Kenneth Faried has become the darling of the 2014 FIBA World Cup. After bursting out of exhibition play as the starting power forward for top-ranked Team USA, the 25-year-old has made the most of his golden opportunity.
In Wednesday's win over the Dominican Republic, Faried led all scorers with 16 points while also pulling down six rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. The Denver Nugget shot a scorching 8-of-11 in the 106-71 win, which actually brought his field goal percentage down to 78.4 percent for the tournament. In four games, Faried is averaging 25 points and 13.1 rebounds per 36 minutes.
That Faried has played this well for Team USA shouldn't be a total surprise. He's a talented high-energy player who last season finished in the NBA's top 10 in field goal percentage (54.5 percent) and offensive rebound rate (11.8 percent). Faried's pogo stick playing style also caters perfectly with lob-friendly point guards and FIBA rules that allow players to dunk live balls on the rim.
But if you've followed his game closely this past season, you're probably surprised at his dominant play given the schedule circumstances. Why? Team USA is in the midst of playing five games in six nights, which is precisely the type of grueling stretch where Faried has previously fallen apart.