Drafting 12/26/2023 NBA
Up to four Spanish players could be chosen in the 1st round of the 2024 Draft and, among all of them, the one who aims to occupy the highest position is Be Almansa.
The player of G League Ignite He participated in the league’s Winter Showcase, under the watchful eye of NBA scouts. His team is not working and, although it is a project aimed at training players, it is below expectations: «There simply wasn’t much team basketball played, with many turnovers, frequent defensive breakdowns, poor shot selection, and lack of ball movement. In the face of adversity, there was little leadership on the court«, describe ESPN a Ignite.
Despite everything, it was an opportunity for analysts to evaluate the performance of the biggest promises ahead of the 2024 Draft. This is what Jonathan Givonny wrote on ESPN about Izan Almansa:
«Almansa is being described by scouts as a difficult player to evaluate in the Ignite context, as he has by far the lowest usage percentage (13.7%) of any of the team’s seven prospects. In the Showcase it was difficult for him to influence the game consistently on both sides of the court, sometimes appearing timid and appearing to lack confidence.
Considered as one of the interiors that best plays the ‘pick and roll’ in this class, Ignite’s outsides have consistently ignored Almansa’s continuations to the rim after off-ball screens, as almost no one on this roster can consistently read and attack defenses to make a pocket pass or throw a well-timed alley oop. His best pick-and-roll partner, Jeremy Pargo, has been out of the rotation for most of the past month as the Ignite has favored Norris Cole, who has struggled while seeking an NBA call-up. .
Almansa hasn’t helped his cause by missing too many shots near the rim due to his lack of explosiveness, while also not being physical or assertive enough to take advantage of opportunities. The fact that he has only made 2 of his 9 three-pointers and 11 of 29 (38%) shots from the free throw line hasn’t helped either.
Defense is where NBA teams want to see Izan Almansa’s growth in the next three months. He has great timing and instincts on this end of the court, with a strong level of intensity and nose for being close to the ball. However, he was inconsistent in this area at the Showcase, having trouble protecting the rim at a high level with his lack of height and explosiveness, receiving points in the post due to his lack of size and bulk, and not always having the quickness to contain opponents one on one or recover when poorly positioned in the ‘pick and roll’.
Overall, the Ignite experience has not been very good for Almansa. NBA executives who evaluated him in FIBA settings say they are having trouble convincing him of his exact fit without developing a consistent jump shot. Being one of the youngest players in the draft, since he won’t turn 19 until July, to be Almansa will need to improve his game to increase his chances of being picked in the top 20«.
Foto: Getty Images
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2023-12-26 18:00:20
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