Shaedon Sharpe Detonates on Wizards, Scores Career-High 36

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Washington Wizards 129-121 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. 

The young Blazers, led by their relatively young (48), Hall of Fame head coach Chauncey Billups (class of 2024) won 10 of 11 games from January 19 to February 6 and after four consecutive losses have now won three in a row. Remarkably, a team that surely seemed headed for a high lottery pick is 26-33, 4.5 games out of the 10th spot, and just 1.5 games back of the 27-31 Phoenix Suns, who were among the preseason favorites out west. The San Antonio Spurs are two back in the win column, and the New Orleans Pelicans have 15 wins while the Utah Jazz have 14. New Orleans and Utah occupy the conference’s two worst records. Wednesday’s Blazers’ opponent occupies the league’s worst mark at just 10-48. 

While the Wiz have some young talent, they need a cultural reset from the top. The Blazers have young talent too that oozes potential with a coach that they enjoy playing for who enjoys coaching them. Anfernee Simons (25, a scorer), Toumani Camara (24, a stealth, versatile defender), Donovan Clingan (21, a 7’2 mammoth who blocks shots), and 21-year-old guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe (Sharpe will be 22 in May) provide for exciting future prospects in the northwest for fans at Moda Center. 

On Wednesday, Sharpe turned in a career night, highlighted by the dunk of the year. 

The London, Ontario, Canada native scored a career-best 36 points with 8 rebounds and 5 assists on 13-for-26 from the field while shooting 3-for-7 from downtown. On the season, the 6’5 guard, who scored 33 points on November 13 and 32 points on November 17, is averaging 17.3 points on 45 percent shooting. He is an easy player with a smooth stroke who scores very well off the dribble, is no stranger to the midrange and can knock down the three. His patient probing to get the right shot is refreshing to see. 

And oh does he have a vertical.

With 9:38 remaining in the second quarter and the Blazers up 36-33, Sharpe read a pass that was directed up the floor for Marcus Smart, grabbing the ball just outside the top of the arc. Coming downhill, Sharpe took one dribble and elevated one foot ahead of the dotted lines on the bottom of the free-throw circle. Sharpe, while fully extending his right arm back, was met in the air by Justin Champagnie, who had thrown the errant pass to Smart. 

Sharpe stayed in the air just a bit longer than his willing defender, and slammed the ball through the net so aggressively and with so much force that his momentum carried him to the floor. 

“Ohhh Shaedon Sharpe cocked it back, a vicious right-hand hammer!”, veteran Blazer play-by-play man Kevin Calabro exclaimed on the broadcast.

Observers say that All-Star Weekend’s dunk contest has its best days in the rearview. Lost its appeal. No participants with names the caliber of Erving, Jordan, Wilkins, Carter. For three consecutive years now, the competition has been won by a player who cannot consistently earn a spot on an NBA roster. 

Soon enough, one Canadian kid might change that thought process and bring that appeal back. He is one of the faces to a young core that is only going to improve. He’ll likely help the Canadian national team in its 2028 LA Summer Olympics pursuit. And if you squint, you very well might see a future all-star.