Shabazz Napier (NBA2K19 Player Rating 76)
Shabazz Napier is coming off the best season of his career. Before the 2017-18 season, Napier saw identical roles. He would come off the bench and control the offense. He would only see around 10 minutes per game and his production was limited due to the talent around him.
Last season, Napier had a career year with the Portland Trail Blazers. Napier was one of Portland’s top options off the bench and the leading backcourt option off the bench behind Damian Lillard. The point guard would see some time at the shooting guard position last season but not a lot.
App Trigger
On the offensive end of the floor, Napier was a consistent shooter and a play maker. He shot 37.6 percent from behind the arc and 42.0 percent overall. Besides from his strong shooting, Napier is a playmaking guard who can make some flashy passes and control the tempo.
He knows when to make the extra pass and has a great offensive basketball IQ.
On the defensive end, he plays tight defense and great help defense. Napier is a steal threat and has defensive play identical to Rajon Rondo. He acknowledges help defense and can even defend bigger players than him at other positions off switches.
Napier averaged 20.7 minutes, 8.7 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game last season with the Portland Trail Blazers. He played in a total 74 games and started 10 times.
Napier signed with the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent this offseason. The point guard joins a crowded rotation with D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and possibly Dzanan Musa.
Despite the crowded point guard rotation, Napier will receive identical minutes to last season and a bigger role regarding scoring the basketball due to the Nets space-and-pace offense. He will also be one of the best defensive point guard on the Nets roster which will be beneficial to the rotation.
Based on his recent play and other 76-rated point guards, a 76 is an accurate rating. Other 76-rated point guards include:
Napier’s 76 rating has a chance of rising during the 2018-19 season if he can bring last season’s play to Brooklyn.