I was hoping that this performance would end up being the rare and desired “Double Career High” where a player sets a career high in both points and assists in the same game. Note that rebounds do not count for the “Double Career High” achievement. Rebounds are worthless. Anyone can acquire any amount of rebounds that they want just by putting their mind to it (see: Westbrook, Russell). Although, for the record, Devonte’ Graham did tie his career-high in rebounds tonight, with 4.
It goes without saying that 23 is a career-high in points for Graham. I shouldn’t even have to say it because of how much it goes without saying. But here I am, saying it, because you meatballs are too clueless to even realize the monumentality of what you are watching right now. His previous high was 13, and that seemed like a lot all the way back then, near the end of his rookie season.
But imagine my surprise and delight (with a touch of melancholy given the whole “Double Career High” thing) when I found out that he had a game with 9 assists back in March! I shouldn’t be surprised, because I frickin’ made a video for that performance, but can you expect me to remember all 2000-plus vids I made last year? Heck to the no. Anyway, that makes these 8 assists seem mighty unimpressive.
What remains impressive is the 23 points, especially the way he got them. He made a whole bunch of threes on a very high percentage, 6 out of 7, and these weren’t easy threes. These were hard threes. Not exactly Curry-level, but awful god-damn close especially for a scrubnugget like Graham. He and P.J. Washington, splashing threes like Curry and Thompson.