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Eric Paschall wasn’t supposed to be a key player for the Warriors. If Steph Curry, D’Angelo Russell, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney were all healthy this season, Paschall would have barely been heard of. He’d have been a handy bench player, maybe getting the occasional start when one of the big four rested.
That – as we all know – isn’t how it played out. Paschall has taken off. With Ja Morant and Zion Williamson injured, Kendrick Nunn in a shooting slump and RJ Barrett suffering on a woeful Knicks team, Paschall is a legitimate contender for Rookie of the Year.
Selected in the second round, this could prove to be another great Warriors masterstroke. Sure, they’re still bad this year, but Paschall is playing at a level that could make him a major part of their future.
As it stands, Paschall is the highest scoring second round pick ever (in a rookie season). He’s a serious candidate to follow in Malcolm Brogdon‘s footsteps, particularly with Morant and Williamson sidelined. Green thinks Paschall can get better and better, too.
Paschall’s effective field goal percentage is 53.8%, he’s shooting over 80% from the charity stripe. This isn’t ball hog, shoot-never pass stuff. Paschall is showing himself as a diverse offensive player, shooting 2.5 threes per game.
The duration of Morant’s injury and Nunn’s current shooting are contributing to Pashcall’s Rookie of the Year case. Those things are out of his hands, of course, but it’s testament to his consistency that he is forcing his way into the conversation. Since 13th November, Paschall has played 12 games – he’s scored at least 12 points in each of those outings and his worst shooting night was a 5-for-14.
There’s a long way to go, and Paschall faces stiff competition to become just the second player in the modern era to win Rookie of the Year as a second round pick. His consistency and all-round game suggest he can stick with the frontrunners, however, and if he stays healthy, anything is possible.
