“His manufacturing and effectivity dropped from November to December,” NBA.com mentioned.
SAN ANTONIO — After being ranked No. 1 on the NBA rookie ladder per week in the past, San Antonio SpursRookie Stephon Fortress moved from high 3 to No. 4.
The newest version options Pelican’s Yves Missi (No. 1), the Wizards’ Alex Sarr and Memphis’ Zach Edey (No. 3), adopted by Fortress.
“His manufacturing and effectivity dropped from November to December, dragging his Ladder rankings with them,” NBA.com reported. “However his confidence could possibly be boosted by the 15 factors, 5-of-8 taking pictures, 4 rebounds and 4 assists he had within the Spurs’ 2024 Finals, Tuesday’s blowout in opposition to the Clippers.”
Fortress has actually slowed down his manufacturing on the sphere. In his final three video games, he averaged 7.0 factors per recreation, together with 2.0 rebounds and a couple of.0 assists in 16.6 minutes.
Nonetheless, that could possibly be as a result of the Spurs have introduced him off the bench since Devin Vassell’s return, which might have impacted his tempo, or he might have hit the proverbial “rookie wall.” .
“All people goes by it. I’ve talked to Vic (Victor Wembanyama) about it a number of instances. Not simply Vic, however the coaches and my different teammates. All people goes by it,” Fortress mentioned. “The benefit of the NBA is you have got lots of video games to redeem.”
Statistically, Fortress beginning or coming off the bench is a stark distinction.
In 17 begins, Fortress averaged 14.6 factors per recreation, 2.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 40% taking pictures in 30.5 minutes.
In 15 video games off the bench, he averaged 6.9 factors per recreation, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 36% taking pictures in 18.9 minutes.
Certain, some minutes on the sphere, however there’s one thing to be mentioned for Fortress within the beginning unit.
Nonetheless, the rookie guard’s precedence is to be prepared and play protection every time his quantity is named on or off the bench.
“It actually doesn’t matter while you arrive,” he mentioned. “My mindset is simply to concentrate on our defensive recreation plan.”
Fortress stays one of many high recruits in his draft class. He’s tied for first in steals with 0.8 per recreation and in complete steals (27). He’s additionally second in assists per recreation with 3.6 and in complete assists (115).
X: KEN 5, JeffGSpursKENS5
