Abdel Nader Is A Solid Last Resort At SF
By Liam O'Brien
After a Rookie of the Year worthy showing in the NBA G League last season, forward Abdel Nader earned a deal with the Celtics over the past few weeks.
While two other budding small forwards – Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum – might have stolen the fanfare throughout the NBA Summer League, second-year pro Abdel Nader quietly convinced general manager Danny Ainge into opening up a spot for him on the 15-man roster.
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The Iowa State product nudged guard Demetrius Jackson out of his role on the team, fitting the mold of the current NBA rotation player.
He is a competent ball-handler with the build of a powerful small forward at 6’6″, 230 pounds, and has the ability to guard multiple positions on the floor. His foot speed allowed him to stay with some of the quickest guards in the G League last season while his bulk gives him the authority to hold off stronger forwards closer to the basket.
Nader is exactly the type of player that NBA coaches covet in their rotation, boasting a solid offensive game as well. He impressed in last year’s Summer League, and this effectiveness translated to a stellar campaign with the Maine Red Claws in which he garnered G League Rookie of the Year honors.
A high-volume scorer for Maine, Nader posted 21.3 points per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point land. His rebounding average of 6.2 per night was impressive for someone below 6’7″, and his 3.9 assists per game showcased his capability of running the offense and creating for his teammates.
He garnered a 20.6 percent assist percentage, exemplifying the notion that the Red Claws trusted him to control the ball at a high rate.
The only concern with Nader’s offensive performance with Maine was his propensity to turn the ball over. His 3.7 turnovers per night with the Red Claws was certainly startling, however, his significant 28.8 percent usage rate made the turnover numbers more understandable.
Being in the G League while receiving a tremendous amount of play making freedom, Nader was encouraged to force the issue and take risks with the ball. This led to an inflation of his turnover rate, something which will be quelled in the NBA as he will be taking on a lesser role in terms of handling the ball.
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To begin the season, Nader will most likely be riding the pine behind the likes of Brown, Tatum, Jae Crowder, and the newly-added Gordon Hayward. However, one of these options go down with the injury bug, expect Nader to receive some opportunities on the second unit.