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Most surprising and disappointing NBA players this season

 
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Surprising: Will Barton

Surprising: Will Barton
Layne Murdoch/Getty Images

After three lackluster seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, small forward Will Barton has found a home with the Denver Nuggets. Averaging 14.8 points per game off the bench for the Nugs,  the 25-year-old Barton has proved he belongs in the NBA this season.

 
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Disappointing: Bradley Beal

Disappointing: Bradley Beal
Robb Carr/Getty Images

The third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal has become one of the NBA’s most frustrating players. Beal seems to pick up a new injury every month, slowing his development and leaving the Wizards without their best three-point shooter. The development of Beal was supposed to make the Wizards a contender in the East, but time and time again, that process is put on hold by injuries.

 
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Surprising: Kent Bazemore

Surprising: Kent Bazemore
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

An outcast with the Warriors and Lakers, small forward Kent Bazemore has developed into a legitimate “three and D” player with the Atlanta Hawks this season. Undrafted out of Old Dominion, Bazemore is averaging career numbers across the board for the Hawks and has helped mitigate the offseason loss of DeMarre Carroll to free agency.

 
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Disappointing: Kobe Bryant

Disappointing: Kobe Bryant
Harry How/Getty Images

Kobe Bryant is considered by many to be one of the 10 best players ever to step foot onto a basketball court. However, you would never guess it by the way he has played this season. The five-time NBA champion is shooting a miserable 35.7 percent from the field and contributes nothing on defense. Set to retire at the end of the season, “The Black Mamba” has lost his venom.

 
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Surprising: Bismack Biyombo

Surprising: Bismack Biyombo
Dave Sandford/Getty Images

The seventh overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats, Bismack Biyombo certainly looked like a bust during his time in Charlotte. It turns out he just needed a change of scenery. Picked up by Toronto in the offseason, Biyombo has played key minutes for the Raptors this season and has been an excellent low-post defender. The center from Zaire has gone from being a bust to a key player on a contending team in the Eastern Conference.

 
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Disappointing: Monta Ellis

Disappointing: Monta Ellis
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

After looking like he had finally become a complete NBA player with the Mavericks, the Indiana Pacers signed guard Monta Ellis this past offseason in the hopes that he could help the team contend in the East. However, to the disappointment of Pacers fans, Ellis has reverted to being the volume shooter that hindered the success of his previous teams. Shooting just 43 percent form the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc, it has been a poor year for Ellis.

 
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Surprising: Devin Booker

Surprising: Devin Booker
Jason Miller/Getty Images

Although the 2015-16 NBA season has been one to forget out in the desert, at the very least the Phoenix Suns have a future star in shooting guard Devin Booker. Despite being the youngest player in the NBA, Booker has already proved that he can play with the big boys in his rookie season. Expect Booker to develop into one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA much sooner than later.

 
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Disappointing: Blake Griffin

Disappointing: Blake Griffin
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Perhaps the best power forward in the NBA, Clippers star Blake Griffin let down his teammates, coaches and fans down when he broke his hand in a fist fight with a team equipment manager in January. The incident was an embarrassment for Griffin, the Clippers organization and the entire NBA. Oh, and it also left Griffin was a broken right hand that needed surgery. He is yet to return to the court from his humiliating injury.

 
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Surprising: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Surprising: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Rocky Widner/Getty Images

Playing on a team that features Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris, the contributions of Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope often get overlooked. Averaging nearly 15 points per game, KCP is key player in the Detroit rotation and one of head coach Stan Van Gundy’s most trusted players.

 
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Disappointing: James Harden

Disappointing: James Harden
Rocky Widner/Getty Images

After nearly winning the regular-season MVP award last season, Rockets guard James Harden has had a disappointing 2015-16 campaign. Granted, Harden is averaging more points per game this season, but his defense and ability to get teammates involved on offense have fallen off. The Rockets have struggled as a result of it. Additionally, Harden turns the ball over 4.6 times per game, the most in the NBA.

