New Orleans Pelicans: Josh Gray is Dominating the G-League
Josh Gray’s Strengths
Gray can score, there is no doubt of that.
Though is just over six feet tall, Gray has an explosive first step that allows him to get to the rim, where he is a very creative finisher.
He’s adept at using his body to shield defenders and has an array of scoop shots, floaters and pull ups that he hits consistently.
Here’s just a few from Gray’s bag of tricks.
You can tell Gray is used to being the smallest man on the floor and has adjusted his game accordingly.
Gray can beat people off the dribble and has the handles to run the pick-and-roll effectively. He can score in quick bursts and could be the type of player who carries the offense in stretches against certain opponents.
His ceiling is a poor man’s J.J. Barea, a quick, dynamic scorer who can get points in bunches.
Gray also has something the New Orleans Pelicans lack: grit. The Pelicans are loaded with NCAA Blue Bloods, guys who played for the top programs and were drafted in the lottery.
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They could use someone who had to struggle to get there, someone who has had to fight for every inch. Gray’s work ethic can be an inspiration to the rest of the team and he’d quickly be a fan favorite because fans love the little guys.
Josh Gray’s Weaknesses
At just over six feet tall, Gray is matchup dependent in the NBA and wouldn’t be able to handle some of the bigger guards defensively.
Gray does have good upper body strength and is reminiscent of Fred VanVleet, so he can hold his own against most point guards.
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Though Gray has that quick first step, he’s not a great shooter, hitting just 33.8 percent of his 3-point shots on 6.8 attempts per game.
If Gray could improve his 3-point shooting, he’d have a much better shot, as defenders would have to stay closer which would allow him to use his quickness to blow by them.
As it is, defenders tend to sag off Gray and allow him to shoot over the top, and he’s not making them pay consistently enough.
Let’s also not forget that the G-League is not known for its defense, so Gray’s numbers are a bit inflated. There’s no way some of the shots you saw above would get near the rim in the NBA.
Gray’s size and position will make it tough for him to crack the rotation, but does he have a shot?