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Ranking the most surprising players on the West’s most surprising team

By Garrett Chorpenning

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers and teammates Mike Scott #30 and Tobias Harris #34 react to a call during the game against Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers and teammates Mike Scott #30 and Tobias Harris #34 react to a call during the game against Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Tobias Harris #34 of the LA Clippers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 23, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Tobias Harris #34 of the LA Clippers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 23, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 4: Tobias Harris

Tobias Harris hasn’t been so much of a surprise to LA Clippers fans, so this ranking is more about the national reaction to his play so far this season.

The sweet-shooting 26-year-old forward has finally made the jump it would seem, as he’s leading the Clippers with 21.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He’s converting 42.2 percent of his looks from three-point range as well, which places him among elite company.

Assuming Harris keeps his numbers up, he’ll become one of only two players in NBA history to average 21+ points and 8+ rebounds per game, as well as shooting over 42 percent from deep. The great Larry Bird and Karl-Anthony Towns are the only two players that have ever done so.

Of course, at this rate, it would probably take a lot more than that for Harris to get the recognition he deserves, even with the Clippers playing as well as they have, and even after being named the Western Conference Player of the Month. After all, Harris matched a career-high 34 points in an outing last week against the Portland Trail Blazers, and he wasn’t even trending.

What matters most, though, is that the Clippers have continued to win with him on the roster. Since coming to LA last season via the Blake Griffin trade, the Clippers have gone 33-22 — a more than impressive mark for a team that was supposed to drop off significantly after trading away its best player in franchise history.

Perhaps what’s most surprising about Harris is his efficiency. His 52.0 percent shooting from the floor is one of the highest rates among wings this season, and his 21.6 points per game this season place him just outside the league’s top 20.

If the Clippers continue to win, expect Harris’ surprise factor to drop a bit. It’s only a matter of time before the national media picks up on what he’s been able to accomplish in Los Angeles.

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