The NBA is full of drama. There’s a new story, a new highlight, and a new controversy in every matchup. And that is what makes the NBA so great. You’ll never know what’s going to happen next.
This season has been no different. We’ve seen some great basketball, impressive dunks, and intense rivalries, but we’ve also seen some drama. Also, there have been a few surprises, both good and bad. Below are the five biggest surprises or twists and turns of the 2021-22 NBA season. Check them out!
The Los Angeles Lakers Disaster
The Lakers entered the season as the favorites. And who can blame who? They have LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook on their roster. However, the Lakers miserably failed to make the playoffs even with such players.
Media outlets are calling them the most disappointing team in NBA history. But LeBron James is nearing the forty-year-old mark, Anthony Davis is prone to injury across his career, and Russell Westbrook has the lowest gaming efficiency superstar of his generation.
Sure, the worries and apprehensions were there. Still, Lakers fans didn’t think the team would be this bad this season. Sportsbooks and betting sites predicted that the Los Angeles Lakers would win at least 52 games this season.
Unfortunately, the Lakers only won half of that total with several weeks left in the 2021-22 NBA season. But the astonishing thing is that LeBron is having a healthy and phenomenal season as a 37-year old. In fact, he achieved his highest scoring average since 2010.
Even with LeBron’s fantastic performance, the Lakers have been a disaster. Westbrook hasn’t been producing enough, and Davis has only played in 37 games. This season, everything has gone wrong for the Los Angeles Lakers except for LeBron.
Ja Morant’s Climb to Superstar Status
Memphis Grizzlies avid fans likely predicted Ja Morant‘s ascent. But those who aren’t probably didn’t see this coming. Instead, Jo Morant cemented 8.5 points onto his scoring average, building up 27.6 PPG with improved efficiency from deep and from the field.
Moreover, even with a significant spike in usage rate, Ja Morant set a career-high with a 57.5 percent true shooting percentage, ramming that number beyond the league average for the first time. It’s like the spring-loaded point guard dialed up his entire game.
The Memphis player continues to showcase and demonstrate excellent ball-handling craft, contributing to the Grizzlies’ sterling play. All in all, Ja Morant’s ascent was one of the exciting surprises of the 2021-22 NBA season.
James Harden Was Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
There were rumors here and there. However, nobody thought that it would happen this season. The Brooklyn Nets entered the 2021-22 NBA season as one of the favorites to win the NBA title. Hence, it seemed unreal that James Harden would be traded before the offseason.
But things happened. Kevin Durant was out for six weeks due to a knee injury, and Kyrie Irving was rendered inactive due to his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Suddenly, we were seeing a bleak effort from James Harden.
It was like his final days in Houston were coming back. So at that point, we know for sure that James Harden wanted out from the Brooklyn Nets. Now that he’s traded, the 76ers’ NBA Finals odds went over the Brooklyn Nets.
DeMar DeRozan Plays His Way Into the MVP Discussion
The Chicago Bulls are the top four seed in the East, and they are on pace to exceed their predicted preseason win total of 42.5. However, basketball fans didn’t see DeMar DeRozan becoming an MVP candidate with a career-high 26.8 PPG.
Pretty much, DeRozan’s scoring was projected to go down. But instead, he has become one of the leading scorers in the league. Thanks to his midrange mastery. He is making 50 percent of his 9.5 midrange attempts per basketball game.
And no other NBA player in the league takes more than 7.4 midrange attempts per game. DeRozan’s 50 percent clip is only second to Kevin Durant. His scoring average is one thing. But his clutch play is what makes him unique as an MVP candidate.
Stephen Curry’s Shooting Slump
The Golden State Warriors’ All-Star player, Stephen Curry, has poor shooting performance this season. Avid fans say, “He’ll break out of it in no time, so don’t worry.” But, unfortunately, he has not yet anyway.
Steph Curry is shooting 38 percent from the three-point line and 43 percent from the field. He’s in a shooting slump, and people are not used to seeing the best shooter in NBA history miss open attempts. Still, Curry is in an excellent shooting place. However, he’s not in the Curry-level shooting season. And that’s what the Warriors need if they want to compete for the title.
Takeaway
As the 2021-22 NBA season ends, it has provided no shortage of didn’t-see-that-comings, turns, twists, and surprises. From the Lakers’ disappointing season to the rapid rise of the Grizzlies, the NBA season has been pleasurable indeed.
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