Year in and year out, NBA superstars bring out their A games, being models of consistency. Every year, too, there are "Jack in the Boxes," players who have flown under the radar before suddenly exploding into the world's consciousness. In this young season, here are my picks for Jack in the Boxes.
OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies - He was a highly-touted pick and a high school phenom, but so was Kwame Brown. When Kevin McHale traded him away for Kevin Love and Mike Miller, I began to sense a little bit of Kwame in him. This kid, though, has smashed all expectations, being the first and only rookie since Larry Bird to score double figures in his first 20 games as a rookie. He is obviously going to be a cornerstone for the Grizzlies' rebuilding project, making Kevin McHale look really bad for trading him away.
Jose Juan Barea, Dallas Mavericks - This former bench rider was given an opportunity to shine recently, and did he ever. In the past week, Barea averaged 20 points, 4 assists and 2.5 rebounds as a starter for the Mavs. If he keeps this up, people will stop talking about how the Mavs are in trouble and Jerry Stackhouse will step up his search for a team that will give him minutes.
JR Smith, Denver Nuggets - I've always thought this guy could play, but I never thought he could get past his craziness to become a reliable player. This year, Smith has not drunk from the tainted Kool-Aid container and has become a vital cog to the Nuggets' great winning run. This year, the sixth man has averaged 12.4 points and 4 rebounds per game. More importantly, he is not throwing up wild threes and driving to the basket more. Nuggets fans have to hope his uneasy truce with Coach George Karl holds up.
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics - This young point guard was already a big contributor in the Celts' title run last year, but he has stepped up this year. While the Big Three remains the Big Three, Rondo is now playing big, averaging 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 2.3 steals. Already achieving his first triple double recently, Rondo looks to figure in the who's the point guard of the future conversation soon.
Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trail Blazers - While he was stellar during Spain's run in the Olympics, I wondered how his skinny 6'6" frame could stand up in the NBA. I got my answer as Rudy has become a great spark off the bench for the upstart Blazers. Fernandez is averaging over 11 points a game and he shoots at a competent 43.4 percent from beyond the arc. If the Blazers make the playoffs this season, rest assured he will have a hand in that success story.
The question now is, will they continue to be the biggest NBA surprises this season or will new players take their cue and step up their game as well?
