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NBA veterans who need to prove themselves in 2017-18
Tom Szczerbowski / USA Today Sports Images

NBA veterans who need to prove themselves in 2017-18

A few weeks into the NBA season, some veteran players aren't pulling their weight yet. Whether it be age, injury or just slow starts, some experienced pros need to pick it up if they expect to keep playing.

Here's a look at 20 NBA veterans who need to prove themselves after slow starts.

 
1 of 20

Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, Hawks

Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, Hawks
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

Bazemore has started all 11 games for the Hawks, but it's been a struggle. He's committing a career-high 2.7 turnovers per game and shooting under 36 percent from the field.

 
2 of 20

Bismack Biyombo, C, Magic

Bismack Biyombo, C, Magic
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Biyombo has been a role player for Orlando early in the year, averaging just 13.8 minutes per game. He's deserved even less playing time with just 3.5 points while committing 2.7 personal fouls and 1.3 turnovers per contest.

 
3 of 20

Mario Chalmers, PG, Grizzlies

Mario Chalmers, PG, Grizzlies
Kevin Jairaj / USA Today Sports Images

Chalmers is coming off the bench for Memphis after missing all of last season with a ruptured Achilles, and he's shown some rust. In particular, Chalmers hasn't shot well from three (22 percent), and even his free throw percentage has plummeted.

 
4 of 20

Wilson Chandler, SF, Nuggets

Wilson Chandler, SF, Nuggets
Cary Edmondson / USA Today Sports Images

Chandler has struggled to score for the Nuggets as a starter this season. Despite starting all 10 games and averaging nearly 30 minutes per game, the veteran has averaged only 8.1 points, almost half of what he averaged last season in Denver. He also has just 3.5 rebounds per game compared to 6.5 last season.

 
5 of 20

Dante Cunningham, SF/PF, Pelicans

Dante Cunningham, SF/PF, Pelicans
Robert Hanashiro / USA Today Sports Images

Cunningham has been a regular starter for New Orleans, but that hasn't helped him on the stats sheet. He's averaging just 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 26.4 minutes.

 
6 of 20

Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, Clippers

Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, Clippers
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

Gallinari has struggled with the move from Denver to L.A. and recently suffered a hip injury. After averaging more than 18 points per game over the last two seasons, he has 12.8 points per game despite playing nearly 32 minutes per contest.

 
7 of 20

George Hill, PG, Kings

George Hill, PG, Kings
Sergio Estrada / USA Today Sports Images

The Kings' new starting point guard has really struggled with his subpar supporting cast. He's averaging just 9.6 points and 2.7 assists per game, numbers that are down significantly compared to what he did with Utah last season.

 
8 of 20

Kyle Lowry, PG, Raptors

Kyle Lowry, PG, Raptors
Tom Szczerbowski / USA Today Sports Images

Is the pressure of a new contract getting to Lowry? After averaging a career-high 22.4 points per game last season, Lowry is putting up less than 12 points per game in nine contests this season. Not surprisingly, the Raptors are off to a relatively slow start.

 
9 of 20

Timofey Mozgov, C, Nets

Timofey Mozgov, C, Nets
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Mozgov has been a regular starter for Brooklyn, but the results haven't shown. He's putting up just 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in about 16 minutes per game.

 
10 of 20

Nerlens Noel, C, Mavericks

Nerlens Noel, C, Mavericks
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

It's been a rough start for Noel and the 1-10 Mavs. He has started six games this season, averaging 18.2 minutes per game with 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds. It's a far cry from what he produced with Dallas late last season.

 
11 of 20

Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks

Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks
Russell Isabella / USA Today Sports Images

If Nowitzki is out to prove he has something left at age 39, he hasn't shown it yet. The future Hall of Famer has averaged 10.5 points per game, the lowest average since his rookie season. His field goal percentage has also fallen below 40 percent.

 
12 of 20

Zach Randolph, PF, Kings

Zach Randolph, PF, Kings
Sergio Estrada / USA Today Sports Images

Randolph is a cult hero in Memphis, but the move to Sacramento hasn't been as smooth. Through seven starts, he's averaged only 12 points and six rebounds per game, both his worst totals since the 2002-03 season.

 
13 of 20

Josh Richardson, SF, Heat

Josh Richardson, SF, Heat
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

Now in his third season, Richardson is a regular starter but hasn't shown much improvement. He's averaging just 10 points per game and shooting 38 percent from the field.

 
14 of 20

Derrick Rose, PG, Cavaliers

Derrick Rose, PG, Cavaliers
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images

Cleveland's slow start hasn't been helped by Rose. He's played just six games and struggled mightily on defense while averaging 15 points per game.

 
15 of 20

Terrence Ross, SG, Magic

Terrence Ross, SG, Magic
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Ross has started since Orlando acquired him last season, but his performance has declined early this year. He's scoring only 8.5 points per game, shooting an awful 31 percent from the field. He needs to play better to maintain his nearly 28 minutes per game.

 
16 of 20

Iman Shumpert, SG, Cavaliers

Iman Shumpert, SG, Cavaliers
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Usually a key player off the bench, Shumpert's performance has been less than stellar this year. He's play only six games due to a knee issue, averaging six points in 18.2 minutes per game.

 
17 of 20

J.R. Smith, SG, Cavaliers

J.R. Smith, SG, Cavaliers
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

The enigmatic Smith seemed to hit a wall last season, and he's slid further early this year. He's averaging just 5.3 points over 27.4 minutes per game and has also struggled defensively. Incredibly, he's shot worse than 28 percent from the field.

 
18 of 20

Lance Stephenson, SG, Pacers

Lance Stephenson, SG, Pacers
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Back with the Pacers, Stephenson has continued to struggle this year. Coming off the bench in 10 games, he's putting up just 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest in 19.1 minutes. Just 27 years old, Stephenson is playing himself out of an NBA job.

 
19 of 20

Dwyane Wade, SG, Cavaliers

Dwyane Wade, SG, Cavaliers
David Richard / USA Today Sports Images

Reuniting with LeBron James seemed like a great idea on paper for Wade, but he's really struggled in part-time duty. Seeing just 22.2 minutes per game, he's averaged a career-worst nine points, shooting worse than 41 percent from the field. He needs to improve for the Cavs to get where they want to be at the end of the year.

 
20 of 20

Dion Waiters, SG, Heat

Dion Waiters, SG, Heat
Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sports Images

While Waiters is averaging 15.9 points per game, he hasn't been efficient. He is making less than 30 percent of his shots from three in a career-high 5.5 attempts. He needs to make shots more consistently to validate his playing time.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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