Duarte was named the NBA's first Rookie of the 2021-2022 season. Figure IC PHOTO
Beijing News (reporter Xu Bangyin) On October 28, the NBA League announced the first best rookie list of the 2021-2022 season, and the Pacers topped the list with the 13th pick. Barnes, the No. 4 show who played for the Raptors, was in Second place, and no. 3 was Mobley, who was selected by the Cavaliers with a probing stick.
Born in 1997, Duarte is one of the few senior players in the 2021 class of rookies. Due to playing his senior season at the University of Oregon, the 24-year-old Duarte is 3 to 4 years older than most rookies, but being able to be selected by the Pacers with the 13th pick naturally has its advantages and potential.
In the last NCAA season, Duarte averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.9 steals per game, shooting 53.2% and 42.4% from three-point range, respectively, and performed very versatilely. With the height advantage of the same position and excellent three-point ability, Duarte quickly adapted to the NBA.
During the preseason, Due to LeVert's injury, Duarte was given several starters. After the start of the regular season, Duarte sat in the starting position, and successively played with Sabonis Jr., Brogdon and Turner. After four games, Duarte averaged 38.3 minutes per game, contributing 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2 assists and shooting 45% from three-point range, making him one of the most efficient players on the team.
Compared with other rookies of the 2021 class, Cunningham continued to be absent due to injury, with Jaylen Green averaging 16 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3 assists per game, Tanhua Mobley averaging 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and No. 4 Barnes contributing 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Watching Duarte's outstanding performance as the rookie of the 2016-2017 season, Pacers teammate Brogdon was very relieved, "I don't understand why some teams don't choose older players who are ready and they can make an immediate difference. When he landed in the NBA in 2016, Brogdon was also close to 24 years old, and he beat Simmons, Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Sabonis Jr., Siakam and others to get the best rookie.
Duarte's 13th pick also made the outside world feel a lot of emotions. Historical data shows that the growth space of the No. 13 rookie is no less than that of the rookie in the top 3 picks, kobe bryant, Carl Malone's career achievements are obvious to all, and in recent seasons, the 13 picks have also appeared all-star players such as Booker, Mitchell, LaVine and new stars such as Taylor Hiro.
Beijing News reporter Xu Bangyin
Edited by Han Shuangming Proofreader Wei Zhuo