Mohamed Bamba

[crows2]

How high would Gobert go in a redraft? I think he would go pretty high. I don't think a team needs all 5 guys on the court to be studs offensively. If you can get the elite of the elite rim protector who can also not die trying to defend the PnR, then add him being a stud rebounder and a tremendous job target at minimum offensively. I still think that has major value in today's game. Then you think maybe potentially offensively down the road he might even be able to play a little pick n pop or can't be left alone out on the perimeter, that would basically be the ideal big man in today's game.

I think Bamba's jump shot/FT potential is what separates him from a really good prospect to an elite one. It just all depends on if those two things ever come around or not. If those two things come around, I would not be shocked if Bamba ends up with the best impact on games out of everyone from this draft.

As a Longhorn alum, I've followed Texas basketball for more than a few decades. I had to respond to your comparison of Bamba to Gobert. Gobert is surely a defensive juggernaut inside the paint. If Gobert attended Texas, he would be the first ever Longhorn big man in the NBA with defensive prowess. Kevin Durant (chuckle)? No. Chris Mihm (bigger chuckle)? No. Myles Turner? Possibly. Texas isn't Georgetown. It doesn't have a tradition of elite rim-protecting big men like Mutombo, Ewing and Morning. While Texas may have recently had a few players with defensive prowess (Avery Bradley and PJ Tucker), we emphasize and develop players with offensive ability. Defense isn't in our DNA as it has been at Duke.

I believe that you'll be disappointed if you expect elite NBA rim protection from Bamba comparable to Gobert.

But none of that really matters though if Im being honest. Even if we are talking strictly how Texas develops players, Shaka Smart is a completely different type of coach than Rick Barnes. So really the players from the late 90s to 2015 have basically nothing in common to the players playing now under Shaka Smart except for their jerseys are the same color. And 2nd, Texas has never had a prospect with the defensive potential that Bamba has. Are you saying Gobert wouldnt be the same defender he is now, if he attended Texas for 1 year? Then you bring up Kevin Durant who has become a really good rim protector and leads the NBA in blocked shots. Hell Texas alumns have the top 2 spots in the NBA right now in blocked shots with KD and Turner. I understand there is more to rim protecting than just blocked shots, but thats still a big part of rim protecting, and again those two dont even come close to the defensive potential that Bamba has.

This would be like me saying in 2011, you expect Kyrie to do anything in the NBA? You cant point to a single good PG from Duke in the NBA, therefore dont expect him to do anything. Well that wouldve proven to be dumb to say, because Duke had never had a talent like Kyrie before. So just because Texas doesnt have a history of good big men like Georgetown doesnt mean you cant expect a top tier big man that goes to Texas to be any good in the NBA. Especially since you guys have a brand new coach.

Plus: If you think defense isnt in your DNA, maybe thats why Texas got away from Rick Barnes and got a coach that is known for defense. Texas was top 25 defense last year and currently are sitting with the 5th best defense in the nation. Also just goes to show how things can change when you say defense is in Duke's DNA. Duke has been a horrific defense for coming close to a decade now. K has no clue how to coach up a defense anymore.

It's funny reading this at a time when 2 of the top 3 in BPG in the NBA are from Texas (Turner and Durant).

[CP War Hawks]

His shot looks decent to me. You have to think that his release point is close to 10 feet which is insane. It's like a regular sized person shooting on those mini sized goals that fit on top of a door.

Just a matter of getting his touch down. His shot always seem to be in line, just flat. Can't wait to see how his body fills out. He could be a weird combo of Manute Bol and KG.

[doordoor123]

His shot looks decent to me. You have to think that his release point is close to 10 feet which is insane. It's like a regular sized person shooting on those mini sized goals that fit on top of a door.

Just a matter of getting his touch down. His shot always seem to be in line, just flat. Can't wait to see how his body fills out. He could be a weird combo of Manute Bol and KG.

I’ve heard scouts that have seen him practice have said he’s a better shooter than shown. Maybe he’d be more comfortable at the NBA 3.

