Bam Adebayo: Modern Big Man
Bam Adebayo
C | 6-foot-10 | Age: 20 | Kentucky
Edrice “Bam” Adebayo came into his freshman season with all the hype you would expect from a John Calipari recruit. Standing 6-foot-10 with 7-foot-2.75 wingspan while weighing in at 243 lbs with phenomenal athleticism, Adebayo is possibly the most physically impressive player in this class, a reputation he earned well before he ever stepped foot in Lexington. He was a projected lottery pick heading into his freshman year with the Wildcats.
As the season progressed some of his weaknesses began to show, especially against tougher competition, and he fell to the back of the first round on many draft boards. He struggled to rebound at times throughout the season, though he finished strong in that regard. He averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game, shooting 59.9 percent from the field.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Bam falls into the classic category of a guy who’s basketball skills aren’t yet in the same league as his physical abilities. As mentioned earlier, he’s big and strong yet possesses great agility for someone of that size. He knows how to use those physical abilities to his advantage. He plays well in transition and can finish above the rim in the open floor and in the pick and roll. Defensively he’s versatile enough to guard players out to the perimeter. He checks a lot of the boxes that modern big men in the Nerlens Noel mold need to.
His weaknesses come in the form of skills that need refining, and instincts. He doesn’t have any go-to post moves, or a reliable jump shot outside of the paint which limits how effective he can be offensively. He isn’t much of a passer out of the post either and turns the ball over a bit more than is ideal. While he uses his strength and athleticism to grab boards, more polished players can box him out and negate those strengths. Defensively you see the same type of problems, as he’s versatile and can block shots but often struggles to rotate correctly on that end and can get out of position.
Why would the Bulls take him?:
Athleticism is certainly not a problem for Adebayo, and that is something the Bulls have at least claimed to prioritize. His skills could definitely use some refinement, but if he can develop he has as much potential as any big man in this draft. This would be the exact opposite of most picks the Bulls make, a player who isn’t quite ready yet but with tremendous upside. This pick would be cause for some excitement right away, and that’s something this team could probably use.
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