 
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Surprising: Draymond Green

Surprising: Draymond Green
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

It’s hard to believe that just a year ago basketball fans were debating as to whether the Warriors do-it-all forward Draymond Green was worth a max contract. Green has proved he is worth a that and so much more this season for a Warriors team that has dominated the competition. Simply put, Green doesn’t have a weak spot in his game. Despite being undersized, he can guard all five positions on defense, is a fantastic passer, can hit three-pointers and is a leader in the Golden State locker room. The 26-year-old has stunned the NBA world with his incredible success.

 
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Disappointing: Dwight Howard

Disappointing: Dwight Howard
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Since leaving the Orlando Magic in 2012, nothing has gone right for center Dwight Howard. One of the most hated players in the NBA, a bad back has limited D-12’s on-court production and turned him into one of the most disappointing players in the NBA. Howard has been so much of disappointment for the Rockets this season that the team desperately attempted to ship off the seven-footer at the trade deadline but couldn’t find a single taker.

 
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Surprising: Rodney Hood

Surprising: Rodney Hood
Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images

Playing on a team that features Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, it has been second-year swingman Rodney Hood who has carried the load for the Utah Jazz down the stretch. The 23-year-old out of Duke University claimed a spot in Utah's starting lineup early in the season and hasn’t let go of it. Hood averages an impressive 14.5 points per game for the Jazz and is usually good for at least a few three-balls a night.

 
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Disappointing: Ty Lawson

Disappointing: Ty Lawson
Bill Baptist/Getty Images

Ty Lawson’s NBA career is on life support. After being arrested twice for drunk driving, the Nuggets traded Lawson to the Rockets this past offseason. Lawson then proceeded to stink it up on the court for the Rockets. He was eventually benched and then waived by Houston. The 28-year-old point guard now finds himself on the Pacers' bench, barely receiving any playing time. After nearly leading the NBA in assists just a season ago, Lawson appears to have ruined his NBA career in the span of just one year.

 
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Surprising: Nikola Jokic

Surprising: Nikola Jokic
Bart Young/Getty Images

After 2014 first-round pick Jusuf Nurkic went down with an injury prior to the start of the season, the Denver Nuggets inserted an unknown center by the name of Nikola Jokic into their starting lineup. The 21-year-old center from Serbia has been a wonderfully pleasant surprise for Nuggets fans. Jokic has averaged 10 points per game this season and posted a superb player efficiency rating of 22.08 for Denver in his rookie season.

 
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Disappointing: Kevin Love

Disappointing: Kevin Love
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

When the Cleveland Cavaliers called in their players to tell them that coach David Blatt had been fired, some were reported to have thought that they were going to be told starting power forward Kevin Love was traded. That should speak volumes to how the three-time All-Star’s tenure in Cleveland has gone. Simply put, Love just hasn’t been able to find his comfort zone in Cleveland, and it’s obvious to anyone who watches the Cavs play.

 
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Surprising: C.J. McCollum

Surprising: C.J. McCollum
Ned Dishman/Getty Images

The 10th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, guard C.J. McCollum has emerged as the “Robin” to the Portland Trail Blazers' “Batman” in Damian Lillard. McCollum, the leading candidate for Most Improved Player of the Year, is averaging 20.9 point per night, a 14-point increase per game from last season.

 
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Disappointing: Nikola Mirotic

Disappointing: Nikola Mirotic
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

After a fantastic rookie season, Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic has looked lost on the court this season. The second-year player from Europe has failed to show much progress in his game this season at all.

 
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Surprising: Dirk Nowitzki

Surprising: Dirk Nowitzki
Jason Miller/Getty Images

For whatever reason, nobody has told Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki that 37-year-old power forwards aren’t supposed to be doing the things he is able to do on the court. The future Hall of Famer is still the Mavs' best player, as he averages almost 19 points per game on 46.3 percent shooting from the field. Despite his advanced basketball age, Nowitzki is surprisingly showing no signs of slowing down.

 
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Disappointing: Joakim Noah

Disappointing: Joakim Noah
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

After struggling immensely to adjust to new Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg and his coaching style, center Joakim suffered a shoulder injury that has put him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. It's been a year to forget for Noah.

