Tony Wroten Is Making A Case For NBA’s Sixth Man Of The Year
By Alan Gung
@AlanGung
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
One of the early candidates for the NBA‘s Sixth Man of the Year award is Philadelphia 76ers guard Tony Wroten. He’s also becoming one of the most improved players, and he’s giving plenty of reason why after the Sixer’s victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wroten has taken a huge first step this season after barely given the opportunity to contribute with the Memphis Grizzlies last year. He scored 18 points and dished out four assists and four rebounds in 26 minutes during their last win.
He is averaging 11.5 points, four rebounds and .67 steals per game while shooting 43.8 percent this season. Wroten was limited to 2.6 points, .8 rebounds and .2 steals in 7.8 minutes per game for the Grizzlies during his rookie season.
The Sixers are giving him the minutes and flexibility to the former All-Pac 12 first team player and Washington Husky guard. He has scored in double digits in five of the first six games this season. Wroten had a breakthrough game, having a career high last night in points, minutes and assists.
GM Sam Hinkie’s analytics is showing with the acquisition of Wroten. His scoring and ability to get his teammates involved is what the Sixers need. The Sixers don’t any other available options at shooting guard.
His explosiveness hasn’t been a complete surprise, considering he excelled during training camp and has put decent stats in the preseason. Three-point and free-throw shooting are areas he needs work in his game, however. He’s averaging 25.9-percent on three pointers and abysmal 42.9-percent from the line. Houston Rockets superstar center Dwight Howard is averaging 50-percent. Wroten’s free-throw shooting is awful for non-basketball fans.
As long as Wroten improves his shooting, he could evolve into a star like Indiana Pacer and All-Star Paul George, who took big strides from his mediocre rookie season.
Alan Gung is a Philadelphia 76ers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @AlanGung, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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