Aldridge's rookie season was a wash. He didn't at the start of the season, and then he had to sit out at the end with his heart condition.
It has nothing to do with rookies, per 36 minutes stats are misleading when comparing two significantly different sample sizes. Comparing the per 36 numbers for two players who average 27 and 22 MPG is a valid comparison as their minutes and the role they play is very similar. Comparing the per 36 numbers of a player who averages 13 MPG to one who averages 37 MPG is NOT a valid comparison. The sample size is very different and they are playing different roles. For one thing the player who averages 13 MPG is probably getting most of his minutes as a back-up and a considerable portion of them during "garbage time" when the other team is playing their end-of-the-bench guys. A player who averages 37 MPG is putting up his numbers as a starter against the opponent's best players. Also, you have no way to predict if a player's productivity per minute will remain constant if you triple his minutes. It most likely will not - there's a reason he's only getting 13 MPG in the first place. BNM
