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Canada Basketball: Top five Canadians in the NBA

By Go Paolo

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: The jersey of Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves as seen during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: The jersey of Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves as seen during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Canada Basketball
Canada Basketball – Jamal Murray (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

1. Jamal Murray (G)

While his season hasn’t exactly taken off as some expected, Jamal Murray has continued to make strides. The third-year pro is averaging career-highs in minutes (34.2), scoring (18.5), and assists (4.9) as he leads the first-placed Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference.

Murray’s scoring efficiency has dropped significantly. His effective field goal percentage is down to 47.9 from 52.9 and his PER has dipped from 16.1 to 14.7. He is also a minus player on the box plus-minus and his win shares per 48 minutes have dipped below 10 percent.

But look a bit closer. Murray’s efficiency has dropped because he’s jacking a lot of shots from deep. He leads the team in percentage of field goals coming from beyond 16-feet (14.8%). And despite this, he has the second-best percentage from this range (46.7 percent).

He is also last in the team in assisted three-pointers (72.3 percent) and third-last in assisted two-pointers (51.1 percent).

Murray has also seen an increased workload (usage rate has increased from 22.8 to 25.6) and he’s already produced two 40-plus scoring nights, one where he dropped a career-high 48 points in a victory over the Boston Celtics.

Next. Don't expect a trade from the Raptors this deadline. dark

Drafted seventh overall in 2016, Murray is the only Canadian lottery pick who is living up to his promise. You can even argue he’s been better than half the guys taken ahead of him.

Whether he turns into an All-Star or a fine starter, Murray is already the top Canadian among his peers.

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