Nerlens Noel: A Season to Remember
A Look Back at the Mavericks' Breakout Star
From humble beginnings to playoff aspirations
As the NBA season tips off, anticipation is high for what Nerlens Noel can accomplish in his second season with the Dallas Mavericks. After a breakout campaign in which he emerged as one of the league's most versatile defenders, Noel is poised to take the next step in his young career and help lead the Mavericks to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Noel's journey to stardom has been anything but conventional. Undrafted out of Kentucky, he initially struggled to find a stable role in the NBA. But after being traded to Dallas in 2017, Noel found his niche as a defensive force. In his first season with the Mavericks, he averaged 1.5 blocks per game, and his ability to defend the rim and protect the paint quickly became an invaluable asset.
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