meant a brand new opportunity for Favors. Every year of his career, his rebounding and points per game have increased, yet Favors hasn’t had that one breakout season – the time is now.
Ever since being traded to the Jazz, Favors has been able to capitalize on their youth movement by receiving significant minutes on the court. Last year, he averaged just over 30 minutes per game, so it is evident that the Jazz are giving him the chance to become a star. Unlike the Nets, they aren’t going to give up quickly on their young talent. In his first three games this season, Favors has averaged 21.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, including a career high 32 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in a win over Phoenix Saturday night. Even though it is from a very small sample size, seeing Favors excel is extremely promising to Jazz fans. I believe, as do many, that he will finally combine his athleticism with his skill set and operate with an effortless style of play this season. Is 18 points and 11 rebounds too much to ask? I don’t think so – that’s just five more points and two more rebounds than last year, but it is certainly a stat line worthy of recognition around the league. Last season he improved his points per game by 3.9 and his rebounds by 1.6, so a similar increase in stats is definitely plausible. Favors will become a force in the paint on both offense and defense, and his ability to run the floor well will keep opposing power forwards on their toes.
Keep in mind, the kid is just 23 years old, so if his development doesn’t significantly stimulate this season, there is nothing to be overly concerned with. Favors may need another year or two to break out, but based on an analysis of his stats and the first few games of the young season, it appears as if Derrick Favors is ripe for a breakout season.
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