From four years at Wisconsin to being featured on a billboard in Times Square, Devin Harris is continuing to make a name for himself in the National Basketball Association. This doesnt come as a surprise to Badger fans who watched him become a Big Ten Player of the Year and lead Wisconsin to a Big Ten title. His exceptional play at the collegiate level has transformed him into the go-to guy on the 9-8 New Jersey Nets roster.
Since joining the Nets in 2008, Harris statistics have risen exponentially. He is currently the fifth-leading scorer in the NBA and first on his team with 24.8 points per game. His 6.1 assists per game also lead the Nets and ranks 13th out of all players. Another impressive statistic from the ex-Badger is his assist-to-turnover ratio. For how often he gets his hands on the ball, Harris impressive 3.5 ratio proves his controlled demeanor on the court.
Devin Harris most explosive performance of his career came on Sunday, November 30th when he helped the Nets defeat the Suns. In a 117-109 victory over Phoenix, Harris led all players with a career-high 47 points. He shot 56 percent from the floor and a perfect 17-17 from the free throw line while tacking on eight assists, seven rebounds and a steal.
The fourth-year member of the NBA has teamed up with Vince Carter to form one of the most feared backcourt tandems in the league. Harris and Carter combine to average 48 points per game as point guard and shooting guard. In the three games that Harris did not play due to injury, the Nets went 0-3 and averaged 87 points per game. In turn, whenever he is running the point, New Jersey averages an astonishing 104 points per game. That means the Nets score 17 more points per game with Harris presence on the floor.
Despite his 63 185-pound frame, Harris has stepped up as a superstar for the Nets. His credentials are some of the best in the league and he could open some eyes on the All-Star ballots come January. The future looks bright for this young athlete and the Nets have to be more than satisfied with the numbers that Harris has been providing thus far in the season.
