Once a year, we're reminded of the fragility of life as winter comes and goes, ushering in the spring season. As Easter rapidly approaches in April, let's take a moment to reflect on what that day symbolizes: the rebirth of nature, the rejuvination of the seasons, and the resurrection of Christ — if that's your thing. Much like nature, this ever-evolving league is constantly changing with the times; teams rise and fall, players come and go as the months turn to seasons. In this exclusive article, we'll be taking a look at 5—check that, 5 once-downtrodden players who were able to turn their careers around for the better with some lucky change of scenery.
#05. KENNETH FARIED, PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERSEarly in his career, Kenneth Faried was touted as being one of the most promising big men of his respective draft class. Unfortunately for him, he hit the theoretical "rookie glass ceiling" rather quickly, never living up to his potential. After being bounced around to 3 different teams between 2012‒2016, he eventually found his way to the Portland Trailblazers in 2018, where he would finally begin to blossom. With the Blazers, Faried has been able to put up career highs in almost all major statistical categories, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 33.8 minutes per game, which is actually .2 minutes less than last season.
#04. PATRICK RIORDAN, PHOENIX SUNSAfter spending When Patrick Riordan was first drafted by the Boston Celtics, he was expected to be nothing more than a roleplayer on a rebuilding basketball team. And for two seasons, that's exactly what he was, logging insignificant, garbage-time minutes with the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. It wasn't until he was traded to the Phoenix Suns that he had the opportunity to log minutes as a starter that he truly began to shine. With the blessings of GM Messi_2.0, Riordan went from playing 7.1 minutes per game with Milwaukee to a blistering 14.9 minutes per game with Phoenix in 2018, then 35.5 this season. During his time with the Suns, Riordan has averaged 12 points and 2.75 assists per game along with 1.3 steals — hardly the worst numbers in the world.
#03. ROBERT COVINGTON, HOUSTON ROCKETSRobert Covington had a very uneventful 2018 with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he would only see limited action on the court. Rockets GM 78#, however, saw something in him that the Sixers clearly didn't, so he set out to acquire the forward and give him a chance to redeem himself. So far, "Bobby Buckets" hasn't disappointed in his role. Although he's never excelled in any one particular facet of the game, Covington has proven himself to be a valuable roleplayer off the bench, averaging 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in 28.4 minutes of action. Whether or not these numbers warrant a 3-year, $22,050,000 contract is up to debate, but it's hard to deny that he's been able to turn his his career around for the better.
#02. BOJAN BOGDANOVIC, MIAMI HEATDon't get us wrong, Bojan Bogdanovic had a great run with the Detroit Pistons between 2016‒2018. He did everything that a SG is expected to do: Score the damn basketball. But when he signed with the Miami Heat in the offseason, few anticipated that he'd put up such impressive numbers at the age of 30. Whether or not he felt that he had something to prove is uncertain; what is certain, however, is that he's been playing like a man on a mission: In 38.5 minutes per game, he's averaging 22.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. He's expanded his role at the shooting guard position by spreading the floor and giving his teammates scoring opportunities whilst simultaneously capitalizing on every touch that he gets. Unfortunately, his efforts have come in vain, as his team currently sits at the bottom of the Southeast Division. Womp.
#01. O.J. MAYO, CLEVELAND CAVALIERSAfter his run with Vancouver in 2018, many believed that his career had come to an end. But the Cavs, who desperately needed a shooting guard, decided to take a chance on the 32-year old veteran, who averaged just 16.4 minutes off the bench the previous season. In his new role as starting SG for Cleveland, O.J. Mayo has been able to hold his own in 2018. Although he hasn't exactly put up the kind of numbers he did in 2017, he's been fairly adequate in his new role, averaging 12.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. These numbers are actually quite comparable to those of Robert Covington, but unlike Covington, the Cavaliers were able to get Mayo on a 1-year rental. All in all, 2019 has been quite the season for the 11-year old veteran.
