Gary Harris is ready to break out

Player one PPG:  13.9, 17.1, 15.3, 17.4.  Gary Harris PPG:  3.4, 12.3, 14.9, 17.5.

Player one was an all-star last year and probably should have been an all-star the year before.  His name.  Bradley Beal.  Beal made a significant leap from year 4 to 5, which is the typical time frame for a player to take the jump from good player to great player.  Beal went on to increase his scoring average almost 6 PPG in his 5th year, and finally started getting recognized as one of the premier shooting guards in the league.  Is Garry Harris ready to breakout in year 5?

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If he continues on his current progression my bet is yes.  Known mainly as a catch-and-shoot player/Nikola Jokic’s favorite cutter, Harris showed glimpses of his potential last year before he went down with a knee injury late in the season.

I remember watching the Nuggets play the Celtics last season in December and Harris went off for 36, unfortunately ending in a loss.  Boston fans were all over twitter saying things like “ummm who the heck is this Gary Harris guy and where did he come from?”

Now I know Boston fans sometimes get too caught up in their awe with Jayson Tatum, but this happens to be the general consensus of everybody who doesn’t follow the Nuggets, much like Nikola Jokic never getting any love…… except NuggLove.

To answer my least favorite fan base’s question, Gary Harris came from Michigan State.  He played two years under Tom Izzo.  You could play two minutes under Tom Izzo and come out a better basketball player and a better man.

Harris made a significant leap from year 1 to 2, and has been steadily getting better every year after.  Every season he has added something new to his game.  If you want to be great, and you want to be an all-star, you have to constantly hone and add to your craft.

Look at LeBron James.  This guy is as physically gifted as any athlete that’s ever lived.  But look at what he’s added to his game from year to year.  He improved his jumper.  Then he added a 3 point shot to his arsenal.  Now he’s beginning to implement a post game.  I’m obviously not comparing Gary Harris to LeBron James but I do think he’s going to continue adding pieces to his game that make him a more complete player.

For Gary Harris to take that next step he has to improve his handles and his play making.  He started to show glimpses of that last year.  He showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and either take it to the hole or pull up for a 15 foot jumper.  He’s no longer just a catch-and-shoot, backdoor cutting player.  This makes him that much more dangerous because teams have started to take away his basket cuts that him and Jokic have made famous.

Harris has also displayed the clutch gene.  We all remember that game winner against the Thunder right?  Year 5 is going to be critical for Harris and the Nuggets.  If he can take that leap like Beal then the Nuggets are going to be a real threat in the Western Conference.  Yes, they are young, but man are they exciting.

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Harris may not be an all-star this year in a loaded Western Conference, but I expect him to start getting recognized as one of the better two-way shooting guards in the league.  Gone will be the days of people asking “who is Gary Harris?”  The question now will be, how good can Gary Harris be?