Now that we're 12 weeks into the 2024-25 NBA season, we are close to the year’s halfway point. Several players have stood out, demonstrating significant improvements in both efficiency and production compared to their performance in prior seasons. (Statistics as of January 7th, 2025)
1. Norman Powell
(Los Angeles Clippers SG/SF)
Despite coming off back-to-back fourth-place finishes in Sixth Man of the Year voting and the offseason departure of Paul George, expectations were not exactly high for Powell, a 31-year-old wing entering his 10th NBA season. This was reflected in his mid-100s average draft position, a fair assessment given his age and drop-off in points per game from 17.0 to 13.9 from 2022-23 to 2023-24, but Powell has been a revelation in the starting lineup, helping the Clippers to a 20-15 record while leading the team in points per game (23.5) on very efficient 48/44/85 shooting splits. Powell has responded well to his uptick in usage percentage (27%) and even improved as a creator, a weak area over the course of his career, with career-highs in assists per game and assist percentage.
Powell’s scoring approach has remained largely unchanged in terms of shot distance and selection; his production has simply skyrocketed as his efficiency remains steady. The impact of Kawhi Leonard’s return remains to be seen, but Powell has already outperformed another All-Star teammate in James Harden this season and had a solid performance in Leonard’s Saturday season debut with 20 points on 50% shooting.
2. Cameron Johnson
(Brooklyn Nets PF)
Johnson has long been one of the NBA’s most efficient shooters, but has taken that efficiency to another level in his sixth season, along with a major leap in production for the rebuilding Nets. Following the trade of Mikal Bridges—his close friend and teammate since entering the league—to the crosstown rival Knicks this offseason, Johnson has achieved career-highs in minutes (32.6), points (19.5), assists (3.0), and 3-pointers per game (3.3).
Remarkably, along with this uptick in productivity, he is posting career-highs in all three shooting efficiency categories (50/44/90). Among players averaging at least three 3-pointers, he is fourth in the entire association, trailing just Zach LaVine, Kyrie Irving, and Norman Powell. Johnson’s name has swirled in trade rumors in recent weeks, with the Pacers, Grizzlies, Kings, and Thunder among potential suitors, but wherever he ends up, you can expect his efficiency to remain elite.
3. Isaiah Hartenstein
(Oklahoma City Thunder C/PF)
The 26-year-old Hartenstein impressed fans down the stretch last season with the Knicks and was rewarded with a 3 year/$87 million contract from the Western Conference-leading Thunder. OKC’s investment is already paying off and then some, as Hartenstein has played elite defense around the rim, is averaging a double-double for the first time in his career, and even averages an astonishing 4.0 assists per game for a 7-footer.
The center has been critical to the Thunder’s success, particularly with Chet Holmgren missing significant time with a pelvic fracture. Expect Hartenstein’s production to fall off slightly when Holmgren returns, but OKC would be wise to keep one of the league’s best bigs this season on the court as much as possible.
4. Victor Wembanyama
(San Antonio Spurs C/PF)
Even the most casual NBA fan is familiar with the truly insane start to Wembanyama’s career, and in year two, the 7’3 center has already somehow made staggering improvements to his game. Wemby, who has more points, threes, and blocks than each of the NBA’s all-time career leaders in those statistics did at this stage in their respective careers, has shifted his offensive approach.
After taking 33% of his shots from distance as a rookie, that rate has increased dramatically to 49% this season, and both he and the Spurs have benefited tremendously from that change. Wemby’s scoring is up 4.3 points per game, his efficiency is up significantly across the board (48/35/88), and San Antonio has nearly as many wins as they did all last season.
5. Evan Mobley
(Cleveland Cavaliers PF)
Mobley has long been praised as a defensive stalwart, averaging 1.5 blocks per game over his career and finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in just his second season, but it is his offense that has made a considerable jump in year four for the league-leading Cavaliers. After paltry 3-point shooting numbers over his first two seasons, Mobley showed signs of life from beyond the arc last year, converting 0.4 per game on 37.3%.