 
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Surprising: Zaza Pachulia

Surprising: Zaza Pachulia
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

After being left at the altar by DeAndre Jordan last summer, the Dallas Mavericks turned to veteran Zaza Pachulia to fill their void at center. At the time, it seemed like a desperate move, but to the surprise of many, Pachulia has had a career year in Dallas. He nearly averages a double-double every night for Mark Cuban’s team and has been a steady presence on the defensive side of the floor as well. If the Mavs make the playoffs, Pachulia’s play will be a major reason why.

 
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Disappointing: Jabari Parker

Disappointing: Jabari Parker
Gary Dineen/Getty Images

The second overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, small forward Jabari Parker was expected to be a star for the Milwaukee Bucks from day one. Unfortunately, Parker tore his ACL in his rookie season, and although he is back on the hardwood this season, the second-year player out of Duke seems lost on the court. Parker is only 21 years old, so he has plenty of time get his act together, but Bucks fans were certainly expecting more from Parker at this point in his career.

 
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Surprising: Kristaps Porzingis

Surprising: Kristaps Porzingis
Elsa/Getty Images

When the New York Knicks drafted Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, Knicks fans were thoroughly disappointed. Boy, has that ever changed. Although the rigors of an 82-game NBA schedule have caught up with Porzingis, the 20-year-old Latvian stunned the basketball world earlier this season by showcasing the type of skills that only superstars possess. Porzingis was initially thought to be a project, but he quickly proved that he has too much talent for that to be the case. It looks like the Knicks finally nailed a draft pick in “The Zinger.”

 
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Disappointing: Derrick Rose

Disappointing: Derrick Rose
Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Once one of the most exciting players in the NBA, repeated knee injuries have robbed Bulls point guard Derrick Rose of the explosiveness that made him NBA MVP in 2011. A shadow of the player he used to be, Rose is still a solid point guard, but his play this season has made it apparent that he will never be an elite NBA player ever again.

 
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Surprising: Rajon Rondo

Surprising: Rajon Rondo
Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

After suffering a torn ACL in 2013 and having a disastrous comeback year in 2015, it appeared Rajon Rondo’s NBA career was coming to premature end. Instead, he has revived his basketball life this season with the Sacramento Kings. The point guard is back to being the player he was prior to his knee injury and leads the NBA in assists per game with 11.7 a night.

 
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Disappointing: Nik Stauskas

Disappointing: Nik Stauskas
Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

At this point in his career, it might be appropriate for Nik Stauskas to start spelling his first name "Knick." The eighth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Kings, Stauskas was dealt to the 76ers but has failed to make any sort of an impact. More and more, Stauskas is looking like a bust.

 
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Surprising: Ish Smith

Surprising: Ish Smith
Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

After going undrafted and bouncing around the league for several years, journeyman point guard Ish Smith finally got the opportunity he needed this season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Yes, the 76ers franchise is a mess, but Smith has been the team's most reliable player, and in 40 games with the Sixers he has proved he is a true NBA point guard. Smith is averaging 14.7 points, seven assists and 1.4 steals per game for Philadelphia.

 
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Disappointing: Lance Stephenson

Disappointing: Lance Stephenson
Harry How/Getty Images

After a tenure to forget in Charlotte, volatile swingman Lance Stephenson was traded to the Clippers this past offseason. Stephenson then proceeded to average career lows across the board for Doc Rivers' squad. The Clips then dealt him at the deadline to the Memphis Grizzlies. A free agent after this season, Stephenson will likely have trouble finding a new home in the NBA next season, though he has picked it up a bit in Memphis.

 
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Surprising: Isaiah Thomas

Surprising: Isaiah Thomas
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Coming into the season, we all knew Isaiah Thomas a pretty good basketball player, but an All-Star? Well, it turns out the diminutive point guard is a lot better than many thought. Thomas is having a career year for the Celtics, averaging 22.1 points, 6.5 assists and two three-pointers made per game. Not too shabby for a player who stands at only five-foot-nine.

 
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Disappointing: Dion Waiters

Disappointing: Dion Waiters
Rocky Widner/Getty Images

The fourth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if guard Dion Waiters was out the NBA entirely in a few years. It would be extremely disappointing though. Waiters is a talented scorer, but maturity issues and an inability to play within the confines of a team game have caused the 24-year-old to struggle. Waiters is averaging a career-low nine points per game this season for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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