Roster Review | Napheesa Collier
Kyle Ratke
September 20, 2019
SF/PF | 6’1, 182 lbs
2019 season: 34 games, 34 starts, 33.3 MPG, 13.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 49 FG%, 36.1 3P%, 79.2 FT%
What can you really say about Collier’s rookie season?
When the Lynx drafted her with the sixth-overall pick, they were hoping she could be a rotational player who could help the team win now. Instead, they got the future face of the franchise and easily the best rookie of the 2019 WNBA Draft.
Collier was asked to play small forward, and then power forward, and then small forward. Those positions aren’t as interchangeable like shooting guard and small forward, or power forward and center are. Collier had to go from playing inside to outside. And guess what? It really didn’t matter. She was really good at both.
Collier won the 2019 Rookie of the Year and helped lead the Lynx to an 18-16 record, and their ninth-straight playoff experience. While 18 wins are the same amount the team won in 2018, it’s worth noting who wasn’t on the team in 2019. Lindsay Whalen retired. Rebekkah Brunson and Maya Moore were away from the team, and Seimone Augustus played just 12 games. The expectations externally for this team weren’t high.
Nothing that Collier did was particularly flashy, but she was so well-rounded. That was kind of her calling card going into the draft, but we didn’t think it would be to this extent, and so early.
Her 3-point shot, while not perfect yet, was better than expected. To hit 36 percent of those shots as a rookie is just a sign of things to come for Collier.
Collier made the All-Star team as well, and it’s pretty easy to see her career end with 10 such appearances. But for now, Lynx fans should enjoy having the brightest young rookie on their team and be excited about what the future looks like.