2023: NBA DRAFT Positional Breakdown: BIG MEN
BIG MEN
Victor Wenbanyama will be the number one pick in the draft. He is a
generational talent that can do it all in a 7’4” frame with an 8’ wingspan. The
Spurs won the lottery and now have their big man for the next decade. Other
teams looking for a starting big man will need to look to free agency as this
year’s crop lacks star power after Wenbanyama. There are a lot of good
defensive big men with length, athletic ability and versatility.
FIRST ROUND
LOCKS:
6'8''/249/7'4''
11.3 PTS 6.4 REB 38.7%-3 PT
Fr./19.8
Hometown: New Freedom, PA
NBA Comparison: Paul Millsap/Horace Grant
ROLE: Starting power forward and small ball five
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Power/Length
Walker is built like a tank and is ready to contribute to an NBA roster from day one. He has an elite combination of power and length. He can bully smaller defenders and has the skill set to score on players his size. He has the length and athletic ability to guard anywhere from the 3-5. He reminds me of a prime Horace Grant and Paul Millsap. Like those guys, he would be best utilized as the number three option on a contender.
Dereck Lively II-C-Duke
7'1''/220/7'8''
5.2 PTS 5.4 REB 2.4 BLK
Fr./19.3
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
NBA Comparison: Mitchell Robinson/Hassan Whiteside
ROLE: High Energy Defensive Big Man
BEST TOOLS: Elite Length/Shot Blocking/Mobility
Lively fits as the modern-day big man. His 2.4 blocks per game were elite considering he only played 20.6 minutes per game. He moves very well for his size and is pretty strong for someone with his length. His offensive game is very limited to lobs and offensive boards right now. He is a good roller off of picks which has led some to compare him to Tyson Chandler. Chandler is the best-case scenario, I see him more in a role of Robinson and Whiteside.
Noah Clowney-PF/C-Alabama
6'10''/210/7'2''
9.8 PTS 7.9
REB 0.9 BLK 0.6 STL
Fr./18.9
Hometown: Roebuck, SC
NBA Comparison: Nerlens Noel/Nic Claxton
ROLE: High Energy Defensive Big Man
BEST TOOLS: Length/Rebounding/Hustle
Like Lively, Clowney’s best traits are tied to
his length and ability to be an active big. His biggest asset is his rebounding
ability. He knows how to use his length on the boards and as a rim protector.
At only 210 pounds, he may be better served to play the four that the five. He
has limited upside, but one knows exactly what they will get with him.
FIRST ROUND
BORDERLINE:
James
Nnaji-C-Nigeria/FC Barcelona
6'10"/225/7'5''
3.6 PTS 2.2
REB
INT/18.8
Hometown: Makurdi, Nigeria
NBA Comparison: Anderson Varejao/Daniel Gafford
ROLE: High Energy Big Man
BEST TOOLS: Elite Length/Athletic Ability/Rebounding
Over the past two seasons Nnaji has moved into the backend of the rotation at Barcelona. If he is picked in the first round, it will likely be as a draft and stash candidate. He has the physical tools that are hard to find. He is still very raw but could develop into a borderline starter like Varejao and Gafford.
Trayce Jackson-Davis-PF/C-Indiana
6'9"/240/7'1.75''
20.9 PTS 10.8
REB 4.0 AST 2.9 BLK
Sr./23.3 yrs
Hometown: Greenwood, IN
NBA Comparison: Brandan Wright/Maxi Kleber
ROLE: Second Unit Big Man that can score in limited minutes
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Scoring/Rebounding/Shot Blocking
TJD filled the stat sheet in his four years at
Indiana. He came back to school and improved as a playmaker going from 1.9 to
4.0 assists per game from Junior to Senior year. The lefty big has a nice
combination of skills and can contribute on both ends of the floor. He could
sneak into the first round for a contender (Heat, Warriors, Grizzlies or
Clippers) looking for player ready to play from day one.
Tristan Vukčević-F/C-Serbia/KK Partizan
7'0''/223/7'2.5''
5.8 PTS 2.6
REB 37.3%-3PT 80.0%-FT
INT./20.2
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
NBA Comparison: Mehmet Okur/Kelly Olynyk
ROLE: Second Unit Big Man that can score in limited minutes
BEST TOOLS: Shooting Big/Length
Vukčević is another draft and stash candidate
that has played limited minutes for two top teams in Europe with KK Partizan
and Real Madrid. He is a knock down shooter with a huge frame. He could be a
steal in the mid second round. Guys like this are always big in the playoffs.
