Chicago Bulls: 3 players that broke through under Billy Donovan
1) Who broke through with Chicago Bulls HC Billy Donovan
1. Pick Analysis. Center. 2015-2020. Steven Adams. player. 149. Scouting Report
It does appear that most of the players that broke through in a big way while Donovan was the Thunder head coach for the last five years were big men. This list is rounded out by the veteran 6-foot-11 and 265 pound 27-year-old center Steven Adams. The New Zealand native and former 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft of the Thunder did well under former head coach Scott Brooks, but really found his groove under Donovan.
Up through the end of last season, Adams spent the entirety of his career with the Thunder. He’s become a true force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor, and is one of the most fundamentally sound and strong centers down low in the NBA today. That is put on display with his career 118 offensive rating/106 defensive rating.
Last season really saw Adams put on display a new level of efficiency, even if there wasn’t a huge jump in his per game stats. During the shortened 2019-20 regular season with the Thunder, Adams played in 63 games (starting in all of them). He averaged 10.9 points per game, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks. And he shot 59.2 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 58.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Next. 3 trades with the Mavericks for Zach LaVine. dark
That all amounted to a career-best 2.9 box plus/minus rating, 2.1 value over replacement player rating, .185 win shares per 48 minutes, 6.5 total win shares, 60.4 true shooting percentage, and 20.5 player efficiency rating. He’s registered just over 45 career win shares in the regular season, and a 17.2 player efficiency rating.