2025-26 Season
SAM MERRILL
2025-26 Season
SAM MERRILL
Merrill produces at an average rate for a 25-minute workload.
Merrill produces at an average rate for a 25-minute workload.
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 246 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Sam Merrill's early 2025-26 campaign was defined by sheer volatility, swinging violently between lethal sharpshooting and completely hollow offensive minutes. When his perimeter touch vanished, his on-court value cratered, bottoming out entirely on 11/13 vs MIA. He bricked seven of his eight three-point attempts in that contest, finishing with a dismal -12.3 impact score because he offered no alternative skills to salvage his night. Conversely, he looked like a dynamic offensive engine when he paired his outside stroke with actual ball movement. On 12/24 vs NOP, Merrill torched the defense for 22 points and seven assists, sinking six triples to drive a massive +17.7 impact score. Yet, simply putting the ball in the basket didn't always guarantee positive value for the erratic guard. During the 12/31 vs PHX matchup, he scored a respectable 16 points but still posted a -5.3 impact score. That negative mark stemmed directly from his empty peripheral stats—registering just one rebound and one assist—while burning 14 field goal attempts to get his buckets.
Sam Merrill’s midseason stretch was defined by extreme, volatile perimeter shooting that made him either a flamethrower or a complete liability. When his jumper caught fire, he looked unstoppable, peaking during the 02/11 vs WAS matchup. He torched the nets for 32 points on a ridiculous 9-of-10 from deep, generating a massive +32.9 Impact score because his elite shot-making single-handedly carried the offense. Look no further than the 02/07 vs SAC disaster to see the dark side of his game. He bricked all five of his three-point attempts that night, posting a dismal -20.3 Impact score because his empty stat line offered absolutely no value to offset the cold streak. Even when he managed double digits with 14 points on 01/13 vs UTA, his overall impact sat at a poor -5.9. He needed 11 shots to get those points, and his inefficient gunning actively hurt the team's offensive flow.
Extreme volatility defined this late-season stretch for Sam Merrill, as his erratic perimeter stroke constantly blurred the line between offensive weapon and defensive liability. He occasionally found ways to generate value without needing a massive scoring explosion, notably on 03/21 vs NOP. Despite taking only nine shots for his 15 points, he crashed the glass to grab 10 rebounds, earning a robust +8.4 Impact score entirely through unexpected hustle. Conversely, his floor-spacing role completely imploded when poor shot selection compounded his athletic limitations. During a brutal outing on 04/02 vs GSW, Merrill forced terrible looks from deep, finishing with just 3 points on 1/6 shooting and a disastrous -13.4 Impact score that triggered a demotion to the bench. He eventually reclaimed his rhythm on 04/06 vs MEM. By aggressively hunting open catch-and-shoot opportunities, he poured in 21 points to post a stellar +12.9 Impact score and justify his spot in the rotation.
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 57% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive impact is minimal for a 25-minute player. Not generating enough contests, rim protection, or forced turnovers to move the needle.
Small downward trend. First-half impact: +2.2, second-half: -0.8. Not alarming yet, but trending the wrong direction.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 6 games. Longest cold streak: 4 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY ⚠ Updated 46 days ago
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
63 games played