[King Ken]

Not the biggest fan of the Gobert comparison. I don't see them being all that similar on offense or defense. Gobert tools isn't close to Bamba's tools and Gobert motor is why he was underrated and why he became what he became. He wasn't anywhere near this talented out of Cholet.

[King Ken]

STUD. He has perennial DPOY potential. More advanced offensively than Gobert was at the same age, but he's never going to be a great scorer.

I disagree. I think the sky is the limit on offense for him. People underrate that length and mobility.

[hcsilla]

Bamba reminds me of Marcus Camby.

[scrabbarista]

You guys are seeing what I'm seeing. And the more I see, the more I like. If the draft is today, Bagley is the only guy I'd take over Bamba.

We'll see, though, how things look in a few months. If I were in an actual front office, I'd be constantly looking into character, motivation, desire to be great, etc., as those things are massively important.

[kg01]

STUD. He has perennial DPOY potential. More advanced offensively than Gobert was at the same age, but he's never going to be a great scorer.

I disagree. I think the sky is the limit on offense for him. People underrate that length and mobility.

What does this mean, in reality? You expect to see him taking dudes off the dribble like Lebron or something?

I mean, it just sounds like you're saying words because you happen to like Bamba. I just want to know what you actually expect to see from him offensively. Then I want you to compare that to what we're actually seeing from him now. I'm not saying he can't improve but I don't know if the "sky is the limit", per se.

(To anyone who's unaware, I'm being a little extra 'cause I like to chide KKen.)

On a serious note, I do wonder what folks think Bamba will end up being offensively in the league.

As a Hawks fan, I believe we need to come away from this draft with the guy closest to being an 'alpha' player as possible regardless of position. Right now, I'm not sure Bamba can be an 'alpha' type (impact on O and D).

[doordoor123]

STUD. He has perennial DPOY potential. More advanced offensively than Gobert was at the same age, but he's never going to be a great scorer.

I disagree. I think the sky is the limit on offense for him. People underrate that length and mobility.

What does this mean, in reality? You expect to see him taking dudes off the dribble like Lebron or something?

I mean, it just sounds like you're saying words because you happen to like Bamba. I just want to know what you actually expect to see from him offensively. Then I want you to compare that to what we're actually seeing from him now. I'm not saying he can't improve but I don't know if the "sky is the limit", per se.

(To anyone who's unaware, I'm being a little extra 'cause I like to chide KKen.)

On a serious note, I do wonder what folks think Bamba will end up being offensively in the league.

As a Hawks fan, I believe we need to come away from this draft with the guy closest to being an 'alpha' player as possible regardless of position. Right now, I'm not sure Bamba can be an 'alpha' type (impact on O and D).

Bamba will never develop a complicated post game. He can’t handle the ball in the post or handle the ball withot the post. He’s not going to take the ball by himself from the the top of the key to the basket, etc. The most that’s going to develop from his offensive game is quick post moves without putting the ball in the ground. Hesitations, hooks, spin hooks, baby fades, up and unders and face up shots. I seriously doubt he can add more to his offensive repiture. He doesn’t have a good touch around the rim though. However he can develop his jumpshot and be a threat face up because his wingspan is so long most guys won’t be able to guard him. If anything can make him elite, it’s his shooting (if he develops it) and his dunking ability (because he’s super long). He won’t be a complex player, but he can learn to be extremely effective with his length. Kind of like how DeAndre Jordan can be really effective with his size/athleticism, but if Bamba can develop that jumper it can really be a difference maker. Even a guy like Porzingis is really hard to stop shooting the ball. If Bamba can do something like that, even just 10 feet from the basket, he can be hard to stop. IMO he’s still like 6 or 7 years to becoming anything that good on offense, if he’s even able to do it.

[J_T]

6 or 7? Well I guess if he is going to be the most dominating center in the league some day, it's worth waiting a decade or two even. But which team will have the patience.

