Overseas Round-Up: NBA Draft Stocks Going Up
Some of the updates I provided on international prospects in previous editions of this series have been, admittedly, rather bleak. However, as we near the midpoint of the international basketball season, a number of projected NBA Draft prospects are starting to find their rhythm.
This week we take a look at four international prospects who are playing their best basketball of the season.
After a two-month absence due to a wrist injury, Rayan Rupert came back this week and in the first two games since his return he hasn’t just found his rhythm back: he’s actually playing his best basketball of the season. Rupert has been extremely productive in his return, putting up 22 points on 32 total minutes of play, going 8-for-12 from the field and, most importantly for his draft stock, 3-for-5 from 3 point range.
It has been an auspicious comeback for Rupert so far. If he can keep up his productivity on offense as he continues to make an impact on defense with his size, length and lateral mobility, he is well on his way to get his name called in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft.
James Nnaji is another prospect who is playing his best basketball of the season, as this saturday the Barcelona Center put up a career-high 16 points and 4 rebounds in 20 minutes of play. Nnaji continues to be extremely efficient in his role as a lob catcher and dunker-spot finisher, as he went 6-for-7 from the field in this game.
Considering his efficiency as an interior offensive player and his optimal physical tools to protect the rim, it’s easy to see Nnaji making an impact from day one at the NBA level, but as I’ve mentioned in previous editions of Overseas Round-Up, he has also shown an above average fluidity and coordination to put the ball on the floor, which makes him even more intriguing as a long-term NBA prospect.
After a rough start to the season in terms of shooting, Juan Nuñez seems to have finally found his rhythm. The Spanish guard scored in double digits for the sixth time in the last seven games this past saturday, going for 11 points and 4 rebounds in Ulm’s game against Hamburg.
Nuñez is averaging 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists over his last seven games on efficient shooting percentages: 50% from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc. The shooting numbers are an impressive development for a prospect who started the season making just one of his first thirteen attempts from 3 point range.
Nuñez’s ability to make plays for others is second to none in this draft class and if he is able to maintain this stretch of efficient scoring, it’s easy to see NBA teams looking his way in the upcoming Draft.
Tristan Vukcevic on the other hand, has not been as consistent this season, as his playing time oscillates wildly between starter-level minutes and garbage time appearances, but last weekend he showed what he’s capable of when given an opportunity, as he exploded for 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in a game against Zadar.
Vuckcevic’s combination of 6-foot-10 size and shooting ability is extremely enticing as a potential floor-spacer and rebounder at the NBA level. For now, he appears to be well on a solid path to get his name called at some point during the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
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