Dallas Mavericks Getting an Improved Kyle Collinsworth

Kyle Collinsworth dawned a Mavericks jersey before, but a new and improved Collinsworth is finally getting his shot in the regular season.

It was late Monday night (actually past midnight) and Kyle Collinsworth was up watching Hawaii Five-0 on Netflix when he got a call from the Head Coach of the Texas Legends, Bob MacKinnon.

Collinsworth was finally getting his shot in the NBA as the Dallas Mavericks were signing him to a two-way contract.

On Tuesday, the Mavericks officially announced the waiving of Antonius Cleveland and the signing of Kyle Collinsworth. For the Mavericks, they needed a healthy body on the wing.

“He was a guy we were considering for the last several weeks along with Cleveland,” Rick Carlisle said after practice on Monday. “We decided to look at Cleveland first. With our injury situation at the wing players, we need another body.”

With Dennis Smith Jr. still listed as questionable, the Mavericks could be without him, Seth Curry, and Dorian Finney-Smith in Wednesday’s game against the Pistons at home.

In 2016, Collinsworth was one of 20 players that took part in training camp for the Dallas Mavericks where he played for the Mavericks in the preseason before getting waived. Since then, he has spent the past year and a half in the G-League up the road in Frisco.

“He is a versatile guy that has had a really strong year and a half in the G-League. He can make plays, play three positions. He has been one of the better defenders in that league. Guys that can make plays and know how to play the game are at a premium in the NBA and this is a great shot for him,” Carlisle said.

Collinsworth has spent the past two seasons with the Texas Legends where he holds averages of 8.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 30.1 minutes per game in 54 career G League games (34 starts). In 18 games (all starts) for the Legends in 2017-18, he averaged 11.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.7 steals in 35.8 minutes per game.

In college at BYU, Collinsworth set the NCAA record for triple doubles with 12.

Collinsworth obviously didn’t make the final roster in 2016 for the Mavs, so I asked him where he has improved his game since then.

“What I did well in college I am doing at that level in the G-League. I have improved my three-point shooting. Everything I was told to improve I did and I will continue to improve every day,” Collinsworth said.

He has done exactly that.

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In the 2016-17 season for the Legends, Collinsworth shot 29% from outside the arc in 36 games. For the 2017-18 season for the Legends, Collinsworth is shooting 39% from the outside in 18 games. Compared to last year in the G-League, he is averaging more points, rebounds and assists per game.

In regards to total field goal percentage, Collinsworth is shooting 52% from the field this season compared to 43% last season.

Basically, Collinsworth said he improved and his numbers back that up, especially his outside shot that was a point of emphasis during his time in training camp with the Mavericks.

Now, the new and improved Collinsworth is getting his shot with the Mavericks…even if it is coming at him fast.

“They said you are getting called up and be here at 9:30,” Collinsworth said about the call after midnight. But even though it is all hitting him at a fast pace, basketball is basketball when it is all broken down.

“It’s just basketball. I’m going to do what I do,” Collinsworth said.

Next: 2017-18 Dallas Mavericks Trade Season Guide

You can catch Collinsworth and the Dallas Mavericks take on the Detroit Pistons at home with tip-off set of 7:30PM CT.

Kyle Collinsworth dawned a Mavericks jersey before, but a new and improved Collinsworth is finally getting his shot in the regular season.

More from The Smoking Cuban

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