I’ve been crossing a lot of names off my to-do list as the curtains begin to fall on the 2016-17 season. Treveon Graham, Quinn Cook, Darrun Hilliard… Shabazz Napier?
I thought this was a mistake at first, that I’d merely forgotten to cross off his name when I did an earlier video. But no! I’ve not done Napier highlights this season, and not because I’ve been purposefully ignoring him because he’s too good (sorry Westbrook). He just hasn’t done anything this year, scoring 10 or 11 a couple times but that’s it. He’s the backup PG, technically, but he’s buried behind one of the highest-scoring backcourts in the league.
Well, that changes tonight. In the absence of their usual chucky guards, Portland put in “Shabazzle Dazzle” and had him chuck in their stead. And, somehow, it worked! Against one of the best teams in the league! I pretty much can’t believe it, that Napier came out and dropped 32 points like he was Damian Lillard or something. Not too shabby for a player who was so bad that LeBron James fled Miami rather than play with him, even after asking for him specifically.
Oh, and he totally should’ve gotten an assist for that last little tap to Noah Vonleh for the game-winner. That was controlled, he knew what he was doing.