2025-26 Season
SAM MERRILL
2025-26 Season
SAM MERRILL
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 18 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 245 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Sam Merrill’s opening stretch was defined by extreme volatility, oscillating wildly between lethal off-ball gravity and disastrous defensive vulnerability. Even when his outside stroke caught fire, hidden costs often dragged down his overall value. During 01/04 vs DET, he poured in 15 points on blazing 5-for-7 perimeter shooting, yet posted a -3.4 impact score because opposing guards completely abused his lack of resistance at the point of attack. Conversely, when he actively punished drop coverage without bleeding points on the other end, his floor-spacing transformed the entire offense. He caught absolute fire during 12/23 vs NOP, hitting six triples for 22 points and generating a massive +11.1 impact score. But his value completely evaporated when his quick trigger betrayed him. He essentially shot his team out of the building during 11/10 vs MIA, jacking up contested, early-clock looks to finish 4-for-16 from deep with an abysmal -14.0 impact score. Ultimately, Merrill remains a high-risk specialist whose offensive explosions constantly fight a war against his own defensive limitations.
Sam Merrill’s midseason stretch was defined by whiplash-inducing volatility, oscillating wildly between historic shooting clinics and catastrophic floor minutes. When his jumper was dialed in, he was a lethal offensive weapon. This peak was obvious on 02/11 vs WAS; he erupted for 32 points on 9-of-10 shooting from deep, posting a staggering +21.2 impact score. Yet, when the perimeter magic faded, his value completely cratered. During a disastrous outing on 02/07 vs SAC, brutal shot selection and an 0-for-5 mark from beyond the arc tanked his overall impact to a devastating -19.4. Even when he managed to score, hidden costs frequently dragged his value into the red. He put up 14 points on 02/25 vs MIL, but severe defensive struggles and poor efficiency from deep resulted in an abysmal -16.1 impact score. As a pure movement shooter, Merrill remains a high-variance gamble who either shoots his team to victory or bleeds points on the other end of the floor.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Merrill's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~7 points per game.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 58% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive impact is minimal for a 26-minute player. Not generating enough contests, rim protection, or forced turnovers to move the needle.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 6 games. Longest cold streak: 4 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 51 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
53 games played
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