While waiting for the return of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, the Hornets’ two injured rear-wheel drive starters, Theo Maledon took the opportunity on Wednesday night to shine at Madison Square Garden.
Perhaps it was the opposition with his teammate at the Blues this summer, Evan Fournier, or simply his motivation to make every minute profitable in his new colors, but Maledon was particularly aggressive offensively. First at 3-points, then in penetration, with a basket plus the fault of Fournier in this case.
“I found that he was very focused and that he had a good address”appreciated Clifford in the Charlotte Observe. “He made two 3-pointers and he made some great passes in the paint. He did a very good job. »
Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s Tribute
Confident with 8 points in 10 minutes of play at halftime, the former Thunder once again seized his chance at Dennis Smith Jr.’s relay in the third quarter, with a very productive passage to 7 points (plus an assist decisive for the dunk of Nick Richards) in less than 4 minutes! What prompted this reaction from Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the legendary former Knicks point guard:
“That kid, Maledon, he’s going to be good!” He understands the game well. He can shoot [extérieur], he is intelligent. He’s a real player. Looks like it clicked! »
Signed in “two-way contract” after being traded to Houston, then downright cut by the Rockets, the young tricolor leader did not consider returning to Europe, convinced that he had the level to evolve in the NBA. And this very successful performance in the Mecca of basketball confirms it!
Successful offensively with his 6/7 on shots, Maledon also scored points in defense, with an interception quickly transformed into an assist for Gordon Hayward who went to the layup, and also an offensive foul caused on Jalen Brunson at the end of the first half. -time. Something to catch Coach Clifford’s eye…
| Theo Maledon | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | OKAY | 65 | 27 | 36.8 | 33.5 | 74.8 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 10.1 |
| 2021-22 | OKAY | 51 | 18 | 37.5 | 29.3 | 79.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 7.1 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 2 | 9 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 80.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| Total | 118 | 23 | 37.1 | 32.2 | 76.7 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 8.7 | |
