Top Performers From Day 3 Of The NBA D-League Showcase

Note: This piece is the continuation of our coverage of the 2017 NBA D-League Showcase. To take a look back at our first two days of coverage, make sure to read our recaps of day 1 and day 2

Gabe York, Erie Bayhawks - 38 pts, 8 asts, 2 stls on 10-18 from field, 8-12 from 3

Since arriving in Erie after a short stint in Europe, York has shined as one of the most lethal offensive guards in the entire D-League. In his 21 games with the Bayhawks, York has put up 16.6 points and 4.1 assists on 47% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc on 5.8 perimeter attempts per game. Those great averages pushed York to maintain a stellar 62% True Shooting Percentage.

While he’s been great since joining the Bayhawks, York really saved his best performance for the D-League Showcase as he just exploded in the team’s closely contested defeat against the Westchester Knicks. Despite the defeat, York shined throughout the game through his dynamic perimeter shooting and faciliting. York’s knack as a perimeter marksman pushed York to having those eye-popping numbers but NBA scouts probably walked away from the event impressed with some of the assists that he pulled off.

Wade Baldwin, Iowa Energy - 18 pts, 12 asts, 6 rebs on 8-13 from field

With the hobbled Grizzlies continuing to defy expectations by being one of the best teams in the Western Conference, there’s not much room to develop Baldwin or any kind of young player with the big league club. Luckily, the Grizzlies were smart enough to assign Baldwin to the D-League and let him gain some valuable experience with the Iowa Energy.

That assignment seems to be working out as Baldwin has looked great during his time with the Energy. The best example of that was seen on Friday afternoon where Baldwin put up an efficient double-double performance in the team’s win against the Salt Lake City Stars. Coinciding to the facilitating that pushed him to put up 12 assists, Baldwin really shined as an on-ball cutter. That should really make Grizzlies fans happy as on-ball cutting was the one significant concern that NBA scouts had about Baldwin leading up to the 2016 NBA Draft.

Diamond Stone, Salt Lake City Stars - 27 pts, 15 rebs on 9-18 from field, 8-10 from FT line

In a similar vain to Baldwin, Stone has been spending most of his rookie season in the D-League due to the playoff hopes of his team in the Los Angeles Clippers. Like Baldwin, Stone has also shined during his time in the D-League, whether he’s with the SLC Stars or Santa Cruz Warriors under the NBADL’s flexible assignment rule. In his two games leading up to the NBADL Showcase, Stone had back-to-back games where he put up a double-double: 13 points and 12 rebounds and 14 points and 13 rebounds in SLC’s matchups against the Santa Cruz Warriors.

The momentum brought by those two great performances was evident in the Stars’ Friday afternoon game defeat against Iowa. While the Stars weren’t victorious in that game, Stone still looked fantastic as he shined in a multitude of different ways on the offensive end. In just 29 minutes, Stone exhibited himself to score as a post-up threat, offensive rebounder and even spread out to hit a perimeter jumper.

Cory Jefferson, Austin Spurs - 23 pts, 9 rebs, 3 blks on 8-18 from field, 2-3 from 3

If there was one front-court player that NBA scouts would have eyes on during the D-League Showcase, it would probably be Austin Spurs power forward Cory Jefferson. The main reasons behind that intrigue is due to Jefferson’s past experiences in the NBA and his progression as a perimeter shooter.

Both of those skills were evident in their Friday victory against Northern Arizona. The play of Jefferson had a lot to do with that close win as the NBA vet pulled off some key plays on both ends of the court in the closing moments of their win. On the defensive end, Jefferson did a great job of working as the team’s main rim protector as he prevented the Northern Arizona Suns from getting easy looks from inside the paint. Offensively, Jefferson showcased himself as a someone that can shine from the perimeter or even from inside the paint.

CJ Leslie, Raptors 905 - 17 pts, 13 rebs, 3 asts on 7-9 from field, 1-1 from 3

In the Friday nightcap to the NBADL Showcase, the Raptors 905 won a closely contested matchup against the Long Island Nets. Veteran D-League forward CJ Leslie was a big factor behind that victory as he was able to shine on both ends of the court.

Offensively, Leslie showed decent versatility as he was able to score through on-ball cuts and even a few mid-range or perimeter jumpers. On the other end, Leslie stood as the team’s free safety by surveying the court and doing whatever he can to stop the opposition, whether they shooting from beyond the arc or driving to the paint.