Kobe
Brown-PF-Missouri
6'8"/252/7'1.75''
15.8 PTS 6.4
REB 2.5 AST 1.5 STL 45.5%-3PT
Sr./23.4
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
NBA Comparison: Trevor Booker/Craig Smith
ROLE: Backup power forward
BEST TOOLS: Low Post Scoring/Power/Playmaking
Brown is a strong power forward that will have
a role in the league due to his versatility and length for his size. He was a
horrible long-range shooter (below 25%) before last season. Then he improved to
a 45.5% shooter last season. If his shooting is solid he can stick in the
league as a role player.
Mouhamed Gueye-C/F-Washington State
6'11"/213/7'3.25''
14.3 PTS 8.4
REB 0.8 BLK 0.8 STL
So./20.6
Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
NBA Comparison: Jaxson Hayes/Nick Richards
ROLE: High Energy Backup Center
BEST TOOLS: Leaping Ability/Length/ Rebounding
Gueye is an athletic big man that loves to rim
run and get put back dunks. Similar to Hayes and Richards, he can become a
solid backup that can give you 20 minutes per game off the bench. He really improved
his free throw shooting from 49.3% to 67.4%. He needs to develop a reliable
mid-range shot in order to be seen as a starter.
GETTING DRAFTED BORDERLINE:
Colin
Castleton-C-Florida
6'11"/250/7'3.5''
16.0 PTS 7.7
REB 2.7 AST 3.0 BLK 0.9
STL
Sr./23.0
Hometown: Daytona Beach, FL
NBA Comparison: Jock Landale
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Passing Big/Defense
Castleton filled the stat sheet at Florida. He
is a great passer and has a great feel in the post. On defense he can block
shots and switch on smaller players. He can carve out a role in the league if
given the right opportunity
Charles Bediako-C-Alabama
6'11''/223/7'3.25''
6.4 PTS 6.0
REB 1.8 BLK
So./21.4
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
NBA Comparison: Bruno Fernando
BEST TOOLS: Energy/Shot Blocking/Rebounding
Bediako knows he is there only to rebound,
block shots and rim protect. He has little to no offensive game and was a bad
free throw shooter. He plays his role well and given his size, he will get a
chance to play in the league.
Adama Sanogo-PF/C-UConn
6'8"/252/7'1.75''
17.2 PTS 7.7
REB 1.3 AST 0.8 BLK 0.7
STL
Jr./21.3
Hometown: Bamako, Mali
NBA Comparison: Naz Reid
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Low Post Skills/Power
Sanogo was a monster in the NCAA tournament
averaging 19.7 points and 9.8 rebounds in six games. He improved a lot on
offense every year in college. Like Naz Reid, he could develop into a solid
second unit scorer and rebounder.
Azuolas Tubelis-PF-Arizona
6'10"/235/6'11.5"
19.8 PTS 9.1
REB 2.0 AST 1.1 STL
Jr./21.2
Hometown: Vilnius, Lithuania
NBA Comparison: Marvin Bagley
BEST TOOLS: Low Post Scoring/Rebounding/Versatility
Similar to Sanogo, Tubelis had a great
postseason winning the PAC-12 Conference Tournament MVP. The lefty big man
improved from year to year at Arizona and really improved his shooting this
past season. Like Bagley, he is a lefty that has a very fundamental game but
lacks elite length and athletic ability.
Oscar
Tshiebwe-C-Kentucky
6'8"/254/7'3.5''
16.5 PTS 13.7
REB 1.6 AST 1.0 BLK 1.6
STL
Sr./23.5
Hometown: Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
NBA Comparison: Reggie Evans
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Power/More Rebounding
Tshiebwe was the best player in college
basketball in the 2021-2022 season winning both the Wooden and Naismith Awards.
He returned to school and had another good season. He averaged 17.4 points and
15.1 rebounds per game in 2022. His bread and butter is rebounding so Reggie
Evans is the only right comparison for him.
Drew Timme-F/C | Gonzaga
6'10"/243/7'1.75''
21.2 PTS 7.5
REB 3.2 AST 1.0 BLK 0.6
STL
Sr./22.7
Hometown: Richardson, TX
NBA Comparison: Mason Plumlee
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Passing Big/Rebounding
Timme was a 3x All American at Gonzaga. He has
great hands and an amazing feel for the game. In years past, a player like this
would be a lock for the lottery. However, with his lack of athletic ability and
old school game there are questions on his fit in the NBA. Timme is one of
those guys that could go undrafted and then have a ten year career in the
league.
