Here are the top performers on February 22 and the stats to highlight their impact.
BEST PLAYER OF THE DAY:
Victor Wembanyama SAS C 28 PTS | 15 REB | 4 BLK | 69.0 FPS (vs. SAC)
Wemby finished with his 28th 20-point game and his 27th double-double performance of the season while also leading all players in assists with 6. He continues to play at an elite level this month, averaging 25.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.5 stocks.
BREAKOUT:
Guerschon Yabusele CHI PF 12 PTS | 9 REB | 8 AST | 34.8 FPS (vs. DET)
The French big man has been a steady part of the rotation since joining the Bulls and should continue to see enough minutes with the team short at his position. He has the upside offensively but his consistency remains a problem.
SLEEPER:
Royce O’Neale PHX SF 6 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK | 31.4 FPS (vs. ORL)
The veteran wing is already a reliable part of the Suns’ rotation thanks to his two-way contributions. He currently ranks just outside the top 10 in the league in total three-pointers made and inside the top 30 in steals. But with Brooks sidelined indefinitely, he will need to take a much larger role moving forward.
ELITE ASSET:
Zion Williamson NOP PF 21 PTS | 8 AST | 3 STL | 51.2 FPS (vs PHI)
Zion has been on a tear offensively, notching his 30th 20-point game of the season while averaging 25.0 points on 68% shooting from the field over the last five games.
CATEGORY SPECIALIST:
Matas Buzelis CHI SF 15 PTS | 6 REB | 6 BLK | 46.7 FPS (vs. DET)
The sophomore forward continues to showcase elite versatility. Offensively, he’s cleared the 15-point mark in six of his last seven outings while knocking down 2.7 triples per game. He’s been just as impactful on defense, grabbing 6+ rebounds in five of his last six games while averaging 3 blocks this month.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Collin Gillespie PHX PG 19 PTS | 5 REB | 6 AST | 36.0 FPS (vs. ORL)
The Suns were already dealing with multiple injuries, and it only got worse today with Brooks and Goodwin getting hurt. Gillespie will need to carry an even bigger load. Even though he hasn’t been at his best offensively, he’s still averaging 3 triples, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal per game this month.
STREAMER:
Olivier Maxence-Prosper MEM PF 9 PTS | 4 AST | 4 STL | 29.6 FPS (vs. MIA)
Over his last three games, O-Max is averaging 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. With the Grizzlies missing several key players, he should continue to have more opportunities to deliver again.
FLOPPER:
Russell Westbrook SAC PG 7 PTS | 3 REB | 1 BLK | 14.6 FPS (vs. SAS)
Russ has struggled badly over his last two games, totaling just 12 points with 8 turnovers while also making little impact in other areas.
