This year’s NBA Draft has some promising stars, but will Skal Labissiere be the best when it’s all said and done?
If you take a look at the mock drafts that surface around the Internet on a daily basis at this point in the year, Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons are the unanimous top two selections. Around the 11-14 range, Skal Labissiere’s name starts to appear.
The 20-year-old declared for the draft after just one year at the University of Kentucky, posting 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Labissiere’s numbers don’t point to a top overall pick and to go along with questions to his overall game, he will be one of the ‘upside’ picks of this year’s draft.
However, in an interview with HoopsHype, the 7-footer made it known that within the next two to three years, he believes that he will be considered as the best player to come out of the draft:
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"“I think I have one of the highest upsides in the draft. In two or three years, I think I can be the best player in this draft. I’m still working. I think the workouts are going to be key for me. But also the interviews, just to get the chance to talk to the GMs so they get to know me a little better.”"
Every player coming into the NBA should have the mindset to be the best player wherever they go, but for Labissiere to crown himself the best in this year’s pool of players is risky.
Ingram, Simmons, and Labissiere’s college teammate, Jamal Murray, all seem to have games that will transition better.
This doesn’t mean that Labissiere can’t be a very productive pro. His mobility for his size and ability to play above the rim on both ends of the floor make him a valuable asset.
He has impressive footwork and soft hands, which will be key in pick-and-roll situations catching lobs or no-look bullet passes from his teammates.
The one part of Labissere’s game that will ensure some playing time throughout his rookie season is his ability to play out on the perimeter.
It’s well-known that the old-school idea of a big man has gone through drastic changes in the past couple of years, whereas instead of being physical bullies in the paint, many are becoming more perimeter-oriented players.
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Defensively, his effectiveness comes hand in hand considering his height and 7-foot-2½ wingspan. He has great instincts and can cover ground quickly to protect the rim. In his 15.6 minutes per game, he swatted 1.6 shots, which can also be translated to 4.2 blocks per 40 minutes.
While he shows a lot of promise defensively, he has a tendency to be undisciplined as times trying to block EVERY shot, which often gets him in foul trouble.
Guarding the pick-and-roll defensively is also a cause for concern because Labisierre struggles to keep smaller players even in feathering coverages.
Though his length is a huge plus, that 216-pound frame would make him vulnerable with physical players. Luckily, strength is something that can be developed within the player’s first two or three years in the NBA.
There is a very good chance that Labisierre can develop into a productive player that could see a lot of minutes in whatever rotation he lands in, but to say that he will be the top player of this draft when it’s all said and done is bit of a stretch.
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A top-10 range is more realistic for a player with Labisierre’s skill set and potential.