Alex Speers

Every year, there are players who at the end of the season, you look back at their splits on Basketball Reference, there's a dramatic difference in their stats pre- versus post-All-Star break.

Sometimes that leap that occurs post-All-Star break actually means something, and it's a preview of what's about to happen with that player.

So, for instance, last year,

We got one of the best all-time examples we've ever had.

Denny Abdiah.

Pre-All-Star break, Denny was 15-6-3, 59% true shooting, minus 5.2 net rating.

Post-All-Star break, 23-10-5, 64% true shooting, plus 5.8.

The All-Star that we saw this season was born post-All-Star break last year.

Another obvious one last year, Josh Giddey.

Pre-All-Star, for the Bulls, 12-7-6.

54% true shooting, minus 6.5 net rating.

Post-All-Star, 21-11-9.

62% true shooting, plus 9.9 net rating.

The other players last year to make our first team, post-All-Star break-leap team...

Paulo Bencaro.

Quinton Grimes.

Paulo averaged over 29 points per game post-All-Star break last year.

Yeah.

Quinton Grimes.

Now, sometimes the leap doesn't really mean that much.