Brief Evaluations: Three International Big Man Prospects
The 2022 NBA Draft is filled with a plethora of collegiate talent, but there is no denying that some international players have garnered well-deserved buzz as well.
Three international centers have been turning heads as of late, two of them eligible in this draft while the other will be ready in 2023. Here are brief evaluations of Nikola Jovic, Kai Sotto, Victor Wembanyama.
Nikola Jovic
Right off the bat, this name closely rings a bell. Yes, he’s 6'10" and Serbian, but isn’t actually a center. Combo forward Nikola Jovic is a sharpshooter who can really pass the rock. He’s averaged 11.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 3.4 APG while shooting 34% from deep for KK Mega Bemax this year. His season highlights with Mega Basket show a 18-year-old “big guard” who can benefit NBA offenses immediately. His skills could translate very well to the league, particularly as a ball-handling forward who can pull up or catch and shoot with ease and use his strength and length to get right into the paint. Overall, Jovic has an incredibly bright future and is undoubtedly NBA-ready. It all comes down to which team is willing to take a chance on him come June.
Kai Sotto
7'2" Filipino big Kai Sotto has already begun his journey to the league, first signing with the G-League Ignite before playing with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s NBL. He just had a career-high 21 points in Adelaide’s tough 93–85 loss to the Brisbane Bullets, showing his athleticism and soft touch around the rim. Sotto has improved as he’s gotten older and is finally on the radar of several NBA mock drafts. He averages 7 PPG and 4.4 RPG for the 36ers but is still a solid prospect who has potential to space the floor (he’s shot 30% from three at the time of writing). Sotto has also been known for his playmaking ability, which is still developing but will be a useful asset for him in the future. Defensively, Sotto averages 0.6 BPG but his 7'5" wingspan is enough to deter defenders at the rim. All in all, Sotto is another young buck oozing with potential, and he has skills that, when fully developed, could make him an excellent center who stars in his role.
Victor Wembanyama
One of the most intriguing prospects in international basketball, 18-year-old French center Victor Wembanyama has been raising eyebrows for years now. A 7'3" unicorn in every sense of the word, Wembanyama has averaged 7.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 1.8 BPG in 27 games for ASVEL Basket, but has taken the internet by storm with his emphatic slams and flamethrower threes. He’s been characterized by some as the #1 pick in the 2023 Draft, and based on his play, it’s easy to see why. Like the other two players mentioned here, Wembanyama is a gifted offensive talent who can shoot really well, but he really sets himself apart with his rejections at the rim. His footwork and playmaking have also stood out, as he’s able to play give-and-go with his teammates to explode at the rim. Whether it’s rim-running, putback dunks, pull-up threes, or acrobatic blocks, Wembanyama has made himself known as a top prospect in the 2023 Draft, and if you aren’t watching him now, then what are you waiting for?
Jovic, Sotto, and Wembanyama are among a multitude of international players looking to make their NBA dreams a reality, and they continue to pave the way for overseas players to have a shot at the league. As the NBA grows its game, be sure to pay attention to these three hoopers, as they’ll be some of the faces looking to move the game forward in the years to come.