Efe
Abogidi-C-Nigeria/G League Ignite
6'10"/225/7'4''
8.4 PTS 6.4
REB 1.6 BLK
College Stats
INT/21.4
Hometown: Delta State, Nigeria
NBA Comparison: Lucas Nogueira
BEST TOOLS: Shot Blocking/Length/Hustle
Abogidi played two years at Washington State
then was on the Ignite team but did not play the full season. He played in the two
exhibition games vs Wenbenyama where he held his own rebounding but did little
else. He will have a chance to make a roster with his size and hustle.
HONORABLE MENTION
|
PLAYER |
HT |
WT |
WING |
Exp/Age |
PTS |
TRB |
AST |
BLK |
FT% |
|
Liam Robbins-C-Vanderbilt |
7' 0'' |
235 |
7'0'' |
Sr./23.9 |
15.0 |
6.8 |
1.0 |
3.2 |
73.1% |
|
Pete Nance-F/C-UNC |
6'11" |
218 |
7'0.75'' |
Sr./24.3 |
10.0 |
6.0 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
81.6% |
|
Justyn Mutts-PF-VA Tech |
6'9'' |
233 |
7'3'' |
Sr./24.5 |
13.3 |
7.4 |
4.6 |
0.8 |
61.6% |
|
Jack Nunge-C-Xavier |
7'0" |
245 |
7'0'' |
Sr./24.3 |
14.2 |
7.8 |
2.1 |
1.2 |
67.7% |
|
KJ Williams-PF-LSU |
6'9" |
248 |
7'0'' |
Sr./23.8 |
17.7 |
7.7 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
67.7% |
|
Jake Stephens-C-UT Chatt |
7'0" |
270 |
7'9.5'' |
Sr./23.6 |
22.0 |
9.8 |
3.4 |
2.2 |
82.0% |
|
Tyshaun Crawford-C-Augusta |
7'1" |
268 |
7'7'' |
Sr./23.9 |
21.4 |
8.1 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
68.0% |
|
Patrick Gardner-C-Marist |
7'0" |
224 |
7'1.5'' |
Sr./24.0 |
19.1 |
6.6 |
1.8 |
1.0 |
67.7% |
|
Morris Udeze-F/C-New Mexico |
6'9" |
236 |
7'1'' |
Sr./23.5 |
16.4 |
9.6 |
1.4 |
0.8 |
62.7% |
|
Derrick Walker-PF-Nebraska |
6'9" |
251 |
7'0'' |
Sr./25.6 |
13.6 |
7.1 |
3.9 |
0.7 |
52.1% |
|
Filip Rebrača-PF-Iowa |
6'9" |
227 |
6'9" |
Sr./23.8 |
14.1 |
7.5 |
2.0 |
0.9 |
67.1% |
|
Ed Croswell-PF-Providence |
6'8" |
247 |
7'2'' |
Sr./23.8 |
13.3 |
7.5 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
66.0% |
|
Manny Bates-C-Butler |
6'11" |
240 |
7'1'' |
Sr./23.3 |
11.5 |
5.5 |
1.4 |
1.9 |
65.1% |
|
Efe Odigie-F/C-SMU |
6'8" |
264 |
7'0'' |
Sr./23.5 |
11.3 |
6.9 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
77.7% |
|
Kevin Samuel-C-South Alabama |
6'11" |
262 |
7'6'' |
Sr./25.9 |
10.1 |
9.0 |
0.9 |
2.5 |
26.8% |
|
Trey Jemison-C-UAB |
6'11" |
260 |
7'2'' |
Sr./23.6 |
9.1 |
8.4 |
0.5 |
1.7 |
64.4% |
|
Race Thompson-PF-New Mexico |
6'8" |
246 |
7'0.5'' |
Sr./24.0 |
8.4 |
5.2 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
69.2% |
|
Osun Osunniyi-C-Iowa St |
6'10" |
220 |
7'4'' |
Sr./22.7 |
8.2 |
3.9 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
67.7% |
|
Nathan Mensah-C-San Diego St |
6'11" |
222 |
7'5.5'' |
Sr./25.2 |
6.0 |
5.9 |
0.6 |
1.6 |
64.8% |
|
Uroš Plavšić-C-Tennessee |
7'0" |
251 |
7'5'' |
Sr./24.5 |
4.9 |
3.4 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
34.0% |
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