NBA AM: 10 Notable Players Who Are Struggling

Although the season is still in its infancy, there are trends starting to arise from the small sample size. Here are 10 players throughout the league who have struggled to find a rhythm to start the season. To be fair, we have excluded rookies from this first look.

Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs
2015-16 Stats: 5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 28 MPG, 29% FG, 12% 3PT

If the Spurs weren’t so good up and down their entire roster, Green’s woeful start to the season would be making bigger headlines. The guard has struggled to find his rhythm from long range, but Green’s issues have been masked by the play of veteran Manu Ginobili, who has seemingly turned back the hands of time to start the campaign.

J.R. Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers
2015-16 Stats: 4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 23 MPG, 28% FG, 14% 3PT

Going back to the NBA Finals this past June, Smith has been in an epic shooting funk despite having a significant role in the Cavaliers’ nightly rotation. The team rewarded Smith with a two-year, $10 million extension over the summer when the market was dry for the veteran. With Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert both on the sidelines in suits, Smith will continue to get opportunities to produce.

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
2015-16 Stats: 10.2 points, 5.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 31 MPG, 34% FG, 0% 3PT

To be fair, Rose is battling a fracture in his face, but his play has yet to resemble his once former-MVP form. The Bulls are clearly looking like Jimmy Butler’s team, but Rose’s production hasn’t been worthy of being deemed that of a co-star.

Monta Ellis, Indiana Pacers
2015-16 Stats: 11.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 32 MPG, 34% FG, 18% 3PT

The Pacers have made a concerted effort to play with a faster pace this season after years of utilizing a half-court oriented system. The team shipping away Roy Hibbert to Los Angeles signaled the start of a new era and the signing of Ellis, a prolific scorer, was meant to aid in the process. However, Ellis has gotten off to a rough start with significant dips in scoring and field goal efficiency.

Josh Smith, Los Angeles Clippers
2015-16 Stats: 3.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 15 MPG, 25% FG, 33% 3PT

Playing behind All-Star forward Blake Griffin will not lead to huge nightly box scores, but Smith hasn’t been very efficient offensively in the opportunities he’s received. To Smith’s credit, he’s averaging a strong two blocks per game in the early going and has been respectable on the defensive side of the ball.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2015-16 Stats: 15.8 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 28 MPG, 32% FG, 21% 3PT

Father Time is undefeated. Bryant is arguably a top 10 player of all-time, but the combination of age and injury has robbed the once dominant star of his explosiveness. The end is typically sadder than the beginning and we’re watching a star fade. Bryant will undoubtedly have flashes of brilliance this season using his veteran guile, but his days of strapping teams on his back each and every night appear to be over.

Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings
2015-16 Stats: 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 19 MPG, 29% FG, 29% 3PT

McLemore entered the league with all of the hype reserved for highly touted lottery picks. Now, the third-year player has lost time in the rotation to Marco Belinelli and James Anderson under new head coach George Karl. McLemore has talent, but has yet to put it all together and truly find his niche in the league.

Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz
2015-16 Stats: 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 32 MPG, 35% FG, 38% 3PT

Hayward flirted with averaging 20 points per game last season but has underwhelmed offensively to start the campaign. The Jazz have been getting things done collectively on the defensive end, but for the team to truly reach its ceiling they’ll need a fully engaged Hayward scoring at an efficient clip.

Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets
2015-16 Stats: 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 33 MPG, 33% FG, 25% 3PT

Johnson is in the final year of his often criticized max contract, but his All-Star level skills have eroded rapidly. To be clear, Johnson is still a very effective NBA player with a versatile game, but his struggles to start the season in Brooklyn show he’s no longer the force he once was.

Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
2015-16 Stats: 12 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 27 MPG, 44% FG

Memphis exited the starting blocks slow this season and their frontcourt of Gasol and Zach Randolph have equally struggled to match their previous production levels. The Grizzlies are a mentally tough unit and smart money says the tide turns favorably for the team at some point, but it is surprising to watch Gasol being rendered ineffective to start the campaign.