Which Sixers Player Is Poised For A Surprisingly Good Season?

Sep 28, 2015; Galloway, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) talks with the media during media day at Stockton Seaview Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Nik Stauskas is coming off of a really rough year with the Sacramento Kings. Nik averaged just 4.4 points with the Kings, along with 0.9 assists and 1.2 rebounds. Stauskas didn’t get much time to play around with though, only playing 15 minutes per game.

After this showing in his rookie year, lots of NBA fans are seriously doubting “Sauce Castillo” and rightfully so. He was a top 10 pick in the draft, but played like a second-rounder.

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It was because of his value diving in the NBA stocks that the Sixers were able to grab him, and not give up much in the process. There’s lots of reason to keep your eye out for him to have a big season.

With desperation often comes a reason to play harder. Stauskas knows NBA fans and teams aren’t thinking very highly of him at the moment. He surely wants to prove them wrong, and may channel this to play better.

Additionally, Stauskas has a lot more playing freedom in Philly than he did in Sacramento. With the Kings, he was pressured to be a shooter, taking nearly half of his shots from beyond the three point arc. As a Sixer, it would be nice to have him be this shooter, but the general consensus is that he won’t have to do that, and Brett Brown isn’t going to draw up plays asking Stauskas to only shoot three pointers. Stauskas will be able to get behind the arc when he’s comfortable, and take three pointers that are more organic, and less forced.

Of course, playing more than 15 minutes will help, and he’ll actually be a valued starter in Philadelphia. In Sacramento Nik started just a single game.

His injury may set him back at the beginning of the year, as he’s recovering from that, but as the year progresses–assuming he can stay healthy–he could surprise a lot of NBA fans. That 4.4 points per game statistic may be shattered this season if all goes correctly.

Also, Stauskas can hit three pointers with just about anything, including cabbage.

Next: Hollis Thompson