Nassir Little eyeing starting small forward role with Portland Trail Blazers

Former North Carolina Tar Heel Nassir Little is in the mix to become the starting small forward for the Portland Trail Blazers.

The National Basketball Association has started preseason action, and one Tar Heel could be leaping the starting five.

The Portland TrailBlazers are looking to crack the championship code, and former UNC basketball player [autotag]Nassir Little[/autotag] is in the mix to start for the team. Little enters his fourth NBA season, all with Portland, the team that drafted him in the 2019 NBA draft with the 20th overall pick.

Little emerged as a valuable contributor to Portland’s game plan in year three, seeing an average of 25.9 minutes of action per game versus the 13.3 his second season. Along with the increase in minutes, Little saw an uptick in production, averaging 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds versus the 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds a season prior.

Now, as he embraces his fourth year with the franchise, Little could see another uptick in action as a starter. Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin spoke to the media, saying that the small forward position will be an open competition listing Josh Hart, Justice Winslow, Gary Payton II, and Little.

When Little spoke on media day about the possibility of becoming a starter, he was all smiling.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity,” Little continued, “my first three years have been a steady progression; now, being in the conversation for being the potential starting small forward is one of the only things I can ask for.”

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