This season, he is converting 1.2 per game on an elite 41.8% and is on track to make more 3-pointers than in his first three years combined. Mobley has also seen steady improvement at the free throw line each year, shooting 78.2% this season, and has remained aggressive on the interior with 91 dunks in 33 games. The end result has been a bump from 15.7 points per game in 2023-24 to 18.8 and a higher usage rate (23.2%) in the Cavs’ number-one rated offense.
6. Dyson Daniels
(Atlanta Hawks SG/PG)
Daniels, a third-year pro from Australia, has garnered attention this season for his gaudy defensive metrics, including an eye-catching 101 steals over his first 32 games, but he has also made major strides on the offensive end. Daniels’ points per game has shot up from 5.8 last season on the Pelicans to 12.8 this year with identical 45% efficiency. “The Great Barrier Thief” has also quietly posted impressive offensive rebounding numbers (1.6 per game), showcasing his elite size and length for a guard in more ways than one.
7. Payton Pritchard
(Boston Celtics PG/SG)
The 6’1 Oregon product is having his best offensive season off the bench, averaging double-digit points for the first time in his career, and distinguishing himself on a stacked Celtics roster. Pritchard has already nearly surpassed his 3-point total from last season, making 3.6 per game, 11th-best in the league, and he converts them at a higher rate than each of the 10 players ahead of him (42.4%).
Increasing his percentage of field goal attempts coming from beyond the arc substantially to 76% has clearly paid dividends, and Pritchard is also one of the NBA’s most reliable ball-handlers with a miniscule turnover percentage of 7.9%.
8. Josh Hart
(New York Knicks SF/SG)
Hart had a down year in 2023-24, particularly with regard to efficiency, but remains one of the league’s true swiss army knives and is having perhaps his best season to date. Hart is averaging career-highs in assists (5.7) and steals (1.4) per game, to go along with career highs in rebounds per game (8.9) and field goal percentage (56%), just ridiculous numbers for a 6’4 largely perimeter player. His 3-point percentage is also back up to a respectable 37% on 3.6 attempts per game, a notable turnaround from his 31% mark last year.
9. Ivica Zubac
(Los Angeles Clippers C)
Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Zubac has been one of the NBA’s most reliable centers and he has improved in several areas after being asked to shoulder a greater load this season. An elite rim defender, he has posted career-highs and substantial upticks in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game. The league’s fourth-leading rebounder, Zubac is averaging a double-double for the first time, and an impressive one at that (15/12.5). Of note though, Zubac is posting an abysmal career-low 51% rate at the free throw line.
10. Tyler Herro
(Miami Heat SG)
With Jimmy Butler seemingly on his way out of Miami, Tyler Herro has emerged as the Heat’s true number-one option in his sixth season. He has notched career-highs in points (23.8) assists (5.1), and threes (3.8) per game, on career-best efficiency numbers from the field (48%) and from distance (40%). He has been particularly lethal from midrange, shooting 54% between 10 and 16 feet, well above his career averages. If and when the Heat do decide to deal Butler, it will be interesting to see whether that impacts Herro positively with more ball-handling responsibility or negatively as defenses hone in on him.
Honorable Mentions
11. Jalen Johnson
(Atlanta Hawks SF/PF)
12. Christian Braun
(Denver Nuggets SG)
13. Cade Cunningham
(Detroit Pistons (PG/SG)
14. Amen Thompson
(Houston Rockets SF)
15. Gradey Dick
(Toronto Raptors SG)
16. Trey Murphy III
(New Orleans Pelicans SF)
17. Walker Kessler
(Utah Jazz C)
18. Jordan Poole
(Washington Wizards SG/PG)
19. Jalen Suggs
(Orlando Magic SG/PG)
20. Ty Jerome
(Cleveland Cavaliers SG)