[popfan]

How high would Gobert go in a redraft? I think he would go pretty high. I don't think a team needs all 5 guys on the court to be studs offensively. If you can get the elite of the elite rim protector who can also not die trying to defend the PnR, then add him being a stud rebounder and a tremendous job target at minimum offensively. I still think that has major value in today's game. Then you think maybe potentially offensively down the road he might even be able to play a little pick n pop or can't be left alone out on the perimeter, that would basically be the ideal big man in today's game.

I think Bamba's jump shot/FT potential is what separates him from a really good prospect to an elite one. It just all depends on if those two things ever come around or not. If those two things come around, I would not be shocked if Bamba ends up with the best impact on games out of everyone from this draft.

As a Longhorn alum, I've followed Texas basketball for more than a few decades. I had to respond to your comparison of Bamba to Gobert. Gobert is surely a defensive juggernaut inside the paint. If Gobert attended Texas, he would be the first ever Longhorn big man in the NBA with defensive prowess. Kevin Durant (chuckle)? No. Chris Mihm (bigger chuckle)? No. Myles Turner? Possibly. Texas isn't Georgetown. It doesn't have a tradition of elite rim-protecting big men like Mutombo, Ewing and Morning. While Texas may have recently had a few players with defensive prowess (Avery Bradley and PJ Tucker), we emphasize and develop players with offensive ability. Defense isn't in our DNA as it has been at Duke.

I believe that you'll be disappointed if you expect elite NBA rim protection from Bamba comparable to Gobert.

But none of that really matters though if Im being honest. Even if we are talking strictly how Texas develops players, Shaka Smart is a completely different type of coach than Rick Barnes. So really the players from the late 90s to 2015 have basically nothing in common to the players playing now under Shaka Smart except for their jerseys are the same color. And 2nd, Texas has never had a prospect with the defensive potential that Bamba has. Are you saying Gobert wouldnt be the same defender he is now, if he attended Texas for 1 year? Then you bring up Kevin Durant who has become a really good rim protector and leads the NBA in blocked shots. Hell Texas alumns have the top 2 spots in the NBA right now in blocked shots with KD and Turner. I understand there is more to rim protecting than just blocked shots, but thats still a big part of rim protecting, and again those two dont even come close to the defensive potential that Bamba has.

This would be like me saying in 2011, you expect Kyrie to do anything in the NBA? You cant point to a single good PG from Duke in the NBA, therefore dont expect him to do anything. Well that wouldve proven to be dumb to say, because Duke had never had a talent like Kyrie before. So just because Texas doesnt have a history of good big men like Georgetown doesnt mean you cant expect a top tier big man that goes to Texas to be any good in the NBA. Especially since you guys have a brand new coach.

Plus: If you think defense isnt in your DNA, maybe thats why Texas got away from Rick Barnes and got a coach that is known for defense. Texas was top 25 defense last year and currently are sitting with the 5th best defense in the nation. Also just goes to show how things can change when you say defense is in Duke's DNA. Duke has been a horrific defense for coming close to a decade now. K has no clue how to coach up a defense anymore.

I agree that there are weaknesses in my argument. I won't pretend there aren't. But Gobert really is an elite rim protector. I've seen him on defense dominate Cousins straight up under the basket (minus all the silly taunting that Embiid loves). The University of Texas at Austin has never produced an elite rim protector like Gobert in the NBA. Ever. I say this knowing that Texas hadn't produced an elite scorer and college player of the year like Kevin Durant. Ever. Suddenly, poof, there he (Durant) was. So again there is a flaw in my argument.

But if you believe in pedigree and institutional culture -- as I'm sure that many NBA teams do when they consider Duke prospects -- then you might consider this. I'm merely warning you and others of the history. This history may ultimately be irrelevant to Bamba as it was Durant. But is Bamba truly elite? Is he on Gobert's or Mutumbo's level? I'll defer to you on this question.

