Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson exceeded expectations during his rookie season. He was a decorated college player but slipped to the second round of the 2018 draft. The Mavs were happy to grab him because they viewed him as a first round talent, but Brunson did not begin the year in the rotation.
He proved himself and earned additional minutes as the season went on. Over his final 31 games, Brunson averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 28.9 minutes per. That sample included 28 starts from the rookie.
The 23-year-old was an efficient shooter for a first-year guard.