The NBA regular season ends on Wednesday, and for nearly half of the league, their summer vacation officially begins then. Though their teams will not play on past Wednesday, there are some players that have had outstanding seasons this year, but won’t be competing in the post season. Check out the top five.
5. O.J. Mayo – Memphis Grizzlies – Lost in the Derrick Rose Rookie of the Year national media lovefest has been Mayo, who quietly has put up solid numbers for a very bad Memphis team. Mayo is averaging 18 points and 3 assists a game for the Grizz, but has improved as his rookie campaign has progressed.
4. Danny Granger – Indiana Pacers – Granger, who will get some votes for most improved player, kept the Pacers in contention for a playoff spot for much of the season. His 25 points a game average caught many by surprise, but for those that have followed Granger’s career, could see he would have a breakout season at any moment.
3. Zach Randolph – Los Angeles Clippers – Clippers big man Zach Randolph has had quite a season. It started playing in MSG with the Knicks, but his marriage with Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni’s style did not last long at all. He headed out west, and flourished in a underachieving Clippers team. His 21 points and 10 boards a game are nothing to sneeze at, as he sits among the best in the paint night in and night out.
2. Devin Harris – New Jersey Nets – Harris had his breakout season, though the Nets were in the middle of an identity crisis for much of the year. His 21 points and 7 assists a game made him enter the conversation of the best point guards in the East, and his All-Star performance cemented that talk. That Jason Kidd trade doesn’t look too bad after all.
1. Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder – KD is the truth. The kid is making Portland wish they had went in a different direction a few seasons ago when bypassed Durant for Greg Oden. The Thunder have built the franchise around their lanky swingman, who averaged career highs in points, assists, and rebounds this year, and should have been selected as an All-Star. There’s always next year though.
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