The Latvian Laser
Davis Bertans
And now, everyone’s favorite 6’10” flamethrowing power forward; Davis Bertans.
Whether the Washington Wizards knew exactly what they were getting when they traded for Bertans this summer – whether they knew they were getting this – is irrelevant. Bertans is a Wizard, and he’s been one of the most fun surprises of the season.
Even before Bertans came to D.C., it was obvious he could shoot. But he’s taken it to another level this year now that he has a perpetual green light. This season, Bertans has nearly doubled his shooting output compared to his final season with the San Antonio Spurs, his most productive during his three-year stint.
Last season, Bertans was putting up 6.0 shots per game, 4.4 of those come from behind the three-point line. This season, he’s firing up 11.1 shots per contest, 8.4 of those being three-balls. But the extra shooting hasn’t hurt his efficiency.
Last season, Bertans finished with a career-high three-point percentage of 42.9 percent. This season he’s down just a hair, at 42.5 percent. That’s the tenth best mark in the league. The only guy in the competition shooting at a better clip is Duncan Robinson.
More so than any other competitor in the contest, the three-point contest format might be best suited for Bertans. As the only non-regular starter, Bertans is used to going from sitting on the bench in his warmups to setting nets on fire. And he does it extremely well.
This season, Bertans is the only reserve to hit 150 three-pointers. He has 156. Only eight players have more at the All-Star Break. All of them are regular starters.
Plus, Bertans doesn’t need to do much dribbling to be effective. According to stats from NBA.com, Bertans leads the NBA in catch-and-shoot attempts per game with 7.2. And he makes a lot of them, too. 43.2 percent fo them, to be exact. Pulling a ball off a rack isn’t exactly the same as grabbing a pass and letting it rain, but it’s as close as you can get.
Anything can happen during All-Star Weekend, but if you ask me, the smart money is on Davis Bertans. He’ll have some incredibly stiff competition in two former three-point champs, the NBA’s most efficient shooter, and a Bull who will be shooting on his home court. But Bertans has been full of surprises all season long. During the 2019 three-point contest, Joe Harris shocked the world and beat both Curry brother and Kemba Walker. Why not another “surprise” winner? Why not the Latvian Laser?