Baggage Claim
After three years in Sacramento, a fresh start for Marvin Bagley III should be in order.
Marvin Bagley III was once a dominant force at Duke University, a player that averaged 21 & 11 a game his freshman year, and was considered by many to be the #1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Since entering the NBA in 2018, Marvin who was selected 2nd overall by the Sacramento Kings has only played in 118 games.
Bagley is a 6'11" PF/C with tremendous faceup skills. If you watched any Duke games when he was there, then you know just how special he was. Bagley shot an impressive 61% from the field and a blistering 39% from three during his freshman campaign. When the Kings decided to select Bagley back in 2018 I was one of many people who believed he would fit right next to Star PG De’Aaron Fox. But instead, it’s been an up and down roller coaster for Marvin who has had his fair share of injuries since entering the league.
A total of ten different injuries and a poor front office has held Marvin back from blossoming into a great young player. When you look back at the 2018 draft you’ll notice the amount of talent that Bagley went over, and although he deserved to be selected 2nd overall, the success of those drafted after him like Trae Young and Luka Dončić can put unduly pressure on a player drafted high to be great in a short span.
Granted, the Kings have been downright awful as a franchise with their last playoff appearance coming in 2006. Fox has been an absolute stud for them while Bagley has been much like a fancy car that has been kept in the garage barely touched. In Bagley’s rookie season he played in 62 games with only 4 starts. in those games he averaged 14.9 PPG and 7.6 RPG while shooting 50% from the field.
What amazes me is that in the four games he started in 2019, he averaged a combined 19.5 PPG & 11.5 RPG on 47% shooting from the field. Bagley literally gave Sacramento a double-double every time he took the floor as a starter but was relegated to the bench time and time again for then starter Nemanja Bjelica who was only averaging 9.6 PPG.
Even in the 58 games that he came off the bench, Marvin posted 13 double-doubles and scored in double digits 47 times including a season-high 32 points 7 rebounds performance.
Bagley’s sophomore season (2019-2020) he averaged 14.2 PPG & 7.5 RPG, but it would be one to forget as he only played 13 games due to lingering injuries. This past season (2020-21) would be Bagley’s first season as the full-time starter at PF for Sacramento. He played in 43 games with averages of 14.1 PPG & 7.4 RPG. He was held back again with nagging injuries and would soon become frustrated with his role.
We’ve seen both Marvin and his father take to social media venting their frustrations with the franchise with both seeming to want a fresh start elsewhere. Although the method in which was/is being used isn’t the best to some, you can’t blame Marvin for being upset in my opinion. Yes, injuries are a part of the game, but when you’re the Sacramento Kings and you draft Marvin Bagley, why wouldn’t he start day one?
At only 22 years of age, Bagley hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential and I feel as though teams should jump on the opportunity of adding a player of his caliber to their roster. A young team that's moving in the right direction would be a perfect place for Bagley to continue to improve his game and get healthy. This is a chance for Marvin to show everyone including himself that he is as special as we’ve seen him show before.
