ONE SURPRISING PLAYER FOR EVERY NBA TEAM (WESTERN CONFERENCE)

We are almost a month into the NBA season. A few days ago we looked at the Eastern Conference about players not getting as much shine as they deserve. Today will be the Western Conference. The caveat I'm holding myself to here is no former All-Star/All-NBA players can be used. Should be pretty simple.

DALLAS MAVERICKS: NAJI MARSHALL

The Mavericks lost 3&D wing Derrick Jones Jr. this offseason after he helped them reach the Finals. Naji Marshall joined Dallas who is always looking for 3&D wings to plug in next to their two offensive dynamos in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and he hasn't disappointed. Despite his 3-pt shooting falling off a cliff this season (career 31% before this season and 14% now), he is still putting up 9/4/3 with a steal mainly off the bench this season. If he finds his shot again, the Mavs could have an even better role player.

DENVER NUGGETS: CHRISTIAN BRAUN

The Nuggets lost Bruce Brown and KCP in back-to-back offseasons so they NEEDED Braun to break out in his 3rd season this year. He has far exceeded expectations jumping up to 16/5/2 averages (up from 7 ppg last year) with a steal and a block per game. He's shooting a blistering 45% from three and seems to love dunking on Rudy Gobert any chance he gets.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: BUDDY HIELD

What happens when you take one of the league's best shooters and put him in an offense catered to the 3-pointer and pair him next to the best shooter of all time in order to replace another great shooter? You get Buddy Hield shooting 47% on 8 three-point attempts per game (46-for-98 on the season) and averaging 18 points on a team currently 10-2. That's what happens.

HOUSTON ROCKETS: ALPEREN SENGUN

Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, and Alperen Sengun are like Pokemon evolutions of the same player. I need the Rockets to realize Sengun is their best player. This dude is 6'11, 22 years old, and an insane stat-sheet stuffer surrounded by insanely athletic guards and wings. Let him be the center of the offense and we'll see his already insane averages of 18/11/5 with 3 combined steals & blocks go up. I see a few All-Star games in his future especially if the Rockets keep winning.

LA CLIPPERS: NORMAN POWELL

It is extremely rare to see the best season of a player's career come in their age-31 and 10th season. But that's exactly what Norman Powell is doing. Paul George left and Kawhi Leonard is hurt yet again so the scoring load had to go to someone and Powell, who has always been a great scorer, stepped up to the plate. He's averaging a career high 23 ppg and looks like someone who could be a legit no. 2 option whenever (if ever) Kawhi returns.

LA LAKERS: DALTON KNECHT

How do the Lakers keep finding C.A.W.B.'s (Cold Ass White Boys)? They've gone from Caruso to Reaves to the rookie Knecht who fell to them in the draft after being one of the most prolific scorers in college last year. He's averaging 9 ppg this season but seems to have earned more respect from head coach JJ Redick (another former CAWB) as in his last 3 games he's played 25+ mins and averaged 20/4/2. Definitely something to monitor going forward.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: JAYLEN WELLS

All due respect to Scottie Pippen Jr. who has turned into one of the better backup point guards in the league but we saw flashes from him last year. I want to turn my attention to the rookie who despite being drafted at 39th overall has easily implemented himself into the Rookie of the Year race. The 6'7" 21 year old's Per-36 minutes are showing signs he could become a high-level wing player that Memphis needs. 16/4/2 with very stellar defense on 37% from three. Buy stock now before it goes up too quick.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: NICKEIL ALEXANDER-WALKER

NAW is such a good defender and deserves his flowers for being basically the 8th man for the Timberwolves but a high impact player. 9/3/3, 48% from three, and a steal from your EIGHTH man? Goodness gracious how many teams would die for that.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: BRANDON BOSTON JR.

The Pelicans have been insanely injury riddled but because of that there has been players that have gotten a much better opportunity and Brandon Boston Jr. is one of them. He's averaging career highs across the board, 12/5/4 in 29 mpg. When the Pelicans are fully healthy, he should still get heavy minutes in the rotation because of his play so far.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: AARON WIGGINS

Aaron Wiggins is proof that 55th picks can become a quality rotation piece (if you know you know). 10/4/2 off the bench for an 11-3 team. He is also someone that could be a throw in piece to get another superstar but if he stays that's just another young wing that can do it all on an insanely deep and young team.

PHOENIX SUNS: RYAN DUNN

Ryan Dunn made more three pointers in his first 8 NBA games than he did in his 65 game college career. Put that into perspective for someone who was also heralded as the best defender in this year's rookie class. On a team with KD, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, the Suns needed good defense and decent shot making. His 7/2/1 averages seem far greater than those numbers with his play.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: DONOVAN CLINGAN

PLEASE START HIM ALREADY PORTLAND!!! THIS DUDE IS AVERAGING 2.1 BLOCKS IN 16 MINUTES OFF THE BENCH!! That's an absurd 4.8 blocks per 36 minutes. The only game this year he played 30 minutes more? 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 blocks against Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves.

SACRAMENTO KINGS: KEON ELLIS

Keon Ellis is the reason that the Kings were fine trading Davion Mitchell this offseason. A high energy defender on a team that is basically all offense otherwise, he's getting a steal and block per game for Sacramento so far this year.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: KELDON JOHNSON

How many of you knew that Keldon Johnson has an Olympic Gold Medal? Coming off the bench this year, Keldon is proving he may be able to stay in San Antonio as he feels like the odd man out in their young core. 12/6/2 off the bench is great and all but this is also someone who once averaged 22 points per game. I give him credit for buying into his role and still playing good with uber-athleticism.

UTAH JAZZ: KEYONTE GEORGE

Man do I love Keyonte George's game. 15/3/6 from your 21 year old starting point guard on a rebuilding team with plenty of good pieces and picks to change the course very quickly? And he's 6'4" and can either stay as the PG or switch over to a SG? Consider the fact he's also shooting 35% from the field and 31% from three-point land. Put those at even league average and you have a 20+ plus ppg scorer.