2023 NBA Draft: Sidy Cissoko is Still Being Undervalued
The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on June 22, as prospects make their final efforts in climbing boards through workouts and interviews. Evaluating talent in this era has become increasingly difficult, as there's a wide variety of outlets that funnel these prospects into the NBA. Not only is there different levels of competition at both the college and international levels, but we now have programs like Overtime Elite and G League Ignite. As such, some of the best prospects in this class still aren't getting the credit they deserve.
One member of the upcoming rookie class that deserves potential lottery buzz, but hasn't gotten it to this point, is French wing Sidy Cissoko.
Playing against professionals all of last season in the G League at 18 years old, the 6-foot-7 prospect showcased the ability to lock down defensively. That is what he's been known for historically with his length and lateral quickness, but his game got more well-rounded as he gained more experience last season.
As the 2022-23 campaign went on, Cissoko began to thrive as a key piece of the offense. In fact, he notched five-straight games with 20 or more points late in the season. The second half of the season was also promising for his 3-point shot, which was inconsistent all season but began to come around late. Cissoko also flashed his passing upside, producing more than three assists per game. This is especially impressive considering he shared the court with Scoot Henderson for a good chunk of the minutes he earned this season.
With an impressive wingspan, two-way upside and professional experience, Cissoko should absolutely be in the conversation for a late lottery pick. It's not being talked about enough, but he has one of the best cases of any in this class as it relates to having the potential to end up having one of the most complete skillsets as his NBA career unfolds.
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