Should Greivis Vasquez Be the NBA’s Most Improved Player?

In what has been a rough season for the New Orleans Hornets, point guard Greivis Vasquez has been one of the few bright spots exceeding expectations. The former Maryland standout has clearly taken the next step as an NBA player. He is currently tied for third in the league in assists, averaging nine per game. He’s only behind Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul; which is in elite company, wouldn’t you say? At the start of the year, no one expected him to leap over their highly-touted lottery pick in Austin Rivers in the depth chart. Now 33 games later, Vasquez has taken full control of the starting job. He’s been the most consistent player for the Hornets, filling up the box score every night. Vasquez has an unusual advantage for a point guard, as he just so happens to be 6-6. Amongst point guards, he is ranked third in rebounding, which adds another aspect to his game. Vasquez has come a long way from his days as a bench-warmer just two years ago back in Memphis, where he averaged just 3.6 points per game. Today, he averages nearly 14 points as a starting NBA point guard. If he were having this type of season with a contending team, Vasquez would even have a shot at being an All-Star.  Unfortunately, the soon-to-be “Pelicans” have the worst record in the Western Conference at 8-25.  Bound for another high lottery pick, New Orleans has been awful. However, it has been fun to see Greivis Vasquez excel to this point.