Some Players To Watch In The G League Playoffs
Dakota Schmidt gives some players to watch out for during the G League playoffs.
Kevon Harris - Raptors 905
If you’ve been following my work over the last few years, you might remember that I’ve been a fan of Kevon Harris dating back to the 2020 off-season when he was getting ready to embark on his pro career. At that time, my praise was centered on him being a 6’6 wing that was able to use his strong frame to finish through contact while also being a reliable catch-and-shoot threat. The positivity within my breakdown of his work was to a point where I was hoping that he’d be one of the rookies to receive a two-way deal.
In the months following that piece, a thumb injury greatly limited his time on the court during the short 2021 G League bubble season, as he only played a total of 68 minutes. One year later and recovered from that injury, our subject returned to the 905 and honestly hasn’t looked back since. As someone that was incredibly high on him as both an athlete and player, even I never expected him to develop into the overall offensive weapon that he turned into during his run this year. Since the start of the calendar year when the G League season booted back up after the Showcase, the Stephen F. Austin alum ahs shown out. In 24 games, he’s averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals on 47% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc on 4.5 attempts per game. Those averages allowed him to maintain 59% True Shooting Percentage and 54% effective Field Goal Percentage.
Along with the fact that he was able to put up those solid numbers despite a career-low 20.5% Usage Percentage, the biggest thing that stands out to me this season has been how coach Patrick Mutombo has given him the keys to do more work as a facilitator and the ways that the Stephen F. Austin alum has been able to shine. The biggest avenue that he’s been able to impress is through how he’s able to use his reputation as a top-notch driving threat to the benefit of his teammates.
As someone that’s essentially a G League rookie, his timing when it comes to drawing the defense and then distributing it, whether it’s a kick out to a shooter or dumping it off to a big, is just an absolute blast to witness. An example of that is seen below as his threat as a driver forces the Grand Rapids big to keep the attention on the drive long enough to create an opportunity for him to throw a little dump off pass to Isaac Bonga.
That progression as a facilitator along with his already established ability as a downhill threat and one of the perimeter anchors of the G League’s best defense allows him to be one of the most impressive players without an NBA contract. While we hope that status changes, the improvements that Kevon has made allows him to be an integral player for a Raptors 905 team that is looking to win their 2nd title in franchise history.
Derrick Walton, Jr. - Motor City Cruise
Derrick Walton, Jr. is in the midst of the best season of his entire career. While that’s high praise for a veteran that’s been productive at every level or league that he’s played at, at no other time has the Wolverine alum has mixed volume and efficiency in the way that he has with Motor City. In the 25 regular season games, he averaged 16.8 points, 9.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals on 51% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc on 3.3 attempts per game. That efficiency allowed him to maintain a stellar 65% True Shooting Percentage and 56% effective Field Goal Percentage. Besides steals, Walton, Jr. put up career-best numbers in every single one of those categories dating back to his run as a Michigan Wolverine.
One of the biggest reasons behind that success is his fit within the system that head coach DJ Bakker has implemented for Motor City. With a heavy reliance on transition play and spread pick-and-rolls, Derrick is able to utilize the pace and space to the advantage of both himself and his teammates. When he’s working in transition, the 27-year-old does a great job of recognizing the speed that he needs to go at and whether to take it to the hole or dish it out to one of the teammates stationed out on the corner. As corner 3’s served as one of the tent poles of Motor City’s electric offense, through them topping the league in both left and right corner shot attempts, the veteran has served as the man that helps make that magic happen.
When the team has to slow down the pace and run half-court sets, our subject shows himself to be more than capable of shining there. This season, he showed a whole range of skills, whether it’s shooting 40% as an off-the-dribble threat, utilizing a screen to get inside the perimeter to hit a mid-range shot, working in the drive-and-dish, or simply driving to the rim. Although he isn’t the quickest player in the G League, Derrick has still been able to shine through an ability to change speed and direction on a dime. An example of that is seen in the clip below as he uses his craftiness to meticuously maneuver his way around 3x NBA champion Patrick McCaw to finish around the rim.
Derrick Walton Jr'‘s progression as a player to where he’s one of the leaders of a team that ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating has been incredible to watch. Whether or not he’s able to push the Cruise to their first title in franchise history, it’s time for the world to give their flowers to a veteran that has been playing at an unbelievable level.
Jaime Echenique - Capital City Go-Go
Fresh off a great rookie year for Acunsa GBC of the Spanish ACB league, the former Wichita State big returned to the United States in the summer of 2021 to sign an exhibit 10 deal with the Washington Wizards. As is the case for most players on those contracts, he was with the organization from Vegas Summer League to the end of Wizards training camp before getting waived and then added to their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.
From the time that the season began, Echenique immediately stood out as one of the league’s premier bigs. That accomplishment was made through him being a mobile 6’11, 258 pound big that is capable of going over both his left and right shoulder while working on the left block, attacking the rim as a roll man, or using his strong frame to dominate his foes to collect offensive rebounds. Out of those skills, his ability as a roll man was the most impressive to watch. This is due to him possessing soft hands, good footwork, and also being able to throw up a little hook shot if a defender helps onto him at the last minute.
On the defensive end, he exhibited an ability to do some work as a high drop defender as a way to deter opposing guards or wings from driving to the rim or getting open looks. When those players to try to test him by driving, he is more than capable of making some men regret the decision that they made. Even when he’s stationed around the paint, the Wichita State alum has the awareness and mobility that you need to react and close out on foes as a help defender.
While I continue to be surprised as to why Echenique hasn’t at least been signed to a two-way contract this year, his lack of recognition from the NBA masses allows him to be with the Capital City Go-Go for their run to a G League title.
Justin Tillman - College Park Skyhawks
While on the topic of dominating Eastern Conference igs with a history in international hoops, Tillman’s season with College Park follows time spent playing in Israel, Turkey, South America, and Italy from the 2018-19 to 2020-21 season. While he was solid in his limited runs with those teams, the VCU alum has staked his claim as one of the premier scoring bigs in the G League. That claim is backed up by him averaging 20.3 points and 10.4 rebounds with a career-best 65% True Shooting Percentage and 60% effective Field Goal Percentage.
Despite being a bit undersized at 6’8 and 220 pounds, Tillman’s offensive success has come exclusively inside the paint. For starters, his ability to set screens and quick feet on rolls has allowed him to be a great target for College Park’s talented trio of facilitators in Cat Barber, Marcus Georges-Hunt, and Sharife Cooper. Once he receives the passes from those two talented guards.
If he catches the feed in the center of the court by the free throw line, chances are likely that he’ll be immediately putting up a floater if the paint is packed. Although that isn’t the most efficient shot in the world, Tillman’s soft touch makes it work as he’s maintained a solid 54% effective Field Goal Percentage on a total of 115 attempts.
Another area where that soft touch passes off is as a post-up threat. Despite that art going extinct at the NBA level unless they’re a superstar like Joel Embiid, Tillman still has been given the keys to showcase his skills in this area. On 134 shot attempts, he shot 50% on both the left and right block, according to Synergy Sports. To compare that to his NBA counterparts, Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic is maintaining a 49% field goal percentage on 195 total shot attempts. Although you’d like to see him utilize that skill to dish it off to perimeter shooters more often, his efficiency in that area makes it acceptable for College Park to rely on him when slashers like Cat Barber or Sharife Cooper need a little rest.
