A few weeks into the NBA season, some veteran players aren't pulling their weight yet. Whether it be age, injury or just slow starts, some experienced pros need to pick it up if they expect to keep playing.
Here's a look at 20 NBA veterans who need to prove themselves after slow starts.
1 of 20
Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, Hawks
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Bazemore has started all 11 games for the Hawks, but it's been a struggle. He's committing a career-high 2.7 turnovers per game and shooting under 36 percent from the field.
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Biyombo has been a role player for Orlando early in the year, averaging just 13.8 minutes per game. He's deserved even less playing time with just 3.5 points while committing 2.7 personal fouls and 1.3 turnovers per contest.
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Chalmers is coming off the bench for Memphis after missing all of last season with a ruptured Achilles, and he's shown some rust. In particular, Chalmers hasn't shot well from three (22 percent), and even his free throw percentage has plummeted.
4 of 20
Wilson Chandler, SF, Nuggets
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Chandler has struggled to score for the Nuggets as a starter this season. Despite starting all 10 games and averaging nearly 30 minutes per game, the veteran has averaged only 8.1 points, almost half of what he averaged last season in Denver. He also has just 3.5 rebounds per game compared to 6.5 last season.
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Cunningham has been a regular starter for New Orleans, but that hasn't helped him on the stats sheet. He's averaging just 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 26.4 minutes.
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Gallinari has struggled with the move from Denver to L.A. and recently suffered a hip injury. After averaging more than 18 points per game over the last two seasons, he has 12.8 points per game despite playing nearly 32 minutes per contest.
7 of 20
George Hill, PG, Kings
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The Kings' new starting point guard has really struggled with his subpar supporting cast. He's averaging just 9.6 points and 2.7 assists per game, numbers that are down significantly compared to what he did with Utah last season.
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Is the pressure of a new contract getting to Lowry? After averaging a career-high 22.4 points per game last season, Lowry is putting up less than 12 points per game in nine contests this season. Not surprisingly, the Raptors are off to a relatively slow start.
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Mozgov has been a regular starter for Brooklyn, but the results haven't shown. He's putting up just 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in about 16 minutes per game.
10 of 20
Nerlens Noel, C, Mavericks
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It's been a rough start for Noel and the 1-10 Mavs. He has started six games this season, averaging 18.2 minutes per game with 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds. It's a far cry from what he produced with Dallas late last season.
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If Nowitzki is out to prove he has something left at age 39, he hasn't shown it yet. The future Hall of Famer has averaged 10.5 points per game, the lowest average since his rookie season. His field goal percentage has also fallen below 40 percent.
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Randolph is a cult hero in Memphis, but the move to Sacramento hasn't been as smooth. Through seven starts, he's averaged only 12 points and six rebounds per game, both his worst totals since the 2002-03 season.
13 of 20
Josh Richardson, SF, Heat
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Now in his third season, Richardson is a regular starter but hasn't shown much improvement. He's averaging just 10 points per game and shooting 38 percent from the field.
14 of 20
Derrick Rose, PG, Cavaliers
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Cleveland's slow start hasn't been helped by Rose. He's played just six games and struggled mightily on defense while averaging 15 points per game.
15 of 20
Terrence Ross, SG, Magic
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Ross has started since Orlando acquired him last season, but his performance has declined early this year. He's scoring only 8.5 points per game, shooting an awful 31 percent from the field. He needs to play better to maintain his nearly 28 minutes per game.
16 of 20
Iman Shumpert, SG, Cavaliers
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Usually a key player off the bench, Shumpert's performance has been less than stellar this year. He's play only six games due to a knee issue, averaging six points in 18.2 minutes per game.
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The enigmatic Smith seemed to hit a wall last season, and he's slid further early this year. He's averaging just 5.3 points over 27.4 minutes per game and has also struggled defensively. Incredibly, he's shot worse than 28 percent from the field.
18 of 20
Lance Stephenson, SG, Pacers
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Back with the Pacers, Stephenson has continued to struggle this year. Coming off the bench in 10 games, he's putting up just 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest in 19.1 minutes. Just 27 years old, Stephenson is playing himself out of an NBA job.
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Reuniting with LeBron James seemed like a great idea on paper for Wade, but he's really struggled in part-time duty. Seeing just 22.2 minutes per game, he's averaged a career-worst nine points, shooting worse than 41 percent from the field. He needs to improve for the Cavs to get where they want to be at the end of the year.
20 of 20
Dion Waiters, SG, Heat
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While Waiters is averaging 15.9 points per game, he hasn't been efficient. He is making less than 30 percent of his shots from three in a career-high 5.5 attempts. He needs to make shots more consistently to validate his playing time.