Rick Barnes was a fine coach. I loved him over Tommy "Fun-N-Gun" Penders. But during Barnes' time as coach (ACC + Big12), how many defensive NBA studs played for him in college? During that same period, how many defensive studs in the NBA played for Coach K at Duke? Those questions are rhetorical. My point is that there is a culture within Texas basketball that transcends Penders, Barnes and possibly Smart.

I've always liked your posts. In reading your reply, you seem to lean more on analytics than I do. Before Durant was drafted, I nodded to Durant as the #1 pick over Oden. My rational was simple -- first, top Ohio State basketball players are often overrated (where Texas players rarely are). If I were a GM, I'd avoid Ohio State players in the lottery as a rule of thumb (exceptions considered though). Second, despite playing at Texas, Durant played college ball with fire/passion. Durant was a winner. He had the right DNA. Durant was the exception. I'd like to think that I arrived at the right answer for the right reason -- not that there is only one right reason.

So back to Bamba -- is he the exception?

[Duke4life831]

As a Longhorn alum, I've followed Texas basketball for more than a few decades. I had to respond to your comparison of Bamba to Gobert. Gobert is surely a defensive juggernaut inside the paint. If Gobert attended Texas, he would be the first ever Longhorn big man in the NBA with defensive prowess. Kevin Durant (chuckle)? No. Chris Mihm (bigger chuckle)? No. Myles Turner? Possibly. Texas isn't Georgetown. It doesn't have a tradition of elite rim-protecting big men like Mutombo, Ewing and Morning. While Texas may have recently had a few players with defensive prowess (Avery Bradley and PJ Tucker), we emphasize and develop players with offensive ability. Defense isn't in our DNA as it has been at Duke.

I believe that you'll be disappointed if you expect elite NBA rim protection from Bamba comparable to Gobert.

But none of that really matters though if Im being honest. Even if we are talking strictly how Texas develops players, Shaka Smart is a completely different type of coach than Rick Barnes. So really the players from the late 90s to 2015 have basically nothing in common to the players playing now under Shaka Smart except for their jerseys are the same color. And 2nd, Texas has never had a prospect with the defensive potential that Bamba has. Are you saying Gobert wouldnt be the same defender he is now, if he attended Texas for 1 year? Then you bring up Kevin Durant who has become a really good rim protector and leads the NBA in blocked shots. Hell Texas alumns have the top 2 spots in the NBA right now in blocked shots with KD and Turner. I understand there is more to rim protecting than just blocked shots, but thats still a big part of rim protecting, and again those two dont even come close to the defensive potential that Bamba has.

This would be like me saying in 2011, you expect Kyrie to do anything in the NBA? You cant point to a single good PG from Duke in the NBA, therefore dont expect him to do anything. Well that wouldve proven to be dumb to say, because Duke had never had a talent like Kyrie before. So just because Texas doesnt have a history of good big men like Georgetown doesnt mean you cant expect a top tier big man that goes to Texas to be any good in the NBA. Especially since you guys have a brand new coach.

Plus: If you think defense isnt in your DNA, maybe thats why Texas got away from Rick Barnes and got a coach that is known for defense. Texas was top 25 defense last year and currently are sitting with the 5th best defense in the nation. Also just goes to show how things can change when you say defense is in Duke's DNA. Duke has been a horrific defense for coming close to a decade now. K has no clue how to coach up a defense anymore.

I agree that there are weaknesses in my argument. I won't pretend there aren't. But Gobert really is an elite rim protector. I've seen him on defense dominate Cousins straight up under the basket (minus all the silly taunting that Embiid loves). The University of Texas at Austin has never produced an elite rim protector like Gobert in the NBA. Ever. I say this knowing that Texas hadn't produced an elite scorer and college player of the year like Kevin Durant. Ever. Suddenly, poof, there he (Durant) was. So again there is a flaw in my argument.

But if you believe in pedigree and institutional culture -- as I'm sure that many NBA teams do when they consider Duke prospects -- then you might consider this. I'm merely warning you and others of the history. This history may ultimately be irrelevant to Bamba as it was Durant. But is Bamba truly elite? Is he on Gobert's or Mutumbo's level? I'll defer to you on this question.

Rick Barnes was a fine coach. I loved him over Tommy "Fun-N-Gun" Penders. But during Barnes' time as coach (ACC + Big12), how many defensive NBA studs played for him in college? During that same period, how many defensive studs in the NBA played for Coach K at Duke? Those questions are rhetorical. My point is that there is a culture within Texas basketball that transcends Penders, Barnes and possibly Smart.

I've always liked your posts. In reading your reply, you seem to lean more on analytics than I do. Before Durant was drafted, I nodded to Durant as the #1 pick over Oden. My rational was simple -- first, top Ohio State basketball players are often overrated (where Texas players rarely are). If I were a GM, I'd avoid Ohio State players in the lottery as a rule of thumb (exceptions considered though). Second, despite playing at Texas, Durant played college ball with fire/passion. Durant was a winner. He had the right DNA. Durant was the exception. I'd like to think that I arrived at the right answer for the right reason -- not that there is only one right reason.

So back to Bamba -- is he the exception?

I just think youre putting far too much into school pedigree. You mention Duke's pedigree, but in all reality that is K's pedigree. And again even with him it has changed. Duke players were known for defense but are now known for highly skilled offense but horrible defense. Kentucky for example had 0 big men prospects under Tubby Smith and Billy Gillespe. Cal comes in and right off the bat Cousins is the first Kentucky center to get drafted since Sam Bowie. Cal is known to be a great coach to play for if youre a big and now Kentucky is cranking out elite big men prospects left and right.

I think coach pedigree is far more important than school pedigree, even with that, I think it has very little effect when it comes to OADs. You start to see the benefits of it with 3-4 year players. Rick Barnes was never known as a defensive coach, Shaka Smart made his name off of being a defensive coach. Not surprising that he is getting defensive players to come and play for him. If Bamba goes into the NBA and is a legit defensive big, you then could make the argument Texas is the school to go to if youre a defensive big with KD, Turner blocking shots left and right and Jarrett Allen and Bamba as well.

When you are talking about OADs, toss school pedigree out the window. Its all about who can recruit and get the elite players to come to their school for a year. Cal has had success with bigs (Cousins, Towns, AD, WCS and so on), so that is why he usually has no problems landing elite bigs. K has had great success with wings(Deng, Winslow, Parker, Tatum, Ingram), which is why he can land guys like RJ and Cam in one year. Bigs look at Cal's system and think they will get the best benefit there, while wings do the same when they look at Duke.

I do think Bamba is an elite rim protector, he is as elite of a rim protector I have seen come through college since AD and I think hes a better rim protector than AD was.

[The-Power]

Anybody else worried about his hands? It seems like he can't hold onto anything in traffic, be it in the post or going for rebounds, as he appears to lack strength and coordination. Some of it will improve once he gains strengths, when he can't be pushed around this easily, but it seems to be more than a simple core strength issue to me. At the moment, every post to him in the post or on rolls in traffic means risking turnovers. Rebounds can be slapped out of his hand and every time he brings the ball down before going up for a dunk or lay-up chances are way too high that he gets stripped.

If he can't hold onto and catch balls in tight spots he's going to have an incredibly hard time in the NBA on offense. I mean, what are you going to do with him? He hasn't shown any passing game whatsover, no postgame to speak of, limited offensive rebounding when boxed out properly, no driving game and an unreliable jumpshot. He's also willing to screen but not a great screener yet either. I realize that playing on that offensively challenged Texas team doesn't help in this regard but it's still really tough to watch and concerning.

I can only repeat myself: if he can be played off the floor by going small then that'd severely hurt his impact and with it his stock as a prospect. I love Bamba. Extremely smart kid, well spoken, approaches the game the right way, humble off the court. But he has to find a way to be more effective on offense, and he has to really put in the work in order to get to a level that allows him to be a high-impact player in the NBA for extended minutes.

