Kendrick Nunn was no lock to make the NBA. But he’s making the most of his opportunities and has earned a starting spot for the Miami Heat.
Kendrick Nunn may be the most surprising player in the NBA this season. The 24-year-old rookie started one game in the G-League last season for the Santa Cruz Warriors. He is now the starting shooting guard for the Miami Heat and already won Rookie of the Month for October/November.
He did not exactly come out of nowhere. Nunn won four high state championships in Illinois playing alongside Jabari Parker. He also averaged 19.3 points per game as a sixth man in the G-League last season. Nunn was just waiting for the right opportunity and the Heat provided it.
The 6-foot-3 guard is something of a redemption story. He went undrafted in 2018. Some of that stemmed from legal troubles including charges of domestic battery, but Nunn was no lock to make an NBA roster. He continued working hard in the G-League and proved that he could contribute.
Nunn made himself known on opening night. He dropped 24 points on 10-of-18 from the field in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 23. Nunn outdueled No. 2 pick Ja Morant who finished with just 14 points in 25 minutes of action. The 24-year-old has also bested 2019 lottery pick Tyler Herro for the starting role in Miami.
Kendrick Nunn is a scorer. He has seven 20-plus point games in his first 21. The 2-guard uses his quick first step to blow past the opposition and get into the paint. Nunn has a beautiful floater that he can use to finish over the top, when he isn’t about to waltz in for an easy layup. He is connecting on 66.7 percent of his shots within five feet of the rim, according to NBA Stats.
Nunn plays well off the ball. He made some nice cuts and does well at getting open while others create. That has been key to him earning the starting role. He doesn’t need to dominate the ball to get buckets.
Nunn has incredible confidence in his scoring ability. He is shooting 34.9 percent from 3-point range and is never afraid to fire away when open. To jump into the NBA and average 15.3 points per after 21 games is impressive and speaks to his confidence He is contributing in other areas as well. Despite being just 6-foot-3, he has acquitted himself well on the defensive end. He is averaging 1.1 steals per game and has held his own on the perimeter. Nunn is also averaging 3.4 assists per game, continuing to move the ball when a teammate is open.
He feels like he is going to win Rookie of the Year this season and embodies the Heat’s early-season run. He is an unheralded player that is working his tail off to be the best he can be. Nobody expected the Heat to be this good this quickly, but young players making the most of their talent has made the Heat more than the sum of their parts.
It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up –eams are starting to scheme to take away his drives and respecting him as an offensive threat. Nunn has missed a few open shots in his recent games too. But his confidence, shooting ability and quick first step will allow him to continue putting up points and it seems clear that he’s not going anywhere.