Noa Essengue

[FrodoBaggins]

Here's a Thinking Basketball video on Giannis and his disciples of big front-court downhill slashers. Names include Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Ben Simmons (pre-injury), Deni Avdija, Jonathan Kuminga, Pascal Siakam, Zion Williamson, Amen Thompson, Scottie Barnes, etc.

It's hard to say what Noa's downhill slashing potential is, but it is there. Whether that amounts to running inverted PnRs and isolating in early offense & 4-out lineups, or attacking the rim in short rolls and fake hand-offs, or just attacking closeouts and cuts, I don't know. But what I do know is that strength, weight, and power development will be a key determinant.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=ThinkingBasketball

[EvanZ]

Here's a Thinking Basketball video on Giannis and his disciples of big front-court downhill slashers. Names include Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Ben Simmons (pre-injury), Deni Avdija, Jonathan Kuminga, Pascal Siakam, Zion Williamson, Amen Thompson, Scottie Barnes, etc.

It's hard to say what Noa's downhill slashing potential is, but it is there. Whether that amounts to running inverted PnRs and isolating in early offense & 4-out lineups, or attacking the rim in short rolls and fake hand-offs, or just attacking closeouts and cuts, I don't know. But what I do know is that strength, weight, and power development will be a key determinant.

So where do you have him on your board?

[Chi town]

Here's a Thinking Basketball video on Giannis and his disciples of big front-court downhill slashers. Names include Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Ben Simmons (pre-injury), Deni Avdija, Jonathan Kuminga, Pascal Siakam, Zion Williamson, Amen Thompson, Scottie Barnes, etc.

It's hard to say what Noa's downhill slashing potential is, but it is there. Whether that amounts to running inverted PnRs and isolating in early offense & 4-out lineups, or attacking the rim in short rolls and fake hand-offs, or just attacking closeouts and cuts, I don't know. But what I do know is that strength, weight, and power development will be a key determinant.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=ThinkingBasketball

Interesting group of players. Noa is the only one that has the combo of length and downhill force. Others have the force but not the length (Zion Deni) and others have the length but not the force (AD Siakam).

I think once Noa fills in he will be playing a lot of 5 ala Chet and the kid could be a cheat code.

[Catchall]

I can't see how he's not a top 5 pick, his combination of young age, production at high level, physical profile... There is not that much separation between him and Cooper

He's missing the entire pre-draft process.

[JMAC3]

The problem with evaluating Essengue in a league like BBL is that none of the forwards and bigs are NBA quality. If you are truly an NBA athlete at that size you find your way to the NBA or the very worst the Spanish league. It is why a guy like Adou Thiero will hang around the NBA for 10 years even if he never shoots it because he would dominate in Europe at his size and athleticism.

So yeah Essengue can just run around as an athlete, get rebounds, score in transition and be a good player there but in the NBA those things quickly disappear and it is much more a skill game then it is who is the best athlete.

Peyton Watson seems like it would be in his range of outcomes.

[BlazersBroncos]

The problem with evaluating Essengue in a league like BBL is that none of the forwards and bigs are NBA quality. If you are truly an NBA athlete at that size you find your way to the NBA or the very worst the Spanish league. It is why a guy like Adou Thiero will hang around the NBA for 10 years even if he never shoots it because he would dominate in Europe at his size and athleticism.

So yeah Essengue can just run around as an athlete, get rebounds, score in transition and be a good player there but in the NBA those things quickly disappear and it is much more a skill game then it is who is the best athlete.

Peyton Watson seems like it would be in his range of outcomes.

Watson but 2-3 inches taller and with the ability to get to the FT line is a whole different player.

You cant just discount the FTr even w/ the meh competition. Watson averaged like 1FT per game in college, and never has shown the ability to get to the line in the NBA.

[coutournant]

The problem with evaluating Essengue in a league like BBL is that none of the forwards and bigs are NBA quality. If you are truly an NBA athlete at that size you find your way to the NBA or the very worst the Spanish league. It is why a guy like Adou Thiero will hang around the NBA for 10 years even if he never shoots it because he would dominate in Europe at his size and athleticism.

So yeah Essengue can just run around as an athlete, get rebounds, score in transition and be a good player there but in the NBA those things quickly disappear and it is much more a skill game then it is who is the best athlete.

Peyton Watson seems like it would be in his range of outcomes.

Essengue made some of his best games this season in Eurocup, probably the third best league in the wold after NBA and Euroleague.

https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/fr/eurocup/players/noa-essengue/011391/

He also scored 20/8/3 points against Portland Trailblazers in preseason

Watch on YouTube

[Walton1one]

Pre-pre season? When nobody cares\tries? Does that even count? POR beat IND towards the end of the season, does that mean they are in the WC finals next year? context matters...

[EvanZ]

Finally got around to watching a game. Didn’t realize he plays with Saraf (will post my thoughts in the other thread) and Justinian Jessup. Anyway came away underwhelmed. Other than being tall and fluid I don’t really get the hype especially against this level of competition. He’ll have to really figure out the shooting but right now it looks fairly brutal. A lot of really bad misses.

