The NBA's Bob Sura All-Stars

The dying embers of an NBA regular season often throw up statistical anomalies and surprise performances, as a combination of pre-playoff rest, late-season injuries (legitimate or otherwise) and straight-up tanking thrust little-used players into the spotlight. Some of those players make the most of their time in the sun.

One of those was Bob Sura. In 2004, the nine-year veteran was moved midseason from Detroit to a struggling Atlanta Hawks. As the Hawks kicked the tank into top gear at the beginning of March, the then 30-year-old was thrust into a starting role with the intention of playing the Hawks out of games. Instead, he led the Hawks to an 8-9 record (they won 28 games all season) whilst posting a nightly 16.4 points, 9.3 boards and 5.9 assists, including three triple-doubles in an era where they were not at all common.

In that spirit, let’s examine which marginal players have taken advantage of some late-season opportunities. Who are the 2024-25 Bob Sura All-Stars?

Kai Jones – Dallas Mavericks

The talent has always been there, but Jones hasn't displayed the most level-headed behavior over the years. He flamed out in Charlotte and was never likely to get a look in on a surprisingly competitive Clippers outfit. Moving to Dallas right as practically their entire roster crawled to the infirmary, Jones has at long last looked like a real, live NBA player.

Jones played 33 minutes in his first game as a Mav, posting 21 points and eight rebounds (perhaps the signs were there?) before being inactive for Dallas’ next seven matches. Thrust right into the starting lineup upon his return, Jones has given the Mavericks 12.1 points, 7.5 boards and 1.8 "stocks" (steals and blocks) in eight games as a starter. Even when returning to the bench, he has put up a solid eight and seven.

Still only 24 years old, the firmer first-round pick will hopefully parlay this into a solid backup role somewhere.

A.J. Lawson – Toronto Raptors

As the calendar turned to March, Lawson had played all of 16 minutes over five appearances. Since then? Just a 24-minute average in 21 games, giving the tanking Raptors around 12 points and six boards a night.

No, those numbers don’t blow you away but considering the 24-year-old wing had scored 11 points and garnered four boards all season before March, the uptick is remarkable.

Lonnie Walker IV – Philadelphia 76ers

Still only 26 years of age, Walker was out of the league as of late February, the athletic guard never able to put it all together for anything close to an extended period. Such is the predicament in Philly, Walker was thrown a lifeline and has made the most of his second chance.

The speedster has supplied right on 15 points, three boards and three assists a game for the Sixers since March, despite a stretch where he only appeared in one of nine games thanks to an ill-timed injury.

Walker has shot the ball at just north of 40% from deep since coming to Philadelphia and has finally shown a level of maturity with the ball in his hands, as his shot selection is much improved and his turnover rate is down.

The potential star the Spurs thought they were drafting in 2018 is long gone, but is Walker finally here to stay?

Duop Reath – Portland Trail Blazers

As a 27-year-old rookie, Reath was one of the lovely stories of last season. This season he’s been buried on the depth chart behind Deandre Ayton, Robert Willians and rookie Donovan Clingan.

With Ayton and Williams sidelined, the Blazers are rightfully prioritizing Clingan’s development, but Reath has proven a nice foil, upping his minutes from around four per game up to 20 since the start of March.

Reath understands the assignment: he’s there to stretch the floor for Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. To that end, 62% of his attempts in March and April have been from deep, with the Aussie (via South Sudan) connecting on 35% of those.

Quentin Grimes – Philadelphia 76ers

No player in this NBA season has embraced the spirit of Bob Sura like Quentin Grimes.

The 24-year-old who, lest we forget, was the sticking point in a Donovan Mitchell to New York trade a few years back, showed signs of a breakout in February but has exploded since the beginning of March.

Beginning with a 44-point gem against Golden State, Grimes has averaged 26.5 points (on 50/40/74 shooting splits), 4.9 boards, 4.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game over his last 21 games. He has emerged as the Sixers' best offensive player over that span.

With Tyrese Maxey and rookie Jared McCain presumably ready to go next season, the Sixers — who have a lot of issues to resolve — can at least be pleased with their guard rotation.

Honorable mentions: Ricky Council IV, Jared Rhoden, Collin Gillespie, Caleb Houstan, Tristan Vukcevic