Trade season is in full swing as the Utah Jazz navigate the 2023-24 NBA season. Among the storylines that I’ve been keeping close tabs on this season is the play of Utah's three rookies: Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh.
The latter of the three has spent this season with the Jazz’s G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. While the saying 'out of sight, out of mind' has probably held true for a lot of fans, here’s a look at how Sensabaugh has fared as a rookie thus far.
Scoring
Sensabaugh came out of Ohio State regarded as one of the best scorers in his draft class, and he’s been up to the task so far. The 20-year-old is averaging 19.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game across 27 G-League contests.
Despite playing just over 29 minutes per night, that scoring output ranks Sensabaugh second on the team, just slightly behind two-way wing Johnny Juzang. The rookie's efficiency has carried over for the most part from college. He’s shooting 47.2% from the floor, 37.7% from deep, and 75.8% from the charity stripe.
Sensabaugh has been one of the Stars’ best playmakers throughout the season. Though a bit inconsistent, he’s shown that he’s both a willing and capable passer.
Sensabaugh turns the ball over too much (3.2 per game). but then again, I don’t expect him to have anywhere near the same level of usage when he gets his NBA chance. Secondary playmakers are extremely valuable to an offense.
If Sensabaugh continues to score efficiently and make good reads with the ball in his hands, he could turn into a valuable piece for the Jazz going forward.
Defense
The question with Sensabaugh has always been how he'd hold up on the less glamorous end of the court. This question will likely determine whether he becomes a solid NBA contributor for years to come or not. So far, I don’t have any data to share about how well he’s defended in the G-League.
Sensabaugh has good size for a guard at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. While he’s a bit undersized for a wing, his strength will likely make him passable in the right matchups.
One of my biggest concerns for Sensabaugh on the defensive side is his foot speed. If he’s not big enough for wings and not quick enough for guards, it could be tough for him to match up defensively.
Health
Sensabaugh’s health probably had the biggest impact on the draft night slide that ended with him heading to Salt Lake. The fact that he’s been healthy this year and has played a heavy dose of minutes is very encouraging.
If the Jazz can get Sensabaugh to the offseason and give him a full summer to work on his body and game, it would be a major plus for him and the team.
The Takeaway
By no means am I writing Sensabaugh off as a defender. If he buys in on that end, he can be a passable defender.
Couple that with his tremendously promising offensive talent, and the Jazz have a valuable piece waiting in the wings. I hope that Sensabaugh is able to find the court for some real NBA minutes at some point this season — the Jazz could be looking for some added scoring punch post-trade deadline.
If his G-League flashes are able to translate, Sensabaugh's development could pay major dividends down the road.
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