Every summer, there are some second-year players in action who are clearly too good for this level of competition. And in 2024, that trend has been even more obvious.

Draft experts have been telling us for most of the last 12 months that this incoming rookie class wouldn’t be the strongest, so the contrast between them and players like Brandon Miller (23 points in his first game), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (26.0 points per game), Brandin Podziemski (18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists), Julian Strawther (28.5 points) and Cam Whitmore (16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals) is pretty stark.

This is an event where just about everyone in action is looking to prove something. Most are almost playing too hard. It’s frantic. Plenty of possessions look completely out of control. And the players who’ve already adjusted to the NBA’s size, speed and athleticism, relative to those who haven’t, sometimes look like Neo after he’s figured out The Matrix.

Those second-year pros above know that fastest isn’t always best. They can play with pace and patience. Their willingness to take what the defense gives them, as opposed to trying to force something that’s not there, stands out.