The Portland Trail Blazers may be sitting 11th in the Western Conference with a 10-16 record, but don’t let that number fool you-there’s more brewing in Rip City than the standings suggest. After a tough early-season stretch filled with injuries and a brutal schedule, the Blazers are starting to show signs of life.
And at the center of that resurgence? Shaedon Sharpe, the high-flying guard whose recent play is raising eyebrows-and the Blazers’ ceiling.
Shaedon Sharpe is starting to turn the corner
Sharpe has been on a tear in December, averaging 24.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over six games. But what really jumps off the page is his shooting from deep: 48.4% on 5.5 attempts per game. That kind of efficiency from beyond the arc is a game-changer, especially for a player whose early-season struggles had many wondering if the breakout campaign everyone expected was slipping away.
This was supposed to be Sharpe’s moment. With Anfernee Simons now in Boston and Scoot Henderson missing time to start the year, the door was wide open for Sharpe to take on a larger offensive load.
He looked ready for it, too-dominating training camp and stepping into a starting role. But a lingering calf strain and inconsistent play slowed his momentum out of the gate.
Even now, despite his hot December, he's still shooting just 30.6% from three on the season-a career low.
And that’s the challenge with Sharpe. The talent is undeniable.
The athleticism? Off the charts.
But the consistency? That’s still a work in progress.
Why Sharpe’s surge matters for Portland
When Sharpe is locked in, the Blazers look like a different team. His ability to stretch the floor, attack the rim, and create off the dribble gives Portland a dynamic scoring option who can shift the balance of a game. And when you combine that with a schedule that’s easing up and a roster that’s finally getting healthier, you start to see why there’s optimism in Portland-even with a sub-.500 record.
NBA analyst Zach Lowe recently echoed that sentiment, pointing to Sharpe’s recent play as a reason to believe the Blazers are better than their record suggests.
“I think they're better than their record, and one of the reasons I think they're better than their record is Shaedon Sharpe's last week has been very encouraging to me,” Lowe said on The Zach Lowe Show.
Still, Lowe was quick to pump the brakes just a bit, noting Sharpe’s history of inconsistent stretches: “I'm very reluctant to sort of say that there's anything transformational happening because I've had these little blips with him before, and he goes back to playing the way he usually plays.”
That’s been the story with Sharpe so far. Since his rookie season, he’s had flashes-moments where he looks like a future star.
But sustaining that level of play has been the hurdle. It’s important to remember: this is a 22-year-old who didn’t log a single minute at Kentucky before jumping to the NBA.
His development curve isn’t going to be linear, and that’s okay. What matters is that the arrow is pointing up.
A breakout in progress?
Even if Sharpe cools off a bit from his current shooting pace-and he probably will-there are still signs that he’s turning a corner. He’s more assertive, more confident, and more in rhythm with the offense. And for a Blazers team that’s trying to build something sustainable, that growth is crucial.
Sharpe might just have the highest upside on this roster, and if this recent stretch is any indication, he’s starting to tap into it. That makes Portland a much tougher out than their record would suggest. With a softer schedule ahead, key players getting healthy, and Sharpe finding his groove, the Blazers are quietly becoming a team to watch in the Western Conference play-in race.
So don’t sleep on Portland. They’re still figuring things out, but the pieces are starting to click-and Shaedon Sharpe is leading the charge.