Defense
Defensively is where O’Neale has made his mark as an NBA player. In the defensive box plus-minus stat, O’Neale is an estimated 2.3 points per 100 possessions better than the average NBA player, which makes his overall box plus-minus soar to 2.5.
When O’Neale is on the court, the Jazz’s defensive rating is 106.2. When he sits, that rating balloons up to 110.4.
What I’m most impressed by Royce in his third year as a pro is his development into a power forward. Jae Crowder did an admirable job as the power forward alongside Rudy Gobert last season with his six-foot-six 235 pound frame.
Royce is only six-foot-four and played 99 percent of his minutes as either shooting guard or small forward as a rookie. His sophomore year that number was 98 percent, but this season he plays eighty percent of his minutes at power forward.
Top 5 defensive PFs of 2019-20:
— Jabber Jazz (@Jabber_Jazz) January 14, 2020
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL: +2.40
2. Anthony Davis, LAL: +1.61
3. Royce O'Neale, UTA: +1.41
4. Jayson Tatum, BOS: +1.16
5. Tobias Harris, PHI: +0.71#FearTheDeer #LakeShow #TakeNote #Celtics #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/DbWnGv7sn5
He’s grabbing five rebounds per game (which is the most of any Jazz player outside of Rudy Gobert), contests the most three point shots of any Jazz player according to NBA.com, and has the second highest rebounding percentage of any Jazz player in the clutch.
It’s safe to say O’Neale passes this class with flying colors, and I’m genuinely shocked Brandon Ingram was able to hang 49 points on him last night.
Grade: A