[Chi town]

The problem with evaluating Essengue in a league like BBL is that none of the forwards and bigs are NBA quality. If you are truly an NBA athlete at that size you find your way to the NBA or the very worst the Spanish league. It is why a guy like Adou Thiero will hang around the NBA for 10 years even if he never shoots it because he would dominate in Europe at his size and athleticism.

So yeah Essengue can just run around as an athlete, get rebounds, score in transition and be a good player there but in the NBA those things quickly disappear and it is much more a skill game then it is who is the best athlete.

Peyton Watson seems like it would be in his range of outcomes.

Watson but 2-3 inches taller and with the ability to get to the FT line is a whole different player.

You cant just discount the FTr even w/ the meh competition. Watson averaged like 1FT per game in college, and never has shown the ability to get to the line in the NBA.

Noa is also a much better cutter for easy baskets. His rim pressure and lob radius is way better too.

[kobyz]

I see bigger Bilal Culibaly

[CP War Hawks]

The problem with evaluating Essengue in a league like BBL is that none of the forwards and bigs are NBA quality. If you are truly an NBA athlete at that size you find your way to the NBA or the very worst the Spanish league. It is why a guy like Adou Thiero will hang around the NBA for 10 years even if he never shoots it because he would dominate in Europe at his size and athleticism.

So yeah Essengue can just run around as an athlete, get rebounds, score in transition and be a good player there but in the NBA those things quickly disappear and it is much more a skill game then it is who is the best athlete.

Peyton Watson seems like it would be in his range of outcomes.

Essengue made some of his best games this season in Eurocup, probably the third best league in the wold after NBA and Euroleague.

https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/fr/eurocup/players/noa-essengue/011391/

He also scored 20/8/3 points against Portland Trailblazers in preseason

Watch on YouTube

Wasn't dude like 17 in this game... but yeah the guy is just a freaky prospect. Dude is producing at a high level in their playoffs weeks away from being drafted in the lotto.

[JMAC3]

Back to back poor games

[SNPA]

Worth a top ten pick. Upside is there. Send him to the weight room.

[EvanZ]

How would you guys comp him to Buzelis?

[Dat2U]

I see bigger Bilal Culibaly

Coulibaly has alot more perimeter skill. Noa's handle, shooting are developmentally behind where it should be for his age. I have major concerns that he's not much more than an energy guy with unique physical tools.

[Walton1one]

Has not looked good against a euro league team these last 3 games, Saraf OTOH

[JoseRizal]

Here's a Thinking Basketball video on Giannis and his disciples of big front-court downhill slashers. Names include Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Ben Simmons (pre-injury), Deni Avdija, Jonathan Kuminga, Pascal Siakam, Zion Williamson, Amen Thompson, Scottie Barnes, etc.

It's hard to say what Noa's downhill slashing potential is, but it is there. Whether that amounts to running inverted PnRs and isolating in early offense & 4-out lineups, or attacking the rim in short rolls and fake hand-offs, or just attacking closeouts and cuts, I don't know. But what I do know is that strength, weight, and power development will be a key determinant.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=ThinkingBasketball

Just watched Giannis documentary in Amazon Prime.

At age 18, Giannis was measured 6'8 1/2 w/o shoes and 190lbs. He was not measured in the draft combine as he wasn't able to participate.
Noa at 18, is measured 6'10 w/o shoes and 204lbs. Wingspan of 7'0 3/4 and Standing reach of 9'1 3/4.

After a year, Giannis grew to 6'11 and gained 50 pounds of muscle, increasing his weight to 240lbs. His wingspan was later measured at 7'3 and standing reach of 9'3.

I'm not saying that Essengue will turn out to be Giannis. But it's hard to ignore the similar length. Noa just has to develop some of the limitations in his game, while also bulking up.

[kobyz]

call me crazy but he reminds me a rookie Kevin Garnett and i would draft him top 3

[TheSuzerain]

Here's a Thinking Basketball video on Giannis and his disciples of big front-court downhill slashers. Names include Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Ben Simmons (pre-injury), Deni Avdija, Jonathan Kuminga, Pascal Siakam, Zion Williamson, Amen Thompson, Scottie Barnes, etc.

It's hard to say what Noa's downhill slashing potential is, but it is there. Whether that amounts to running inverted PnRs and isolating in early offense & 4-out lineups, or attacking the rim in short rolls and fake hand-offs, or just attacking closeouts and cuts, I don't know. But what I do know is that strength, weight, and power development will be a key determinant.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=ThinkingBasketball

Interesting group of players. Noa is the only one that has the combo of length and downhill force. Others have the force but not the length (Zion Deni) and others have the length but not the force (AD Siakam).

I think once Noa fills in he will be playing a lot of 5 ala Chet and the kid could be a cheat code.

lmao AD doesn't have the force?

Noa seems too skinny for that archetype. Queen is the one who can play the big slasher role.