Anthony Bennett could be poised for a return to the NBA. The first overall pick from the 2013 draft was a gigantic bust for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he’s making waves in the G League. Bennett went off for 36 points and six assists for the Agua Caliente Clippers in a Friday night victory.
Bennett’s shooting numbers jump off the page and are sure to catch the attention of NBA scouts around the league. Bennett was 12-for-13 from the floor, 8-for-9 from three-point land, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Lesser competition or not, those are unbelievable shooting numbers.
Perhaps Bennett’s potential as a stretch-four could be intriguing for teams looking to add another three-point shooter in a league that emphasizes the three. It’s unlikely that he’ll ever live up to the hype that he entered the league with, but there’s no doubt that he can find his way back into the NBA.
The Cavaliers passed on a lot of excellent players in the 2013 draft in favor of Bennett. Victor Oladipo and Otto Porter Jr. went second and third. Not to mention, Giannis Antetokounmpo fell all the way to the Milwaukee Bucks with the 15th pick. Obviously, it’s easy to say this in hindsight, but it doesn’t make the pick any more palatable for Cleveland fans.
In any case, it’s nice to see a player who was completely written off have an opportunity to rewrite his legacy. Bennett’s NBA career has not gone well up to this point, but it doesn’t look like it’s over yet.
