interesting article on Quinn Cook

The first 14 games of his NBA career has put Quinn Cook in some rather elite company
Despite sufficient minutes in the league, Cook should already be considered an integral part of the New Orleans Pelicans roster.

Quinn Cook’s rookie season flashed some potential as he finished with 15.1 points, 5.0 assists and 2.1 threes per 36 minutes. The problem, as nearly all would surmise, was the scant 187 minutes of action. Well, I’m here to tell you that the usual small sample size argument may be unnecessary because fantastic shooting percentages at the outset of careers have historically proven to bode well for guards — even within just a 14-game window.

During his time with both the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks, Cook made exactly half of his 66 field goal attempts and 42.3% of his 26 three-pointers. Since percentages and attempts were first tracked in 1983-84, only 16 guards have bettered a 47.5 FG% and a 35.0 3FG% during their first 14 professional games while appearing in at least 100 minutes and hoisting one or more threes a game. Quinn Cook is a member of this elite club, but have a look at who else made the list.

Player Year Minutes FG% FGA 3FG% 3PA
Reggie Miller 1988 393 55.2% 143 44.7% 38
Lawrence Moten 1996 159 54.9% 71 38.9% 18
Brent Barry 1996 311 53.9% 89 54.1% 37
John Jenkins 2013 104 53.5% 43 45.0% 20
Tyler Johnson 2015 239 53.5% 71 57.9% 19
Ty Lawson 2010 303 52.7% 91 50.0% 22
Trevor Ruffin 1995 168 52.7% 93 50.0% 48
Evan Fournier 2013 117 52.5% 40 38.9% 18
Bobby Brown 2009 238 51.2% 86 44.8% 29
Giannis Antetokounmpo 2014 230 50.8% 59 35.3% 17
Quinn Cook 2017 187 50.0% 66 42.3% 26
Devin Booker 2016 165 49.0% 49 60.0% 15
Jason Terry 2000 284 49.0% 100 47.1% 34
Wesley Person 1995 367 48.9% 135 47.1% 51
Wesley Matthews 2010 294 48.6% 74 35.0% 20
Kyrie Irving 2012 391 48.4% 190 42.1% 38

On the other end of the spectrum sit some disappointments. Lawrence Moten had a wonderful career at Syracuse, but his four years signaled he had never ironed out a dependable shot as evidenced by a subpar 3FG% and FT%. Trevor Ruffin and Bobby Brown were also flawed players who rode great summer league performances right into the NBA. Injuries have slowed John Jenkins down to an unacceptable level because he had no athleticism to spare in the first place. Plus he has proven too one dimensional to be an adequate contributor.

The rest of the group consists of very serviceable to downright excellent players at times. Ty Lawson and Jason Terry were borderline All-Stars in their heydays, Brent Barry and Wesley Person proved capable enough to carve out long careers and Wesley Matthews, Tyler Johnson and Evan Fournier are in the midst of following these older footsteps.

Remember how the Pelicans were interested in Johnson during the last free agency period? All those times fans linked Fournier’s name to New Orleans? Why not get excited about Quinn Cook? Standing 6’-2’’, his size is perfectly acceptable for a reserve or to participate in plenty of important stretches throughout games. He doesn’t rely on athleticism but a great shot, intensity and toughness. Four years at Duke exemplified these characteristics as well as the necessary leadership skills to run the Pelicans second unit and cede appropriately to either DeMarcus Cousins or Anthony Davis over an 82-game schedule.

With one week remaining in the 2016-17 regular season, I compared Cook to Patty Mills and had hoped to see a similar spark from off the bench during the final four games. Mission accomplished, yet little did I know he would acquit himself so well that it would now be considered a huge mistake if the New Orleans Pelicans fail to guarantee his contract for next season. #PleaseKeepCookHere

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