The day that Portland Trail Blazers fans have spent the past four years waiting for appears to have finally arrived. Shaedon Sharpe is not only living up to the hype of going No. 7 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, but developing the outside shot and consistency fans have been begging to see.
Fans would still be wise to exercise a degree of caution before crowning Sharpe, but he's approaching two full months of consistently tremendous basketball.
Sharpe still has flaws, but at 22 years of age, he's making the type of fourth-year leap that's expected of former top-10 picks. He's shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, combining explosive athleticism with intriguing instincts as a scorer.
Unfortunately, Sharpe shot just 31.1 percent from beyond the arc in 2024-25, and missed 50 games and underwent abdominal surgery in 2023-24.
Questions thus circulated in regard to whether or not he could ever live up to his potential as a three-level scoring threat. Though a stretch that spans only a third of the season won't silence his critics, Sharpe has proven that there's far more to him than his critics have suggested.
If Sharpe manages to sustain his current form throughout the remainder of the 2025-26 season, the Trail Blazers should have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.
Shaedon Sharpe is shooting efficiently and producing consistently
Against all odds, Sharpe is approaching two full months of star-caliber play and efficient shooting from beyond the arc. Since Dec. 1, he's posted averages of 22.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.3 three-point field goals made per game while accumulating a slash line of .464/.396/.773.
Portland has gone 15-11 during that time, unsurprisingly bouncing back from an 8-12 start to the season with their franchise shooting guard looking the part.
Though there have been extraordinary peaks, the key to Sharpe's success has been what he previously lacked: Consistency. He's scored at least 20 points in 21 of the 26 games during that time and has even made his mark on defense by creating turnovers.
Portland is now 15-12 when Sharpe records at least 20 points this season and 6-9 when he plays but fails to reach that mark. It's also 10-7 when he picks up at least two steals.
Shaedon Sharpe is positively impacting winning
In addition to stuffing the stat sheet in a way that impacts winning, Sharpe's general presence on the court has been a positive. Portland is 2.7 points per 100 possessions better when Sharpe is on the court than when he isn't during the 2025-26 season.
Furthermore, go-to player Deni Avdija has posted a true shooting percentage that's 4.0 percent higher when Sharpe is on the court than when he isn't.
With a clear and positive impact on winning, Sharpe is realizing the potential that many said he never would. It's perfect timing, as Portland was desperate for a source of hope early in a difficult season. It also doesn't hurt that his four-year, $90 million extension will kick in during the 2026-27 campaign.
If Sharpe is able to sustain his current level of play, then the Trail Blazers may very well get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.