Anytime somebody finds themselves in the identical sentence as Michael Jordan and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, they’ve carried out lots proper. Particularly early of their careers, it may very well be an indication that they’re turning into a particular participant. Stephon Citadel is the newest to match these legends as a 21-year-old averaging at the very least 18 factors on 50 % taking pictures, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Notably, Alperen Şengün recorded these numbers two seasons in the past, and that’s the one different time it’s occurred in NBA historical past, which stretches again to earlier than the merger of the Nationwide Basketball League and Basketball Affiliation of America.
Citadel was an understudy final season, and it was clear he would sooner or later flip right into a big-time baller based mostly on his function of guarding the opposite workforce‘s greatest perimeter risk and the liberty given to him on offense. Now he’s grown into an All-Star caliber participant forward of schedule in his sophomore marketing campaign. An effective way to quantify excessive progress with a musical comparability can be admiring the standard of Led Zeppelin’s album Led Zeppelin, after which being blown away by Led Zeppelin II, which got here out 9 months later.
His spectacular stat line doesn’t imply he’s going to show into Jordan or Johnson, who’re two of the highest gamers in NBA historical past. A part of what made these two particular is that there was nothing they couldn’t do on offense. If anybody ever has any doubts about how unstoppable they have been, NBA.com has an in depth Traditional Video games archive for league cross subscribers that one can get misplaced in.
However except for all being collegiate champions, listed here are some issues that Citadel has compared to them: He’s a giant, robust guard who goes the place he desires on the court docket and is within the high one % of athletes within the league. There might not be anybody but who has efficiently clamped Citadel in single protection this 12 months.
Spurs followers shouldn’t really feel dangerous about doubling down on him being an All-NBA caliber participant within the close to future as a result of that appears modest now. Being within the high 10 might be the place he’s headed.
Citadel ought to be the second-most untouchable teenager within the league behind Victor Wembanyma. He’s on the verge of going from good to nice playmaker when he lowers his turnovers, and has made vital strides on his jumper, elevating its accuracy by 8.7 % (40.7). Dare, I say this man may very well be a model of Kawhi Leonard with superior passing chops.
One in all his greatest jumps this season was going from a median finisher at shut vary to a top-tier scorer in that zone on just about the identical quantity (30.3 % of makes an attempt). The sport has slowed down for him with added reps, and his dribbles by way of the lane are as lethal as a gash from groin to mind.
The extent he’s at now makes one surprise if he’s surpassed De’Aaron Fox, a one-time All-Star who ought to have extra appearances. Fox shouldn’t be making the identical waves on protection that Citadel is, neither is he as environment friendly at 0-3 toes from the cup (66.0 %).
On the fee Citadel goes, don’t be shocked if he finds himself in different statistical classes with extra Corridor of Famers.
