Be patient with Noah Vonleh

Noah Vonleh has been in the league for four seasons and is still just 22 years old.

He was selected with the ninth pick in the 2014 NBA draft after a great freshman season at Indiana University.

Being a top-ten lottery pick, Vonleh came in with high expectations. He had rough rookie season with the Charlotte Hornet, then was traded along with Gerald Henderson to the Blazers for Nicolas Batum. Since being with the Blazers, Vonleh has been developing his skills with the team’s coaching staff and gotten better every day.

Still, Noah’s only averaging four points and four rebounds for his career. His name has been listed on plenty of “draft busts” lists, and was often included in some trade rumors.

This season

Noah has been great and is really starting to break out. Sure, he’s not putting up crazy numbers, but is showing why he belongs in the league and why he was a top draft pick.

The former ninth overall pick is averaging 5.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 54% shooting, and 1.9 offensive rebounds, all career highs. Vonleh has five games of double digit rebounds and an 11 point, 18 rebound game.

Every season Noah has gotten better, and demonstrates that he understands the NBA game better. He’s been playing with confidence, energy, and quickness. Vonleh can guard nearly all positions, including tough matchups like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Russell Westbrook, and Kristaps Porzingis. 

At 6’10″ and 240 pounds, Noah moves well for his size, and has made the best of his opportunities after starting 108 of his 167 games for the Blazers.

It’s worth repeating that Vonleh is only 22 and still has a lot of room to grow. He was drafted in the lottery and the Blazers traded Nicolas Batum for him (and Henderson) and have kept him on board for a reason.

Plenty of players begin their NBA career slowly

16 players were drafted last draft who were 22 or older, including three first round picks.

The year before, 18 players (including four lottery picks) were drafted at 22 years or older. Noah is younger or the same age, and has been in the league for four seasons, and plenty of NBA players don’t break out their mid-20s.

Hassan Whiteside

Whiteside played 19 games his first two seasons with the Kings and averaged 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds. Then from 2012-2014, he wasn’t even playing in the NBA. He was 25 when he came back, playing 48 games for the Miami Heat. At 28, Whiteside is one of the best centers in the NBA, signing a $98M deal in the summer of 2016. Since joining the Heat, Whiteside is averaging 13.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks.

Jimmy Butler

Butler was drafted at 22 years old, and didn’t have the type of rookie year that would make you think he would be one of the top players in the NBA. He averaged 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and only played in 42 games. Butler is now 28, putting up 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals. He didn’t start putting up good numbers till his 3rd and 4th seasons when he was 24 and 25 years old, respectively.

CJ McCollum

If you are a Blazers fan, then you know all about the slow start CJ McCollum had to his career. CJ kept getting hurt his first two seasons and could barely stay on the court. He was also playing backup to fan favorite (and critical starter) Wesley Matthews. McCollum was 22 years old on Draft Day, and had to be patient and wait his turn. Some fans weren’t happy with CJ and wanted him shipped out of town. Then McCollum broke out in his third season of the NBA and was 24 years old. Now he is one of the best guards in the NBA and has put up 20 plus points for three straight seasons.

Next: Portland Trail Blazers through the ‘Parcells Lens’

Draymond Green

Draymond was drafted in the second round and was 22 years old. His rookie season he put up 2.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and played in 79 games. Draymond didn’t break out till his third season when he was 24. Now Draymond is one of the best defenders in the NBA, he fills the stat sheet, does all of the little things, and is key piece to the Golden State Warriors’ success.