Eric Paschall has been the Golden State Warriors’ biggest surprise this season.
The Golden State Warriors haven’t had many things go their way in recent months but Eric Paschall is a beacon of light in the darkness.
Due to a number of key injuries, the Warriors have fallen to a league-worst 3-13 record. A limited rotation has led to big struggles for the reigning Western Conference champs.
It hasn’t been all bad for the Dubs. Paschall, a second-round draft pick, has taken full advantage of his increased role.
“Wow. Where did this guy come from?” said Rick Welts, the Warriors president of basketball operations. Welts had high praise for Paschall on the “Habershow” podcast.
Paschall has taken us all by surprise. The No. 41 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft is averaging 17.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. As his minutes increase, his production does too. Paschall has scored 20+ points in five games already.
He is showing a wide array of talents. A bulky forward with agile feet, Paschall is finding success on offense due to his versatile scoring ability. Paschall has been one of the only consistent scoring threats on the Warriors this season.
Paschall currently ranks third in scoring compared to other rookies. His 50.5 shooting clip from the field makes him the third most efficient scorer in the top 10.
However, Paschall has been far from perfect. He is still a very inexperienced rookie and has been streaky from beyond the arc. In his last seven games, Paschall is shooting just 4-0f-21 from the 3-point line.
Even so, Paschall has likely secured himself a long term spot on the roster. A player with his potential will be welcomed on the Warriors bench moving forward. Whether the franchise looks to make another title run or go full rebuild, Paschall fits the team’s needs.
Next season, we can see Paschall take on a sixth man role while the core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green lift the Warriors back into playoff contention.
Paschall on the bench could prove to be deadly as the Warriors’ second unit has always been a big reason for their success. For now, we wait and see if Paschall can keep it up.