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We are now in Week 4 of the 2019-20 NBA season and All-Stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, LeBron James, James Harden, and Kawhi Leonard have been among the most impressive performers throughout the first month of the new campaign.
While the aforementioned individuals will all be in the race to be named MVP, there have also been several former stars around the league that have put in a number of bounce-back performances during the opening weeks of the season.
Some have received more recognition than others, and here we will take a look at the five NBA players that have enjoyed a resurgence so far this season.
#5 Isaiah Thomas - Washington Wizards
Isaiah Thomas placed fifth in the 2017 MVP voting, although the point guard's career soon took a downturn following his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. After making just 32 appearances over spells with the Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers during the 17-18 season, Thomas looked to bounce back with the Denver Nuggets last year.
However, he didn't make his debut until February due to injury, and he was quickly dropped from Denver's rotation.
Nevertheless, Thomas has finally found a role with the Washington Wizards, averaging 13.2 points and 6.2 assists in just 22.7 minutes per game, and it appears that the 30-year-old is finally rediscovering the form that made him one of the most popular players in the NBA.
Due to the ongoing absence of John Wall, Thomas has the potential to force himself into the Wizards' starting lineup for the foreseeable future, and the former All-Star appears to be on track to experience the same sort of career resurgence that Derrick Rose did last season.
#4 Dwight Howard - Los Angeles Lakers
After DeMarcus Cousins suffered a potentially season-ending ACL injury, the Los Angeles Lakers opted to add depth at center by signing Dwight Howard. After being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies, many believed that Howard would struggle to find another team, so it was somewhat of a surprise when the title-chasing Lakers took a chance on the 33-year-old.
Nevertheless, the veteran center has embraced his role on the Los Angeles bench and is putting in some of his best performances since he left the Houston Rockets in 2016. In just 20.4 minutes per game, Howard is averaging 7.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, while shooting a ridiculous 76% from the field.
Howard's unique contract means that he is being paid just $14,490 for every day that he is a Laker and LA's decision to sign him is already looking like one of the best of the season.
#3 Goran Dragic - Miami Heat
For the first time since the 2011-12 season, Goran Dragic has dropped out of the starting lineup. However, the 31-year-old has embraced his reserve role with the Miami Heat and is among the early candidates to be named Sixth Man of the Year.
During the 18-19 season, Dragic averaged just 13.7 points while shooting 41 percent from the field, although the guard has managed to improve his points per game tally to 16.8 so far this season. His shooting accuracy has also drastically improved to 47.5 percent, and Dragic is shooting a career-high 44% from three-point range.
Dragic could still be traded in the coming months as the Heat pursue a second-star to play alongside Jimmy Butler, but the guard has ensured that he will generate interest on his own end.
#2 Kevin Love - Cleveland Cavaliers
Following the departure of LeBron James last summer, Kevin Love stayed loyal to the Cleveland Cavaliers, signing a new four-year deal with the organization. Love went on to feature just 22 times during the 18-19 season, shooting a career-low 38.5 percent from the field, while looking a shadow of his former self on a struggling Cavs team.
However, the Cavs have improved this season, with a fully-fit Love leading the charge. Over 10 appearances, the 31-year-old has averaged 18.5 points per game while recording his best shooting percentage since his move to Cleveland back in 2014.
Love's 12.9 rebounds per game also put him among the leaders in the NBA, and the former All-Star's turnaround in form may see a number of contending teams make a move for him in the coming months.
#1 Gordon Hayward - Boston Celtics
Gordon Hayward will miss the next six weeks after undergoing surgery on his fractured left hand, which is a shame considering the Boston Celtics forward has finally rediscovered his All-Star form. The 2018-19 season was a low-point in Hayward's career as he was dropped to the bench, while also posting his fewest points per game total since his rookie year.
Nevertheless, Hayward worked hard during the offseason and managed to force his way back into Brad Stevens' starting five. Over eight appearances before his injury, the 29-year-old averaged 20.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, while also shooting a career-high 55% from the field.
Hayward's absence over the next six weeks comes as a major blow to a Celtics team that has defied expectations this season, although there is no reason that the forward cannot continue his early-season form when he returns to the court in December.