Still believe he can be generational talent on defense but obviously only when he can stay on the court. To some extent, the NBA has moved on from traditional rim protectors to players who can switch everything and then be situational rim protectors especially from the weak side. We have a couple of those players who have been very effective on defense and even some of the more traditional defensive Centers figured out that they can maximize their defense by being willing to step out and defend the perimeter as well as ball handlers on switches more tightly. Bamba has the potential to be the best defender in the NBA mostly by virtue of his length and timing around the rim but, and this is my point, the NBA isn't waiting for him. He has to offer more in order to become a great player both on defense (I'd like to see an improved PnR defense and tighter defense against ball handlers) but, more importantly, on offense.

Ironically, for all the concerns and criticism I voiced with regards to Ayton and Bagley and their translation to the NBA, it is Bamba who dropped the most on my big board compared to the beginning of the season – mainly because now I see it more and more likely that he struggles to stay on the floor or, when he's out there, to really have a great overall impact during that time. Hopefully he improves over the course of the season so that I can start singing the praises of him again; but for the time being, color me a little concerned.

[King Ken]

I disagree. I think the sky is the limit on offense for him. People underrate that length and mobility.

What does this mean, in reality? You expect to see him taking dudes off the dribble like Lebron or something?

I mean, it just sounds like you're saying words because you happen to like Bamba. I just want to know what you actually expect to see from him offensively. Then I want you to compare that to what we're actually seeing from him now. I'm not saying he can't improve but I don't know if the "sky is the limit", per se.

(To anyone who's unaware, I'm being a little extra 'cause I like to chide KKen.)

On a serious note, I do wonder what folks think Bamba will end up being offensively in the league.

As a Hawks fan, I believe we need to come away from this draft with the guy closest to being an 'alpha' player as possible regardless of position. Right now, I'm not sure Bamba can be an 'alpha' type (impact on O and D).

Bamba will never develop a complicated post game. He can’t handle the ball in the post or handle the ball withot the post. He’s not going to take the ball by himself from the the top of the key to the basket, etc. The most that’s going to develop from his offensive game is quick post moves without putting the ball in the ground. Hesitations, hooks, spin hooks, baby fades, up and unders and face up shots. I seriously doubt he can add more to his offensive repiture. He doesn’t have a good touch around the rim though. However he can develop his jumpshot and be a threat face up because his wingspan is so long most guys won’t be able to guard him. If anything can make him elite, it’s his shooting (if he develops it) and his dunking ability (because he’s super long). He won’t be a complex player, but he can learn to be extremely effective with his length. Kind of like how DeAndre Jordan can be really effective with his size/athleticism, but if Bamba can develop that jumper it can really be a difference maker. Even a guy like Porzingis is really hard to stop shooting the ball. If Bamba can do something like that, even just 10 feet from the basket, he can be hard to stop. IMO he’s still like 6 or 7 years to becoming anything that good on offense, if he’s even able to do it.

Once he develops his upper body which is broad, his post game will be much better than it is now. He's not mechanical. He really doesn't have a lot that potentially hindering him. His length makes his developing a hookshot more realistic. Like Porzee and Giannis, he doesn't have a lot of flaws, he's just raw.

[doordoor123]

What does this mean, in reality? You expect to see him taking dudes off the dribble like Lebron or something?

I mean, it just sounds like you're saying words because you happen to like Bamba. I just want to know what you actually expect to see from him offensively. Then I want you to compare that to what we're actually seeing from him now. I'm not saying he can't improve but I don't know if the "sky is the limit", per se.

(To anyone who's unaware, I'm being a little extra 'cause I like to chide KKen.)

On a serious note, I do wonder what folks think Bamba will end up being offensively in the league.

As a Hawks fan, I believe we need to come away from this draft with the guy closest to being an 'alpha' player as possible regardless of position. Right now, I'm not sure Bamba can be an 'alpha' type (impact on O and D).

