The 2022/2023 NBA season opens its doors on Tuesday, October 18 after a 4-month wait. And today, an overview of the contenders for the title of best passer of the season. If for decades the team’s best passer was the point guard, the roles have evolved and the game of basketball has changed. Will Chris Paul keep his trophy won last season? Will James Harden get a second distinction after 2017? We Sport offers you our favorites to get the 2022/2023 NBA best passer trophy.
Best NBA passer 2021/2022, a 6th trophy for Chris Paul?
NBA Team: Phoenix Suns
Stats 2021/2022 : 14,7 points, 4,4 rebonds, 10,8 passes.
League’s top passer in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2022, Chris Paul will be the favorite to his own succession. In a balanced and collective team, CP3 is the boss of the Suns attack. Despite his advanced age (37), the former Hornets, Clippers and Rockets point guard has never seemed so clean in his game. Surrounded by players like Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne, Chris Paul will still know how to put his teammates in the best possible positions, and will seek to glean a 6th NBA Career Assist Trophy.
Luka Doncic in distributor mode
NBA Team: Dallas Mavericks
Stats 2021/2022 : 28,4 points, 9,1 rebonds, 8,7 passes.
The Slovenian is an incredible player and we too often forget that he is a magnificent distributor. Even more glaring in the FIBA game, Luka Doncic’s vision of the game allows his teammates to be in open positions regularly. When we talk about a leader, we are talking about making his teammates and his team shine, and the Slovenian has understood this well. Never hesitating to make the extra pass or on the last action to give the ball to a teammate more open than him, the 2017 European champion is a player appreciated by all for his joie de vivre and his sharing of the ball. In constant progress, he could well obtain the title of best NBA passer in his career. From the 2022/2023 season?
What role for Trae Young?
Team NBA: Altanta Hawks
Stats 2021/2022 : 28,4 points, 3,7 rebonds, 9,7 passes.
When we talk about Trae Young, we think of his logo shots, his trash-talking or his offensive cards. But we too often forget that he remains a leader who distributes the game a lot and who takes advantage of the double-takes suffered to put his Hawks teammates in the best conditions. However, with the arrival of Dejounte Murray, who had more than 9 assists last season, how will the ball be shared? Franchise player of the Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young will have to leave responsibilities to his new teammate for the good of the team, which could have an impact on his personal statistics. But in another sense, having a player like the former Spur alongside him could also inflate his individual productions. The start of the season
The vista of the reigning double MVP
Team NBA: Denver Nuggets
Stats 2021/2022 : 27,1 points, 13,7 rebonds, 7,9 passes.
Nikola Jokic is a unique player without equal in the League. Double MVP in title, the Serb owes it not only to his productions in points and rebounds, but also and above all by the fact of making his teammates shine who, without insulting them, are not in the gratin of the NBA. Typical definition of the MVP, number 41 of the 2014 draft will see the return to his Nuggets team of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, back from injury after a white season. Their offensive talent will be a big plus for the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic will have 2 more cartridges in attack to serve. Enough to potentially make him climb in the hierarchy, which remains incredible for a pivot of 2m11.
James Harden at the service of Joel Embiid
NBA Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Stats 2021/2022 : 21,0 points, 7,0 rebonds, 10,3 passes.
With 4 straight years averaging 10+ assists, James Harden has become a creator for his teammates. Difficult to contain in one on one (when he is in good physical shape), The Beard has learned to serve his partners in order to force his shots less. After starting his career at the back, the former Rocket has seen his role evolve over the course of his career to end up starting games as a point guard. Being a player who needs to have the ball in his hands to be effective, James Harden understood that he could not win alone. At the 76ers, he will be the lieutenant of Joel Embiid and will have to force-feed him the ball during the 48 minutes of each game.
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