Without Kawhi and PG, Norman Powell has a huge leap in scoring this season
Rookies are often the players who experience the most significant progress throughout their NBA careers. Between their first and second seasons, it’s common to see notable scoring improvements for many players.
However, when a player entering his 10th NBA season, like Norman Powell, achieves such growth, it’s worth highlighting.
For Norman Powell, the absence of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s move to the 76ers have allowed him to take on a larger role and greater responsibilities within the Clippers’ lineup.
With an impressive .487 three-point shooting percentage, Powell has become a real weapon from beyond the arc for Los Angeles.
Twice finishing fourth for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, Powell has seen a significant scoring surge this season, nearly returning to the averages he posted during the 2021-22 season with the same Clippers.
In the 2023-24 season, Powell averaged 13.9 points per game compared to his current 23.3 points per game after 15 games this season.
This +9.4 points per game jump represents an excellent season-to-season improvement.
Yet in the history of the NBA, there are even bigger jumps. Much bigger.
After switching teams between the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons, Walt Hazzard experienced a tremendous scoring improvement.
This leap earned him his first and only All-Star selection with the Seattle SuperSonics.
For Kelly Tripucka, a change of scenery also paid off. Moving from the Jazz to the Hornets, Tripucka saw his scoring jump from 7.5 to 22.6 points per game.
Despite a relatively short career, Hawkins experienced a massive scoring gap between his first and second years in the league.
Drafted in the third round by the Warriors, he joined the Nets the following season, where he increased his average from 3.9 points per game to 19.3, helped by a significant increase in playing time.
He ended his NBA career on November 1, 1978, after being released by the Pistons.
Drafted by the Cincinnati Royals, Bob Love made his mark with the Bulls. Between the 1968-69 and 1969-70 seasons, he reached a new level, increasing his average from 5.1 points per game to 21.
This improvement kickstarted a career that saw him become a three-time All-Star from 1970-71 to 1972-73.
Once again, a team change proved beneficial. With the Bulls, Bob Kauffman had limited playing time (12.1 minutes per game) and a low scoring average (4.3 PPG). But upon joining the Buffalo Braves, he made a leap.
With 35 minutes per game, he averaged 20.4 points, earning him an All-Star selection.
Hall of Famer Neil Johnston delighted fans of the Philadelphia Warriors.
In just his second season, Johnston became a key player, increasing his average from 6.0 to 22.3 points per game. That year, he was an All-Star and the league’s top scorer.
He won an NBA title in 1956.
Initially drafted by the Pistons, Tony Campbell played for the Lakers from 1987 to 1989.
But his move to the Timberwolves gave him more playing time and opportunities. Campbell’s average jumped from 6.2 PPG to 23.2 PPG as his playing time nearly tripled from one season to the next.
He won an NBA title in 1988 with the Lakers.
After a rookie season with the Lakers where he played sparingly and scored just 2.9 PPG, John Block was sent to the San Diego Rockets.
There, with significantly more playing time, he achieved his career-best scoring average of 20.2 PPG.
He earned a lone All-Star nod in 1973.
Drafted by the Knicks in 1968, Don May made his biggest leap with the Buffalo Braves.
As an NBA champion with the Knicks in 1970, he averaged only 2.6 PPG. But with the Braves, he skyrocketed to 20.2 PPG, his career-best average.
He spent just one season in Buffalo before moving to the Hawks.
Drafted by the Mavericks in 1983, Dale Ellis blossomed with the SuperSonics during the 1986-87 season.
That season, his scoring average jumped from 7.1 to 24.9 PPG, earning him the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
Ellis continued to improve his scoring, reaching a career-high 27.5 PPG in 1988-89, the same season he earned his only All-Star selection.
Photo Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
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