Ducks in the Bubble: Troy Brown Jr.

With the NBA’s restart at the Bubble in Orlando, we have had the opportunity to witness several pro-Ducks showcase their skills while the sports world watches from home. We’ve witnessed breakout moments, head-scratching decisions and much more. Here we will take a look at what we saw from our Ducks in the Bubble and what we can expect to see from them moving forward.

Bubble Stats

15.3 PPG

7.3 RPG

4.5 APG

The NBA’s restart can be viewed in two different ways when focused on the play of Troy Brown Jr.: A coming out party, a sign of things to come, or the next step in his development as a professional basketball player would all be appropriate here. Or you could chalk up Brown’s play to the Wizards missing their best players and giving extended playing time to their young pieces to see what they’ve got. That would be a respectable opinion to have, although I’d tend to lean more towards the former. Brown showed significant improvement across the board from his rookie to sophomore season, and then capped it off with his performances in Orlando.

Wizards vs Pelicans 8/7/20

Against New Orleans, Brown put on his best performance in the bubble, notching a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, as well as 5 assists and hitting three of his five three point attempts, including one well behind the three-point line. His passing and decision making both looked improved, and he had repeated success driving into the paint and scoring down low. Brown appeared comfortable as one of the Wizard’s primary options and was able to prove that putting the ball in his hands can result in the production the Wizards were looking for when they made him the 15th overall pick back in 2018.

Wizards vs Nets 8/2/2020

Troy showed out in the game against Brooklyn, he proved to be a spark early on in the game, not only through his scoring ability, but passing as well. With 8 assists (bubble-high) and zero turnovers, Brown’s play-making stood out as particularly impressive. While most of his passes weren’t of the flashy variety, they were strong and accurate, finding teammates ready to make shots as soon as they caught the ball. Troy was also able to make some tough shots in the paint, making tough shots in transition as well as drawing fouls. His three-point shot wasn’t falling, but that didn’t stop him from still finding ways to get much-needed buckets for the Wizards.

What the Bubble proved for Troy

After a rough rookie campaign and a general lack of consistent opportunities for Troy, the bubble was exactly what he needed to showcase what he has to offer the Wizards. With the futures of John Wall and Bradley Beal uncertain, Brown’s play in Orlando was a bright spot despite their lack of success. He could be a piece worth building around if Washington decides to start over, or a guy who deserves more playing time alongside Beal and Wall if they decide they want to remain competitive in the short-term. No matter what they decide, Brown balled out and showed that he belongs here.

‘Sco Ducks!

All stats provided by Basketball Reference