Rookie Regards: Kyle Singler

Since I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life the Pistons are always going to be my number 1 team to watch, regardless of how well they’re performing.  Despite what others may think, I’ve been pretty happy with the play of this young, inexperienced team so far this year.  All of that being said, they are definitely going to be the team that I write about the most, even if I do focus on the the entire NBA in this blog.

Another thing that I really like in the NBA are the rookies.  There’s just something very enjoyable about watching players on the come-up developing into the next generation of All-Stars and MVPs.  I want to take time to write about different rookies throughout the season.  Since I'm such a big Pistons fan, I’m going with Kyle Singler for my first Rookie Regards.

Singler was a smart 2^nd round draft pick for the Pistons in 2011.  He was the 2010 NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player for the national champion Duke Blue Devils.  Due to the lockout last season, he spent all year playing in Spain.  That 1 year of pro basketball experience seems to have done him well.

The thing with Kyle Singler is that he’s far from the most athletic guy on the court.  Yet he still has managed to work his way into Detroit’s starting lineup after less than 10 games.  The reason for this is because Singler is a hard working player who has some serious basketball smarts.  Whether it’s knowing when the proper time to shoot is or being able to move into position to defend his opponent so quickly, Kyle Singler simply knows how to read the court.

Singler is currently averaging 10 points and nearly 4 rebounds per game.  He ranks fifth in efficiency ratings among rookies, one spot ahead of fellow Piston newcomer Andre Drummond.  Aside from just numbers though, Singler is one of the best rookies for another reason, and that’s the effect that he’s having on this Pistons team.

After a rough 0-8 start through a tough schedule, the Pistons have gone 6-5 since throwing Kyle Singler into his starting role.  He’s proven himself to be an important part of the rotation due to the way he fits in with the rest of the team.  The Pistons have had something missing from their lineup for a while now; a role player who could fill in for any role that was needed, somebody who hustles for tough rebounds and help defense.  Singler is doing a great job of filling these roles, and both he and the team are benefitting from it.

Now Singler will probably never turn into a superstar on the level of LeBron or Kevin Durant.  When I try to think of an athlete that Singler could become comparable to though, one former NBA’er comes directly to mind for me: Dan Majerle.

“Thunder Dan” was a fan favorite who earned three All-Star selections throughout his 14-year career.  Although he was initially known for his powerful dunks, Majerle later became well recognized as an offensive threat from outside, in addition to receiving NBA All-Defensive second team honors on two occasions.  Basically, there were very few roles that he couldn’t fit into, and the fans loved him for that.

Currently, Singler is scoring more than Majerle did as a rookie, and he’s already stared more than Majerle did in his first year.  He definitely has the potential to reach Majerle's level of play, if not higher.  He may never be the centerpiece of a title contender, but he will likely go on to play a very key role for one.

If you haven’t watched Kyle Singler play yet this season, I’d suggest that next time you get the chance to watch Detroit you do so.  The team is much better than people give them credit for and Singler is an outstanding player to watch, and a very fun player to be cheering for on top of that.