Bamba will never develop a complicated post game. He can’t handle the ball in the post or handle the ball withot the post. He’s not going to take the ball by himself from the the top of the key to the basket, etc. The most that’s going to develop from his offensive game is quick post moves without putting the ball in the ground. Hesitations, hooks, spin hooks, baby fades, up and unders and face up shots. I seriously doubt he can add more to his offensive repiture. He doesn’t have a good touch around the rim though. However he can develop his jumpshot and be a threat face up because his wingspan is so long most guys won’t be able to guard him. If anything can make him elite, it’s his shooting (if he develops it) and his dunking ability (because he’s super long). He won’t be a complex player, but he can learn to be extremely effective with his length. Kind of like how DeAndre Jordan can be really effective with his size/athleticism, but if Bamba can develop that jumper it can really be a difference maker. Even a guy like Porzingis is really hard to stop shooting the ball. If Bamba can do something like that, even just 10 feet from the basket, he can be hard to stop. IMO he’s still like 6 or 7 years to becoming anything that good on offense, if he’s even able to do it.

Once he develops his upper body which is broad, his post game will be much better than it is now. He's not mechanical. He really doesn't have a lot that potentially hindering him. His length makes his developing a hookshot more realistic. Like Porzee and Giannis, he doesn't have a lot of flaws, he's just raw.

Im not saying he won’t be effective and won’t have a hook, Im saying he won’t be able to have the footwork and physical ability to do certain things. I’m rewatching his game against Kansas right now and I’m thinking you might be right. I feel crazy for saying this, but you might be right in terms of rawness comparing to Porzingis and Giannis. He might have that much potential. A lot of his issues stem from not being strong enough.

[thr3ep01nte4]

Watch on YouTube

Definitely impactful on the defensive end

[King Ken]

I still think he will have a tougher time transitioning on defense than offense in the NBA just simply due to his size and lower body strength. I see him get pushed around due to his leg strength in college often. I am not sold that he won't be lunch for other bigs. For offense, it's a different story. Space will do wonders for him. Physically, he's rare. I would say more rare than Ayton who has the massive size adv and will always have that adv. I don't think people will realize how gifted he is till he makes it in the NBA and just from interviews, he's an A character. Not quite Donovan Mitchell but he's special. I am telling you. When you got this combination of few limitations, that size and character is something you would take #1.

The NBA more than any other league is an anomaly based league. Scouts shouldn't overthink it. Look at the current stars. What do they all have in common? Westbrook- Atomic. KP- Unicorn. Embiid - Supreme growth. Giannis - that movement and ground he covers. No scout should overthink this. Sometimes, guys are just more raw than other guys. But the NBA isn't college and it ain't Europe.

[King Ken]

Bamba doing what I expected, he's getting a good feel on the college game and starting to dominate. He might have a chance to be my #1 guy during the draft.

[thr3ep01nte4]

Bamba doing what I expected, he's getting a good feel on the college game and starting to dominate. He might have a chance to be my #1 guy during the draft.

He’s awesome. However, I doubt teams will take him #1 because he cannot create his own shot on offense. Right now, he’s similar to Clint Capela or DeAndre Jordan. I can only see him as the top target for the Celtics. For other teams, Ayton is obviously a better choice with the entire offensive game and some quality rim protection.

[King Ken]

Bamba doing what I expected, he's getting a good feel on the college game and starting to dominate. He might have a chance to be my #1 guy during the draft.

He’s awesome. However, I doubt teams will take him #1 because he cannot create his own shot on offense. Right now, he’s similar to Clint Capela or DeAndre Jordan. I can only see him as the top target for the Celtics. For other teams, Ayton is obviously a better choice with the entire offensive game and some quality rim protection.

I disagree, his potential offensively hasn't really came into fruition, he's clearly beyond Capela and Jordan offensively at the same age. Capela could barely score and Jordan was a terrible scorer at Texas A&M. Bamba isn't good offensively but the sky is the limit. He would be much better in space which is not available in the NCAA.