NBA Market Share Report: Riding Nemanja Bjelica and the Red-Hot Kings

Fire in the Belly

While we’re not sure if this is another case of early-season luck (see: the Orlando Magic last season) or legitimate Cinderella material, the Sacramento Kings are off to a surprising 6-3 start, much of which is thanks to the red-hot Nemanja Bjelica.

Belly has been a top-six scorer at the small forward position over the last two weeks -- trailing mostly a handful of superstars -- and he’s reached at least six-times value in six of his eight games this year. And with the Kings seeing decent scoring potential from more than a player or two so far this season, no one is challenging Bjelica from beyond the arc, as he’s connecting on better than 54 percent on four shots from deep a game. At this pace, the 30-year-old -- who nearly opted to stay in Europe this past summer -- is in store for a career year.

Keeping a hot hand will remain a key ingredient to Bjelica maintaining high-level production, but he also offers value across the sheet, chipping in with more than six boards, three assists, a block and a steal per night.

Coming off a 19-point game in a win over the Hawks, Bjelica and the Kings take on the Bucks and Raptors next week.