Both DraftExpress and The Ringer project him going No. That belief has led to his rapid rise among draft analysts. But he has a strong reputation as a hard worker and there’s belief around the league that he can improve on his weaknesses. Mitchell isn’t a sure bet to be successful in the NBA. But Mitchell’s wingspan probably compares the most to Rondo, who was listed at 6-foot-1 with a 6-foot-9 to 6-foot-10 wingspan, depending on who’s telling the story. Tony Allen, one of the best defenders of his generation, was 6-foot-3 1/2 without kicks with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. A shoeless Derrick Rose was listed at 6-foot-1 1/2 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. Da Vinci famously wrote in a caption for his drawing that “the length of a man’s outstretched arms” is the true measure of his height.Īs far as size comps to Mitchell, John Wall, for example, was measured at 6-foot-2 3/4 (sans shoes) with a 6-foot-9 1/4 wingspan. In the story, Epstein argues arm length is more important than height in the NBA and notes that many of the best players have a wide split between height and wingspan. It can be a major factor in a player’s career.īack in 2012, David Epstein, then writing for Sports Illustrated, published a story titled “The Case for … Wingspan,” comparing NBA players to Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous drawing of the “Vitruvian Man.” Wingspan isn’t just a Jay Bilas draft catchphrase either. Mitchell has the potential to develop into just that sort of player. If there’s one thing the Bulls lack outside of Butler, it’s players who can consistently impact the game at both ends of the floor. Scouts at the combine were intrigued by Mitchell’s defensive potential, aided greatly by his 6-foot-10 wingspan and ability to defend multiple positions. Despite his size, he’s at best a “combo guard,” but with Rajon Rondo likely back in the fold for one more season, he wouldn’t have to play that role as a rookie. He also scored well in the pick-and-roll, ranking in the 81st percentile among college players, via Synergy. He shot 35 percent from 3-point range, a 10 percent jump from his freshman season, and scored 1.126 points per possession on spot-ups, per Synergy Sports. Mitchell took a huge step forward as a shooter in his sophomore season. He’s undersized for a shooting guard at 6-foot-1 1/4 without shoes - 6-foot-3 with shoes - but his athleticism and his wingspan are impressive for his size. His standing among scouts exploded after a strong showing at the pre-draft combine in Chicago last month. Just got to wait for the results to show.For a team with a self-professed need to get younger and more athletic, not to mention better at shooting, Mitchell would fit the bill better than most mid-round prospects. That’s been in my DNA since my dad put a basketball in my hand, that defense is first. Obviously I came into the league and my mind has always been on defense first. “It’ll be about getting more experience on that end. “I think the more experience I get on the court obviously more offense will come,” McBride said. ![]() But he believes with this opportunity he will show that he is more than just a defender. ![]() His time has come as he appeared in just 12 of the first 24 games and even those dozen games includes appearances as short as one second. Little things like that I’m growing to see myself and experience.” ![]() Last year I was guarding Lance Stephenson on a play, I was supposed to be in help defense and he just grabbed my wrist and I wasn’t able to get there. “The little tricks I’ve learned, experience I’ve gained just from that one year has been very beneficial to my growth as a player. Just the way he works, he’s going to get better and better.” As you go through it now your second, third time around you’re more familiar with the players, the teams, the schemes, what each team is trying to do. “I think again a big part of is the trial and error of going through games and situations, learning the league. He’s going to give you more than one effort on every play. “Toughness, anticipation, great feet, strength, all those things. You look at wingspan, that’s a huge asset for him,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. McBride, a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, doesn’t mimic Rose’s offensive skill set, but arrived in the league as a hard-nosed defender, a trait groomed almost from birth by his father, accentuated by his days as an elite football player at Ohio’s renowned Moeller High School and sharpened by playing for Bob Huggins at West Virginia.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |