Just how valuable was Oshae Brissett to the Indiana Pacers?
Season reviews can get tricky for the Indiana Pacers after such a disappointing season. Nobody was deserving of a perfect grade because the team just did not reach expectations. However, the case of Oshae Brissett brings quite a bit of a twist.
He was signed near the end of the season but was one of the biggest storylines for this unit all season. Brissett filled a massive need and was an absolute gem once he got on the floor. While his lack of experience this season should probably keep him from earning too high of a grade, his impact was far greater than anyone could have imagined.
Oshae made 16 consecutive starts to finish the season. In those 16 games, Brissett averaged 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds while being an incredible addition to the defensive end of the floor. He shot the ball with confidence on his way to knocking down 42.1 percent of his threes.
In the final game of the season, Brissett carried the Pacers into a home-court advantage for the Play-in Tournament by dropping 31 points and 10 rebounds.
The expectations for Brissett were simply to give the frontcourt some depth with injuries striking throughout the season. He took hold of his opportunity and never looked back, making for an interesting offseason if the Pacers view him as a starting-caliber player on the wing or at the four.
How can we accurately assess his final grade from the 2020-21 NBA season?
Recapping Oshae Brissett’s improbable season
The Pacers did not give Oshae Brissett any action until April 6. That action was hardly any real experience as he tallied just three minutes in garbage time of a blowout loss. He followed that up with just two minutes the next night before being left out of the rotation for two games.
Three more games off the bench, none of which saw more than 10 minutes from Brissett, seemed to be the selling point for Oshae. After another DNP on April 18, Brissett finally cracked the starting lineup due to injuries.
He started in Indiana’s loss to the Spurs on April 19, logging 24 minutes and scoring 13 points. From there, nobody could slow down the surging Brissett. He averaged 37.8 minutes per game over the next six as the Pacers continued to fight for a playoff spot.
Not only did Brissett get major minutes in that span, but he also made excellent use of his chance. He averaged a double-double over those six games with 15.8 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 42.9 percent from deep.
Oshae finished his regular season with five double-doubles and 13 games in double figures. His strong play helped earn him a three-year deal to stay with the Pacers. Indiana desperately needed wing depth and help on the defensive end which they found in Brissett.
Can he be a proven piece for the future when he returns next season?
How should the Indiana Pacers grade Oshae Brissett’s season?
Grading his season is tough due to the incredibly small sample size. No player on the Pacers made more of an immediate impact than Brissett did on both ends of the floor. He provided a ton of energy and helped carry the Pacers into a Play-in victory over the Hornets.
It appears the Pacers have a young threat on the wing that they can continue to develop into the future. Brissett could be a formidable member of the starting five next season if the Pacers decide to part with Sabonis, Turner, or Warren but could also be a very useful weapon off the bench.
Oshae showed that he was ready for the big stage after starting his season in the G-League. On a cheap deal with nothing to lose, Brissett became a quick fan-favorite in Indiana. His ascendance into the lineup was very reminiscent of that of Edmond Sumner and Alize Johnson.
Overall, Oshae’s presence was arguably the most noticeable for the Pacers all season. Between Brissett and Sabonis, the Pacers had two very exciting players when they were on the court.
Final grade: A-
If Brissett had played the entire season at the rate he was showing, this was going to be an easy A+ grade. The small sample size was definitely a factor but it should not take away from how special Brissett was. He exceeded expectations by more than a mile. I cannot wait to see how he looks next season.